The things to look for in a platform are not so much the performance specs, which all vary, but the games available on that platform. PS2 and X-box are way ahead in this area, with heaps of titles available across both platforms and each also with their own exclusives, such as Halo for X-box and Grand Theft Auto for PS2. Also important to consider is the controller, and which suits you. PS2 controllers are preferred by a lot of gamers for the fighting games, while the new smaller controller on the X-box is a big improvement over their older one. The Game Cube is way behind the other two in terms of market sales and software, but preferred by some younger kids thanks to the 'Mario Bros' franchise of games, owned by Nintendo. It's not really a serious player in the market though. In overall processor performance and power, the X-box is slightly ahead of the PS2, though the Sony is superior in other areas like Video Ram, and both deliver extremely sharp, detailed images and function at very high speeds. The X-box has a built-in hard drive, which is nice for saving game information and settings, whereas with PS2 you need to purchase a memory card. The PS2 has an optical audio out which is great for Dolby Digital surround sound in movies and games if you have a home theatre setup, whereas the X-box does not. In the way of available games, the PS2 would be ahead, though there are really hundreds of titles out there for both now, and X-box is easier to write for as it's more like a fast PC in its interior architecture and backed to high levels by Microsoft. PS2 has been around longer however, and also has very smooth and polished architecture which when utilised properly by programmers can be exceptional. Sony have set up or bought a sophisticated network of talented development companies around the world, and could be seen as more of a multinational effort, with the parent company being Japanese and with major developing houses in UK, Europe, Japan and the US, and backed by the enormous resources including film, music and media that is the Sony Empire. Both also work online now, though the X-box was the pioneer in this area, and you really want ADSL 256 at a minimum. If you already have a PC online both should work off your computer's ADSL modem/router. They also both play DVDs, though with the X-box you have to purchase an optional remote to enable this function, whereas the Sony will play DVDs out of the box. The Playstation will also be the next to upgrade to a new model, as PS2 has been out longer than the X-box, and you can be sure the new model will be a beast in terms of processing power and speed and hard disk space.. Some avid gamers have both an X-box and a PS2, but for the rest of us I'd advise to go for the platform that has the games you like playing. If you have friends with consoles, see what the majority use so you can trade games and accesories with each other and play online together. I don't own an X-Box or have loyalty to any of the brands mentioned. The people supporting the GameCube probably own one of these though, and are demonstrating their brand loyalty. To try to suggest the GameCube or its game titles are in any way superior to the other two in terms of processing power, performance or technical ability is sheer idiocy though. And, you will notice, the GameCube games are virtually all rated 'G'. And I never said GameCube isn't for 'serious players.' What on earth is a 'serious player' anyway? If you read again what I wrote it says GameCube isn't 'a serious player in the market', as in it doesn't compete with Playstation or X-Box in terms of market sales or proliferation. The GameCube is slated for termination when Sony and Microsoft bring out their next generation consoles in 2005, and Nintendo will focus on their other kid's products like Pokemon (a huge revenue earner) and Gameboy Advance. But let's face it, they're all just games consoles. It's hard to take any of them seriously. They're all chiefly for kids really, aren't they?

My children have both systems and tell me Xbox is by far their favorite

TO mysteryhawk: You gave me a bad rating simply because I mentioned that I'm an adult and the larger Xbox controllers fit my hand more comfortably?! You putz!! Technically, Xbox edges out the other two in system specs. However, the specs are close enough that they shouldn't be a major consideration when choosing a system. The sheer variety of different games to choose from, Playstation 2 has the other systems beat hands-down. Another thing to consider are the demographics that the two systems are aimed at. Xbox has more mature type games (I don't mean "Adult" games; as far as I know there are no AO games available for any console), but rather, games meant for "grown ups." GameCube is meant more for younger kids. Playstation is more of a generalist among the platforms, with a large game inventory and with something for everyone. Another thing to consider is the controller. Since the Xbox is targeted at adult gamers, the controllers tend to be a bit large and heavy for smaller hands -- a frequent complaint about the Xbox. On the other hand (no pun intended), the most people seem to think that the Playstation controller is an ideal size and weight (but being an adult, and after owning an Xbox -- when I pick up a Playstation controller, it seems too small and light in my hand for prolonged comfort). NOTE: If you want to spend the money, there ARE converter boxes that will let you use a PS2 controller on an Xbox, or an Xbox controller on a PS2, if you prefer one system but prefer the others' controller. Yet another thing to consider is multi-player. Multi-player comes in two forms. First, there's multi-player in that a person sets up multiple game consoles in their home so that their friends can play together privately. To do this, you link multiple Xboxes together in a home LAN. Likewise multiple PS2s work much the same way, but use a special Link Cable rather than through a home LAN. This is an expensive proposition attempted by only the most ardent gamers because you have to own several consoles, several TV's (one TV for each console) and multiple copies of each game (one copy of each game for each console). Then there's multi-player on the Internet. Both PS2 and Xbox also have a feature that let you play with/against other people anonymously on the Internet. Xbox Live is supported by many games (but not nearly enough). The PS2 version of Internet play isn't as well marketed as Xbox Live, but it is there. Subscription costs about $50 per year flat rate that lets you play as much as you want. There is no additional per game or per hour cost except for the price of purchasing the game. If this appeals to you, then Xbox is probably the best choice. In closing, if the system is for yourself, then decide on what games you want to buy, then buy the system that all those games are all made for (which will most likely be PS2). Unfortunately, there are sometimes exclusive deals that prevent all your favorite games from being on just one system. If the system is a surprise gift, and the recipient hasn't expressed a favorite system, and you can't get a clue what types of games they would like to play without spoiling the surprise, then get an adult an Xbox, get a young child a Game Cube, and get a teen a PS2. Hope this helps...

Without further information about your needs, this question is really hard to answer. All systems have some things going for them. Hardware The Xbox and the Gamecube are roughly eqal as far as raw power is concerned. The Cube has the further advantage that it is very small, very quiet and the cheapest of the three. The PS2 came out a year before the other two consoles, thus the games look visibly worse. Xbox and Cube win, although if price matters, the Cube is clearly better for you. Games The PS2 has the largest amount of games. However, many of those are shovelware, cheap games that aren't a lot of fun. The Xbox has lots of PC ports and not so many original games. Most Xbox games are targeted at "adults", by which I mean that they are first person shooters and car racers. The Cube has the widest variety of games. There are lots of games targeted at children and adults who like colorful, yet challenging games (Super Mario Sunshine, Mario Kart, Sonic Adventure). There are adult oriented games (Resident Evil, Eternal Darkness), there are unique games like Pikmin or Animal Crossing and there are games targeted at people who want to play together with others (Mario Party). All of these games are available only on the Cube. If you want a console that you can play with your kids on, but also want to have fun when on your own, the Cube is great. My personal opinion is that the Cube wins here, even if you don't have kids, but if you're mainly into FPS or racers and don't want to play them on a PC, the Xbox may be the better choice for you. If all that matters to you is a wide variety of cheap games, the PS2 is your choice. Online Here, the Xbox wins hands down. Microsoft has set up a real good online system. PS2 is second. There's no unified online experience, but a lot of games have online capabilities. The Cube loses out here: There are hardly any Online capable games, although there are a few games that allow you to connect several cubes and play in a LAN. Nevertheless, if you want online games, the Xbox wins. Controller Controllers are mostly a personal thing. The PS2-Controller gives me cramps, but both the smaller Xbox controller and the Cube controllers are very good. Nintendo also offers an affordable and well-made wireless controller. Market share The PS2 leads both domestic and world-wide. Second place world-wide is held by the Cube, while the Xbox is ahead if you only look at the USA. It doesn't matter too much, though, many games are being made for all three consoles. You might want to buy a console that no friend of you owns so you can both buy different games and then play the other games at each other's place. Lastly, I'd like to ad two things: 1) The next generation of Consoles will probably come out next year. It might not make a lot of sense to buy consoles now. 2) Since the next generation of consoles comes out next year, this year's consoles are pretty cheap by now. It may make sense to buy more than one console in order to get all the games you want. My recommendation if you want to buy one console boils down to this: If you need online gaming, get an Xbox. If not, get a Cube.

Im not going to re-type info that is widely available on half a million web sites such as graphics and hardware specs, instead im going to concentrate on the important things. I think the best system overall is ... whichever you prefer. All 4... (yes four as I'm including the much forgotten/ignored dreamcast)... have their strengths and weaknesses. Good Points: XBOX - Great online capabilities, excellent graphics, wide game range. DREAMCAST - Fast-paced thrill rides, unexplainably 'cool'. fun orientated PS2 - Huge (and I mean reallly big) game library, comfy pad. GAMECUBE - Multi-player mayhem, Loads of exclusives. Bad points: XBOX - Maybe this is just my experience but the exclusive games are slow, & graphics-orientated, instead of stupidly fast & fun. Not much else to fault. DREAMCAST - The console crashes (!?!?) Limited games, old and therefore looked down upon. No DVD capability (unless you know a guy *wink wink*) PS2 - Only 2 controll ports, c'mon Sony sort it out. GAMECUBE - Do online games even exist for this? No DVD playback. Most games are 'for kids'. Having played all systems and owning 3 of them (PS2 not incl.) I prefer my Gamecube above all, the Xbox 2nd, Dreamcast, then PS2. I like to have friends over for battle royals and even though about 5 systems are available for play only the GC ever gets used. The graphics are just as good as Xbox and in my opinion better than the PS2 (I think the DC has graphics comparable and in some games better than some of the other systems). having played Burnout2 on both GC and PS2 I find the GC wayyy better. Games are not typically long drawn out epics, but quick, hilariously funny 100m sprints such as Mario party, smash bros etc. The Dreamcast also does well when it comes to this genre of games - ever played Chu Chu Rocket? (forgive spelling) Obviously the xbox comes up trumps for pure gaming power *evil laugh* and nothing beats xbox live. The PS2 would be my choice for beat-em-ups, The GC for racing and shoot-em-ups. The DC for namco-arcade-style dazzling fast paced action and the xbox for epics such as the incredible Halo *he bows low and touches head to the ground*. So, there you have it MY interpretation of the best console, and remember, the best is whichever YOU like most.

Xbox-better online capabilities, better games,faster, limited games GC-Kiddie games, parents this is the console for your kids if you want them to be clear of violence, bad online support PS2-More games, older, less powerful, PS3- soon to comeout possibly before Xbox2, seems to have "more under the hood" than Xobx 2

PS2 is way better

Ok... really? I dont think that any one console is better than the other... I base my choice on the games available on each (which all have their greats) I like XBOX for for any type of game; sports, FPS, fighting, racing, etc. because, honestly, it does run better/faster and has better graphics of the 3. I like PS2 for their exclusives like Grand Theft Auto and Tekken (which give people enough reason to buy a particular console) and yes they have been around but obviously they are advanced enough, graphically, to stay in or beat out the competition. I bought a PS2 just for Gran Turismo 4... I like GameCube for "kiddie" games which I happen to enjoy and I'm sure others, who can open their minds for second, would enjoy them too. I have bought a GameCube just for Super Smash Brothers (which I believe is the best and most addictive Melee fighting game ever [strictly my opinion]). So they each have something unique to offer and you'll always have a curiousity for the other. But if the games you like are on all 3 consoles then I would go for XBOX if you dont mind forkin out that much money with the XBOX 360 coming out this year. PS3 is also coming out soon (Spring 2007) and if youve read up on the specs comparison to that of the XBOX 360... yea... PS3 is greater. Nintendo Revolution is coming out also and with their insistence on being different... they will be different. There's another way of choosing... if you dont already have a console picked out you should maybe just wait until the new gen consoles come out. If you cant wait, then choose one based on their next version. I'm keeping my PS2 because, from what I've read, PS3 has better/greater/faster/whatever specs than XBOX 360 (not sure about Nintendo Revolution). But Nintendo is offering a new way of gaming and thats always intrigueing to me. Anyways, I hope that my "opinions" and "personal preferrences" helped you find a better perspective on choosing the right console for you.

Well, as an owner of all three I enjoy all three in different ways. I think most of us irrespective of the actual computing power make a decision based on the type and quality of games being produced on that particular console. Nowadays most games are produced for all three consoles but theres still lots that are made only for one. Halo on the xbox Rouge Squadron on the cube Zelda on the cube and theres so many on the PS2 I just couldn't begin to name them all. Although the MIGHTY Final Fantasy series jumps to mind. You can get an eye toy for the PS2 and BUZZ (which is great fun.) So, a different console for certain games styles and types, differing moods and possibility's. Some consoles like the xbox can be linked to several more xbox's meaning you can play LAN sessions with friends and of course its got full on-line capability if you have broadband which is massive fun. I play on the xbox mostly because the games are a bit more adult in nature but theres always time for the cube and PS2.

I saw this question being asked, anyway, I'll try be as open minded as i can, ive played on xbox(great graphics) and ps2(lots of games,great playability) but i also know all the specs about gamecube(lightning speed) but it all boils down to your "taste".Let's just make it straight if you want graphics xbox is for you, variety then ps2 is for you there is no real "best" console ill admit the first time i played xbox i thought the graphics were great but its controller didnt work for me, when i play on my ps2 i think slow loading and not as "up to scratch" graphics as xbox but the playability was amazing to me.you see it is all about "taste" some one else probably thinks the exact opposite than me.but i dont mind, but let me give you some advice if you looking to buy one of them first play on each of them, you should know someone that has at least one of them.

what the hell is with all teh big answers. THE XBOX 360 IS THE BEST CONSOLE AND NOTHING WILL BEAT IT

Let me spell this out for you. The Cube rules all, as do all other nintendo systems. The only reason anyone plays the xbox, or ps2 is because they're imature and find that the GmeCube does'nt have enough violent/Crime oriented games, to slake their thirst for idiocy. Besides, the Cube, and the Cube alone, has such timeless classics as, Metroid Prime, Viewtiful Joe, and F-Zero GX. Any true gamer will have already bought a Gamecube, but if you're just the average dumb person, and just want somthing to look cool on top of you're tv, then go ahead and get an xbox.

This is a matter of opinion, but I like the Gamecube. With the handle on the back, it is portable, plus small and easy to store. If you think about it, only Nintendo consoles have Mario, and many other classic characters. In my opinion, many people think based upon appearance. The Gamecube may be small, and slightly unappealing to the eye(compared to the "cool" green X on the Xbox), but its good graphics and wide variety of games make it my choice.

Ps2 has better graphics, but i think 360, cause awesome graphics, great games, and neat fetures, and less pricey.

Xbox has better graphics. Ps2 has more games. Gamecube is the cheapest. All around i think ps2 is the best because it is so common.

Ps2!!!

Depends on what type of gamer you are! I'd prefer a Gamer Lap top out of them all