I think you can't say Xbox is better than PS3 or vice versa. Actually the PS3 has become the lead platform when developing games because it's easier to port games over to Xbox than from Xbox to PS3. So occasionally you will have a game that looks better on one platform over the other but to the common person the difference in graphical detail is irrelevant. Stat wise the PS3 is probably the superior of the two but not by much. But the reason why I believe the Xbox 360 has been so successful is because of Xbox Live. When both the PS3 and Xbox 360 came out the Xbox had a clear advantage in the online space. It had system wide notification, friend chat, and ease of joining your friends in online gaming. The PS3 lacked in these departments. For example, it didn't have cross game chat. PS3 was clearly behind. Games like Modern Warfare were clearly better on the 360 due to the ease of playing with your friends and getting a game going. Eventually PS3 caught up and I think they offer the same comparable features but I'm not 100% sure cause I sold my PS3 for many different reasons. But the boom of online gaming and the ease of Xbox Live is, IMO, the single reason why the 360 has been successful. Is it worth the yearly fee? To some it is, to some it isn't. It's going to be interesting in the next generation of gaming platform. How is Microsoft going to justify it's yearly fee if PS3, Wii, or Valve (Steam Box?) offer the same thing for free? What other services will they offer? All the game consoles have turned into media centers. Is Apple going to join the party? Next gen is going to be very interesting. Choose your console wisely!!!