Is it just me or does it seem like this gen everything is hyperbole?
I think my favorite time to be a gamer is after the dust settles. This past summer I had so much fun filling out my collection on PS2 because you could find the games cheap and you could talk to people about games and gaming rationally and cooly. I am curious to see how gamers reflect on the 360 and the PS3, but I have somewhat of a hunch it isn't going to be as positive as I sort of feel about it now.
I was sort of thinking about that earlier. I didn't particularly like the PS2, loved the Xbox, but I also got into that generation a bit late, just like with the generation before. Actually, this is the first generation where I jumped straight into it at release day (of both consoles) probably in part due to PC gaming no longer being a viable alternative, and it's been overall disappointing. There have been glimpses of brilliance, but generally, it's not until now that I feel that either console has really come into their own. I'm thinking late 2009 would have been a good time to jump on board, maybe 2008 for Xbox 360. The PS3 has completely redeemed itself with Wipeout HD, still waiting on something of the Rallisport caliber on the 360. But both systems are actually pushing good stuff right now, and it only looks better in the next year.
That said, I don't remember last generation as particularly laid back. Maybe there was less of a blistering fanboy war due to the differences being much greater, but man, it must have sucked being a Nintendo fan in the Purple Lunchbox generation.