I'm going to get a console

[whr2206]

Finally, I got a job, so now I can afford my pc hardware, and a console. I've decided to go wiht ps2. Xbox here olny offers that bundle for 500 bucks. And for ps2, IM gonng get some good titles..... gt3 gta3....ncaa2002(finally!!!!) those are fot starters..... I dont have a very good job, b/c I couldnt find one. Just manula grunt work for food lion. I have to work 5-10 after school(damn 11 work day!)week days, everyday, to get my ps2 in 2 weeks. It'll be worth it though....

[XenoN]

I had a chance to try out the XBox recently, I wasn't all that impressed. I haven't bought a console since SNES but I think I'll be buying a Gamecube. It's a tough choice, ps2 has quite a few good games out right now but for some reason I've always been a big Nintendo fan.

[SINND3R]

I too have always been a Nintendo fan ever since I was 3 and my mom bought me an NES. I can draw a direct line from that Xmas morning to now... me sitting here like every other night on the computer not doing homework Anyways, I followed up with a SNES and N64, but N64 was gay and directed at younger kids as I'm sure the first two systems were but that was fine then cuz I was younger. But I dont think I'd ever buy another console again. They just dont have the versatility that computers have. Also, I dont have a computer just to play games, but mostly. I do other things on the computer to waste time too.

[DrZaius]

I was planning on getting one of three (PS2, Xbox, GC) as soon as all three where released. At first I was trying to decide between PS2 and Xbox mainly because of their games. But then I read a bit more about GC and it's new DVD version and games that will be relased for it, and I think I've made my mind.

[Cricket]

Hey DrZaius, what is that a picture of?

Cricket

[HAL9000]

I still have my orginal Atari (not even called an Atari 2600 yet) and about 200 cartridges for it

[Demosthenes]

My Atari broke. If I knew how to fix it, I would give it a try, but I do not even know where it is now. Even my folks were addicted to Atari. It was an amazing piece of equipment. I had a ton of games for it, too. I never cared much for consoles after the Nintendo. They became so much like computers when the Playstation came out, that I figured, I already have one. Does anyone if a computer can emulate the PS2?

Respectfully,

Demosthenes

[DrZaius]

Hey DrZaius, what is that a picture of?

It's the DVD version of the GameCube sched. to be released 2002/03. Here's an article about it.
From the article:

The hybrid machine, packaged in a small silver box, will enable users to play GameCube games on 3.150 inch compact disks, listen to CDs, and watch video CDs and DVDs.

[Demosthenes]

What is it with Nintendo and stupidity? They are always different. They still used magnetic cartridges and now they are using mini-CDs. Is this in an effort to prevent pirating or just some stupid marketing ploy? I suspect the former.

Respectfully,

Demosthenes

[DrZaius]

Demosthenes: What's wrong with using mini-CDs and why would it be a "stupid marketing ploy"?

[Cricket]

Thanks DrZaius!

I don't follow the console market and didn't know what that was. Looks like it says "Panasonic" on the face so I thought Panasonic was getting back into the console market. Thanks for the link and info.

Cricket

[Demosthenes]

I do not mean stupid as in "boy that is a stupid idea" but from a marketing stand-point, it is just something to separate Nintendo from the crowd. Ninentendo has lost a lot of business from trying to be different if you remember.

Final Fantasy I - Nintendo
Final Fantasy II - Nintendo (Japanese albeit)
Final Fantasy III - Nintendo (Japanese, too)
Final Fantasy IV - Super Nintendo
Final Fantasy V - Super Nintendo (Japanese)
Final Fantasy VI - Super Nintendo
Final Fantasy VII - PlayStation
Final Fantasy VIII - PlayStation
Final Fantasy IX - PlayStation
Final Fantasy X - PlayStation2

SquareSoft did not want to stick with magnetic cartridges. They wanted optical. Nintendo refused, so they made a contract with PlayStation. SquareSoft is a huge title. You cannot argue that that did not hurt Nintendo. That is the biggest error that I can think of that Nintendo made, losing the Final Fantasy series. What a shame!

Respectfully,

Demosthenes

[DrZaius]

Demosthenes: I understand what you're saying about losing SquareSoft, but to me it was a good thing. I never really liked Final Fantasy and always though it was a game better suited for the PlayStation considering it's consumer base. I couldn't care less what media format Nintendo choses to use (after it, is it so bad that they want to protect against piracy?), I care about what games the system will have. Looking through the list of games to be released I see both Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 and Star Wars Rogue Leader: Rogue Squadron II, two games I'm really looking forward too. Sure, I've seen the great graphics on GT3 and the extremely high levels of interaction in Metal Gear Solid 2 for PS2, but those games just don't interest me.

[Shikwa]

I'd have to agree with Sinnder and Demosthenes- my interest in consoles dropped when I got my first PC.. and that was towards the end of the Atari era.

Consoles are nice for those who want to set one up in a living/games room for the occasional duel with friends/family...yet don't want to mix gaming machine with personal computer or just detest PC's altogether . But, if you already have a decent gaming rig add a TV-out connector (if the monitor is not adequate) and a couple of force feedback gamepads .. and you already have a console in my opinion ..one that’s also a "real" online gaming machine with LAN, modem and internet gaming options not too mention its also a word processor, graphics editor, database compiler, internet browser etc etc.

Btw… I still have my Atari as well and a whole pile of cartridges for it (not 200 though Hal ..but somewhere close ).. I hook it up every once in a while when I get that old nostalgic feeling, and I must admit Space Invaders can still be quite addictive

[Demosthenes]

Losing SquareSoft a good thing? I think Nintendo will disagree. Now, I do not care about consoles at all. I have absolutely no bias in this thing, which is probably what makes me so disagreeable. But, Final Fantasy is one of the largest selling titles. If I remember correctly, I think it is the largest selling title. Sales are astronomical for that game. I have not seen much gameplay on the N64, but I have never seen any full motion videos on it. The only real parts of Final Fantasy that are completely amazing are the FMV and the game would probably be dull indeed with no FMV. So, you are right that SquareSoft was better going with the PlayStation.

As for pirating: Even young people know, especially young people know, so you should know how futile it is to protect data. "In a world where data is coin of the realm, and transmissions are guarded by no better sentinels than man-made codes and corruptible devices, there is no such thing as a secret." Prevention is a futile act and results in wasted money.

But, this is all from a marketing stand-point. I am not arguing at all against the consoles. I am sorry if it sounded this way and am equally sorry that you felt the need to defend your choice. I meant in no way to debase your choice. Anyway, such decisions should be based on personal needs and wants. In programming, the rule of thumb is first think what you want to do, find the software that will allow it, and finally find the hardware is compatible with the software. So, you are right in choosing the games you want, and then buying the console to suit it. That is the reason I lost interest in consoles. When it required having to buy two or three just to run the games I wanted, I said that is it, I will emulate.

Respectfully,

Demosthenes

[DrZaius]

Demosthenes: I had no hopes for a debate either, I was just unclear on your point. If I look at the GameCube in a "market" perspective, it may not be the best system (hardware and game wise), but if I look at it through my perspective, I seems to be the best choice. I did not mean to "defend" my point, mearly state it.

[Demosthenes]

I have to disagree with you there. All my other comments about Nintendo were about its business practices, not its technology (except that cartridge thing). I think the Game Cube has excellent technology and a very good title source. Nintendo has been around for ages, so games will always be written for them, and good ones, too. Zelda and Mario have been around since the beginning. I do not know about Metroid. I know she had a Super Nintendo game, but N64? As per hardware: I do not know for sure, I do not think anyone knows, but I think the GC might give the Emotion Engine of the PS2 a run for its money. And, at a lower price (well not that DVD version from the looks of it), the GC will be more appealing. Still, Nintendo will have to do some work, they have an uphill battle against the PS2. The PS2 supposedly plays DVDs and, more importantly, is backwards compatible. Nintendo has changed formats more often than I change clothes. As for the X-box, I do not know. With nVidia in the picture, it is going to be one hell of a console. A comparison of the systems would be quite interesting. I do not know which will "come out on top," but I do not think any of them will fail like the Dreamcast. Maybe the Xbox if any. Not because it is bad (the Dreamcast was not bad), but it is not the best of times economically and it is their first attempt. But, who knows?

Respectfully,

Demosthenes

[DrZaius]

Demosthenes: I agree with you on the point that Nintendo has been very inconsitant with their cartidges and their designs in general. The GameCube has no support for the N64 cartidge and I'm afraid they're going to start using this mini-DVD media only to drop it in a few years for another proprietary method. Who knows, I like GameCube now, but give me a few months and show me some prices and I might just change my mind.

[whr2206]

well, if sony would be nice and drop their prices....about nintendo...they did make a mistake wiht squaresoft....and cartriges.....and wiht the mini disks, b/c arent dvd games in that format easier to make than on gamecube?? I like the price, but does anyone know if and when the ps2 price will come down....?? Not getting the xbox for a while, untill bill gates proves he can give sony a fight, and have some nice games.... maybe then...i jsut think nintendo needs to do wiht what the whole market is doing, they basicly have the portable handheld market, bet they are slacking in the console wars...

and to the people who stick with their computers....I was goning to do it, but for a 15 year old, gta3 is too much fun to stay away from, damn...I spent hours at my friends house, jsut having a ball wiht that game...gt3 i like too.....its jsut that computer looks like they specialize in real time strategy and online shootem up games...and are lacking severly in arcade gmaes....kessen 2 is an awsome real time for ps2 though...I like both pc and ps2 games, so i need both...

[lovitz]

Nintendo's Gamecube seems to be the winner in the competetion between itself and Microsoft's X-Box. One thing is for sure that Nintendo will most likely have a bigger variety of games than Microsoft's unit.