Still quite new so pardon the ignorance on my part.
I took a look at CC and BB today and found few PS3 systems, none with 80G package. I saw a driver's wheel and pedals for both PS3 and XBOX 360 so these are available.
Here's my thinking and tell me if it is a bad idea-
Both stores told me the newest PS3 system I saw on the web site won't be out until June or so. Today, I can get the XBOX 360 with a cheapo HD DVD drive $49 that is supposed to play many of the troubled DVD's, like Bourne Ultimatum ( I can't play on my A30)
So if I get started now with XBOX 360 and buy from a local BB with return policy it would be the way to go to get started. If I am happy, I stop there and have a solution to my A30 bug troubles. (I'm not worried about HD DVD demise right now)
Then in June or July, if the gamer obsession gets me, I'll spring for the PS3 system that is state of the art.
I'm thinking about $1000 budget for 2 systems and some accessories.
Don and others- I see some of you have multiple systems, like 2 XBOX's why would anyone want or desire 2 or more of the same thing? Multiple rooms?
Earlier, I sort of lied about games. I do have a couple on my cell phone I play when I have a few minutes time to kill. Celeris, Pool, a pinball machine, and PacMan

So computer games are not totally new to me.
I see I can get a BlockBuster membership like my Movie Pass that is a flat rate per month. Is this realistic? I would think it is a good thing to sample many games before you buy. Unlike Movies, Games are better the more you play them, right? So the Game Pass is really only good for sampling at a lower price.