Everyone in the gaming world seems to be immersing themselves in Halo: Reach. But I won't be diving in with them.

The reason? I don't own an Xbox 360.

Like most people these days, funds are tight for me, and have been for a few years. As much as I'd like to spend every cent on every new title for every system, my income is a little tied up in food and shelter at the moment. That has led to some tough decisions.

To maximize my gaming efficiency, I passed up the 360 in favor of a backwards-compatible PS3 (the Metal Gear Solid 4 bundle, if you're curious). I don't regret this decision. I just finished a replay of Shadow of the Colossus in anticipation of the recently announced HD collection and I can pop in classics from my expansive PS2 library like Katamari Damacy and Final Fantasy X whenever I want. For me -- and I'm not trying to stoke the fanboy flames here, just talking personal circumstances -- the PS3 was the right choice.

But I've looked on wistfully as some great gaming experiences stayed exclusive to other platforms. Some, like BioShock, have eventually found their way to me, but many others have passed me by. So here's a few of the most notable I've never played because I owned "the other console." And let us hear about your own missed connections in the comments....

The Phantasy Star series (Sega consoles)

Why I missed it: I'm probably not alone on this one. I was a Nintendo kid all the way, too busy playing Dragon Warrior and Final Fantasy to even know what a Master System was. So I never explored Algol with Alis, Rolf, and friends.

What I missed: While I was slogging through the King of Alefgard's archaic, boring dialogue, I missed an epic sci-fi story and unique character classes (although I still don't know what a "biologist" does). Plot threads also continued from game to game, in contrast to Final Fantasy's self-contained worlds.

Making the connection: PlayStation collections, Virtual Console and even an iPhone port of Phantasy Star 2 all make for easy access should I ever wish to take a stab at defeating Dark Force.

Treasure's classics (Sega consoles)

Why I missed it: When I was a kid, as far as I was concerned, Sega systems were only good for two things -- Sonic and sports games. So I knew nothing of Treasure's Gunstar Heroes, Dynamite Headdy, or Radiant Silvergun (which never came out in America anyway), among others.

What I missed: Gunstar Heroes expanded the Contra power-up template by allowing players to mix and match weapons. Dynamite Headdy combined a creative gameplay premise (launching your detachable head at enemies) with action platforming. And Radiant Silvergun turned shooters on their heads by forgoing power-ups in favor of leveling up the right weapon for each boss.

Making the connection: Gunstar Heroes and Dynamite Headdy are available in Sega collections and on Virtual Console, and Radiant Silvergun hits Xbox Live Arcade next year.

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (Nintendo GameCube)

Why I missed it: The GameCube was the first Nintendo console I chose not to purchase. At the time it just seemed like there weren't any games I wanted to play on the system. So I focused on my PS2 and its DVD capability. (Guess I should have been more patient.)

What I missed: Classic Zelda gameplay in the tradition of Ocarina of Time, but with a beautiful new cel-shaded graphical style. Also, oceans.

Making the connection: All GameCube titles are playable on the Wii, which I own, so I really have no excuse for this shameful gap in my gaming history.

The Halo series (Xbox consoles)

Why I missed it: Sort of the same reason I chose PS3 over 360: I wanted to utilize the backwards compatibility of the PS2 rather than start a new collection of games on the original Xbox.

What I missed: Oh, nothing much, just the most popular shooter series of all time. (To be accurate, I've played a fair amount of Halo multiplayer, but never finished the campaign in any game in the series.)

Making the connection: I suppose I could track down the PC versions of Halo 1 and 2 if I really wanted, but for all others I'll need the real console. Alas.