[OT] Gaming Consoles: Which one?

[Ishamael]

What about the PC?

You might also note, with the upcoming release of the GeForce 4 chipset and processors in the 2Ghz range, all of the new console systems will [yet again] fall behind the might of the PC within a month from now. Until now, price was the biggest drawback.

While still a little more expensive than any of the consoles, the performance and flexibility more than makes up for it. IMHO

Just check out:

Unreal II: http://gamespot.com/gamespot/stories/previews/0,10869,2846883,00.html

Doom 3: http://gamespot.com/gamespot/stories/previews/0,10869,2805395,00.html

Neverwinter Nights: http://gamespot.com/gamespot/stories/previews/0,10869,2701736,00.html

Dungeon Siege: http://gamespot.com/gamespot/stories/news/0,10870,2846689,00.html

 

[Frostmarrow]

The Xbox seem to be an excellent piece of hardware. I'm a bit worried though about it's appearance on the console heaven. The fact that it supports broadband and sports a shiny harddisk makes me shiver. Don't get me wrong, both those things are a-ok in my book but when you add Microsoft to the equation...

This means that (at least from my apocalyptic perspective) console games will be riddled with bugs. When the console market was ruled by Sony, Nintendo and Sega bugs were rare and quality was high. We all know how common bugs are in the PC arena. The thing is that with the harddisk and the Internet connection the companies will have little incentive to root out errors before the golden master stage. Microsoft will rely on the customer for play-testing and patching.

When the line has been crossed and the other companies see how much money Microsoft is saving from this shady approach they will have to throw all quality standards out the window. Pity, well it was fun while it lasted.

 

[UD]

X-box.

Why? Because i'm Microsiths bitch.

 

[beta-ray]

It sounds to me like you want to go with the X-Box, so go for it. If you ask me, X-Box is just a mini-wintel. If you already have a computer then why an X-Box (similar question regarding your DVD player).

As for what I'd recommend, I am not sure. I have a gamecube, but that is because I truly am a casual gamer. I like games that I can just pick up, play for a few minutes and then drop and not feel like I am throwing away anything. Although I haven't been a fan of videogame rpgs, I must admit that I am intrigued by Rare's Rune (in Japan dunno if it is coming to USA) and Kameo... And I don't know why everyone talks about X-Box's AMAZING graphics.... They are nice but not REVOLUTIONARY. I think the GameCube's graphics are as nice, though painted in a slightly different direction.

I would be leaning toward the PS2 if I were in your position. I never had a PS1, so it is less incentive for me. But the controls feel better than the X-Box and it has a better library... and if they and MS don't UPgrade the hardware there is life in there yet.

 

[Trevalon Moonleirion]

I love and swear by my new PS2. I got it for Christmas from my mom, along with Devil May Cry--which is fun though can get repetitive. It's AWESOME that it is backwards compatible, and very cool because you have a very portable DVD player in addition to two systems in one. Silent Hill 2 is the most frightening console game I have EVER played, so that's another selling point--if you like to get scared that is...Halo for XBox does sound very cool, but I'd much rather have a lot of very good or excellent games than just a few great games.

That's my ten cents.

Happy Valentine's Day a wee bit early!

 

[adndgamer]

Re: What about the PC?

You might also note, with the upcoming release of the GeForce 4 chipset and processors in the 2Ghz range, all of the new console systems will [yet again] fall behind the might of the PC within a month from now. Until now, price was the biggest drawback.

While still a little more expensive than any of the consoles, the performance and flexibility more than makes up for it. IMHO

I would definitely not waste the cash on a PC.

Consoles are much better at gaming, IMO, because programmers don't have to take into account all the variables that a game might run with on a PC. This means that it can be optimized more adequately. Also, they tend to be more stable for this same reason.. They dont' need to worry about outside forces working on it.

Also, whereas somebody on a PC will be busy reinstalling windows , the gamer with a console will be playing happily. No need to worry about having the wrong version of DirectX or whatnot. No need to worry about hardware incompatibilities. Nothing. Just fun and gaming.

 

[kilted Frog]

Alright, I'm hooked... so I'll throw in my 2 shiny copper pieces...

I have a PS2, and I've yet to be disapointed by it... Grand Theft Auto 3, as mentioned earlier, is one hell of a game... the fact that it's open ended... there are games within the game... and to be able to steal a car, hear a chat radio station, and be able to switch the station to a station more to your liking (like a Reggae station, or a Rave-style music station), get out of your car, pick up a secret stash, jump back in your car, and the music is still playing on your favorite station.... a nice touch... great game....

Metal Gear Solid 2 and Final Fantasy X are great games, but they are extremely linear.... but still, GREAT games.... Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance is a Diablo clone, but I enjoyed it (the story actually wasn't too bad)... oh, and Grand Turismo 3 is probably one of the best racing games out there today, in my opinion.

Hell, I even enjoy playing Tony Hawk 3, just for a change of pace... varierty of games is something the PS2 is not lacking...

Just be careful though.... you really have to do your homework before you go out and buy a game.... a lot, and I mean A LOT of games are just colourful crap....

- Chris

 

[Eye Tyrant]

Re: Re: What about the PC?

I would definitely not waste the cash on a PC.

Consoles are much better at gaming, IMO, because programmers don't have to take into account all the variables that a game might run with on a PC. This means that it can be optimized more adequately. Also, they tend to be more stable for this same reason.. They dont' need to worry about outside forces working on it.

Also, whereas somebody on a PC will be busy reinstalling windows , the gamer with a console will be playing happily. No need to worry about having the wrong version of DirectX or whatnot. No need to worry about hardware incompatibilities. Nothing. Just fun and gaming.

I agree, and this is why I plan to fork out the dough on a new console....

Thanks for all the input folks. I am thinking that the PS2 will be it for me, though I plan to go test drive them all this weekend...

 

[Eye Tyrant]

Well, I went out today and "test-drove" each of the 3 consoles, and I must say that the Xbox is impressive. To me the graphics and controls of the PS2 seemed "herky-jerky" (I thought perhaps it was the system or monitor it was on, but I went to another location and it was the same). I thought the graphics and overall smoothness of play was much better in both the Xbox and the Gamecube. Though the Gamecube's controllers felt like something out of a Dollar General store though.

As far as games went I played the following:

Xbox:
Nascar 2002
NFL Fever 2002 (I think that was the name)
Operation Delta Force (I think, some flight simulator type deal)
Some Snowboard game...

PS2:
One of the Pod Racing games
WCW Wrestling

Gamecube:
NBA something or other
Super Smash Bros
Pikmin (or is it Pikimin?)

My two boys went with me also. One liked the PS2 and one the Xbox...

If I had to make a decision right now it would be the Box, but fortunately I don't have to do that until probably Friday of next week...

Again thanks for all the input, and if anyone has anymore, feel free to post.

 

[drothgery]

As far as games went I played the following:

Xbox:
Nascar 2002
NFL Fever 2002 (I think that was the name)
Operation Delta Force (I think, some flight simulator type deal)
Some Snowboard game...

It's NFL Fever, and Air Force Delta Storm.
The snowboarding game could have been Amped, Dark Summit, or SSX Tricky.

I'm not sure why I know more about Xbox games than PS2 games; I have a PS2, and don't have an Xbox...