[rainless]

Well I'm on vacation in the States and OHHHH WHAT WONDERS this country affords!

I've finally had a chance to actually try out all of the consoles and their very best games: More than that, I won 300 bucks at the casinos in Indiana and actually had a chance to BUY whatever console I wanted, but was stunned by the fact that I haven't, (as of today) bought *any* of them (except the PSP which I've received as a gift.)

DS Lite: Elite Beat Agents: This game proved a lot of things to me. It (and watching the EB demonstrate it for me) proved that the DS Lite could live up to its reputation as being one of the most innovative systems ever created and succeed on its own terms. It also proved that developers could find creative ways to program for the system and make a ton of cash in the process. The fact that Phoenix Wright (not Mario or Metroid, though to be fair Phoenix Wright was briefly discontinued and is now back by popular demand) is sold out everywhere I go causes me no end of grinning.

The DS Lite is currently in the lead as far as doing something with my winnings. (Though it is tied with "Find and buy a 7900GTO.)

PS3: I think my overall disappointment with the system is nothing short of... COLOSSAL. It has nothing to do with Sony's business practices, the Cell processor, or even the games. It's actual the system ITSELF that's got me in an uproar, and the fact that it looks like a scaled down model of my '83 Buick Riviera. It's the fact that the Six-Axis basically perorms like a third-party remake of the Dual-Shock 2. And then there's that HORRIBLE fan noise that at least one of the display systems I saw makes.

That, and the fact that I have absolutely no room in my luggage to bring it back to the States, and that it's too late to sell one of these things on Ebay. Because I had a chance to buy one the first day I was here... but couldn't figure out what I would do with it if I got it.

In a time where everything except LCD screens are becoming smaller, the PS3 is a shocking disappointment: You have no idea how small apartments in Paris are.

360: Somehow 300 dollars isn't the same as 399.99. Especially when you don't live in the US and don't have a bank account that you could cash in a rebate with (and that would take two months anyway). Still, I would overcharge my account just to get one of these things, but I was struck with a question that stunned me: Why?

I was very impressed by Gears of War, but it's really not my kind of game. And there are only half a dozen games or so that I would really want. But here's the catch: After buying this system... I couldn't afford any of them! Best buy had this awesome deal where if you bought a 360 you got Need for Speed underground and a 20 dollar gift card. I still don't think there are any 20 dollar 360 games, and to me, 400 bucks is still a lot of money. If I only pick up another 100 bucks in Vegas, then I'll be all over it all the same, but if I picked up two hundred then I'd probably just buy a projector. That's sort of the price range you're in.

Wii: I would honestly buy one of these things just because it only costs 250 bucks. I remember everything I said about the Wii, and I surely meant it, but 250 bucks would mean I would still have 50 bucks left over from my Indiana casino winnings, and a compact little system I could fit in my suitcase. It's been sold out everywhere, but I haven't really been TRYING to buy one. Hell, I found a PS3 without trying (I was just there to sell some PS2 games) if I put forth any actual effort I could've picked up a Wii at one of the hundreds of stores in Chicago that were selling them this morning. This afternoon I'll be in best buy, if they have any left over I might buy one... then sell it if I do too well in Vegas and get a projector
----------------------------------------------------

My opinion has definately shifted on all the consoles. After having the money to buy one and seeing them in person... things have changed. I would buy a DS Lite straight out, but I absolutely REFUSE to ever pay full price for anything, and nobody wants to even drop down to 119.99. We'll see what happens there.

Still I'd give the slight edge to a new video card for the rig in my sig. Something about "more power" pleases me...

[NOThelagak]

i love that youve come around rain. i like unbiased and honest opinions.

haha, btw: love the buick riviera analagy.

[Daleon]

I think I went to the same casino last time I was up in Chicago. Big boat that looks like a cruise liner?

I wouldn't worry about any consoles and just use the cash to fund some more fun. Though I'm a poker degenerate and hit WSOPC and WPT tourneys all over the country but you'll see me on tv one day!

[hrhrhrFOOT]

hmm...numerous places sell the xbox 360 core for 300 dollars which is exactly in your range ;p just wont have too much to go along with it haha

[rainless]

Originally Posted by hrhrhrFOOT

hmm...numerous places sell the xbox 360 core for 300 dollars which is exactly in your range ;p just wont have too much to go along with it haha

Yeah that's the thing. I got thirty bucks at GameCrazy for the remainder of my trade-ins. And they had a used core system for 279... which would then be 250 after my trade in... then maybe 295 after taxes. So you see I still wouldn't have enough for a MEMORY CARD let alone a game or anything.

@Daleon: Yeah, using the money for more fun is probably the smartest option. I just like the idea of "portable property." The most acceptable thing to me would be to use about 100 bucks of the cash and get something just to say "I got THAT by betting five bucks at a casino" and then I don't really care what happens to the rest of the money. Long as I have something to show for it. Know what I mean?

If best buy still had a 7900GS on sale for 150 bucks, then I would've gotten that. Funny the first system I saw in this country for sale was a PS3...

[rainless]

Just got a DS Lite and Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney.

The world is a beautiful place...

[xb1az3x]

I would not plan on just walking into a store in Chicago to pick up a Wii, I have been trying to get one since they came out and nobody ever has any, they sell out in minutes.

[rainless]

Tons of PS3s though

An amusing anecdote:

I went to EB on Elston to buy Darkstalkers for the PSP (they're having a buy two used games get one free sale btw) and as I was leaving I saw the UPS truck. I initially asked the guy if he had either the Wii of PS3. He said no. Then I said. Aww... nevermind. Didn't come for them anyway.

But as I was leaving (with Darkstalkers, Virtua Tennis, and Metroid Prime for 38 bucks instead of just Dark stalkers for 15 bucks) I saw the UPS truck pull up... and I saw some big boxes.

So I figured there was a chance they would have a Wii. I asked them "if there was one in the shipment." He said check back in an hour.

So I waited an hour. He assured me if I waited and came back in an hour he wouldn't have sold them all. So I went back, somebody came in the store and asked if he had the Wii. He said "No." Then after that person started looking at games he asked me "You want one?" I said "Hell yeah!" And he goes to the back and comes back with... A 60 Gig PS3!!!

I was like "DAMNIT!" And this was the same store that had the 40 gig when I first got here. My second opporotunity to have a PS3. And I still haven't even SEEN a friggin' Wii.

Mind you... the only reason I want one is because it would fit nicely into my casino winnings. (300 bucks, or even the 200 bucks I have left after getting the DS Lite makes a nice little setup for a Wii off of money I won by betting only five bucks.) And so I could add people to my Wii buddy list.

The PS3 is a disaster.

[Niku-Sama]

thats funny, some one i know works at wally world, they got 24 PS3's in yesterday......they sold 2, they even announced it in the store that they had them in stock.

oh well small towns

[OC Noob]

Originally Posted by rainless

Tons of PS3s though

An amusing anecdote:

I went to EB on Elston to buy Darkstalkers for the PSP (they're having a buy two used games get one free sale btw) and as I was leaving I saw the UPS truck. I initially asked the guy if he had either the Wii of PS3. He said no. Then I said. Aww... nevermind. Didn't come for them anyway.

But as I was leaving (with Darkstalkers, Virtua Tennis, and Metroid Prime for 38 bucks instead of just Dark stalkers for 15 bucks) I saw the UPS truck pull up... and I saw some big boxes.

So I figured there was a chance they would have a Wii. I asked them "if there was one in the shipment." He said check back in an hour.

So I waited an hour. He assured me if I waited and came back in an hour he wouldn't have sold them all. So I went back, somebody came in the store and asked if he had the Wii. He said "No." Then after that person started looking at games he asked me "You want one?" I said "Hell yeah!" And he goes to the back and comes back with... A 60 Gig PS3!!!

I was like "DAMNIT!" And this was the same store that had the 40 gig when I first got here. My second opporotunity to have a PS3. And I still haven't even SEEN a friggin' Wii.

Mind you... the only reason I want one is because it would fit nicely into my casino winnings. (300 bucks, or even the 200 bucks I have left after getting the DS Lite makes a nice little setup for a Wii off of money I won by betting only five bucks.) And so I could add people to my Wii buddy list.

The PS3 is a disaster.

One might even go so far as to say there is a shortage

Glad i pre-ordered mine early.

[rainless]

Originally Posted by OC Noob

One might even go so far as to say there is a shortage

Glad i pre-ordered mine early.

I still actually want a new video card more than I want a Wii. They have a 7600GTS on sale at Microcenter for 100 bucks. They had at least five of them in stock last time I was there, so if they're still there after christmas I might pick one up then. (I wonder if two 7600GTSes are faster than one 7900GS... faster or not, that would be more memory.)

[OC Noob]

Originally Posted by rainless

I still actually want a new video card more than I want a Wii. They have a 7600GTS on sale at Microcenter for 100 bucks. They had at least five of them in stock last time I was there, so if they're still there after christmas I might pick one up then. (I wonder if two 7600GTSes are faster than one 7900GS... faster or not, that would be more memory.)

It seems like you would get more bang for your buck buying 1 high-end card vs. 2 mid-ranged cards, but I haven't looked at vid cards in a long time. Good luck in your search and congrats on your winnings/DS.

[rainless]

Originally Posted by OC Noob

It seems like you would get more bang for your buck buying 1 high-end card vs. 2 mid-ranged cards, but I haven't looked at vid cards in a long time. Good luck in your search and congrats on your winnings/DS.

Thanks

Just picked up a poker game for DS for ten bucks. They also had Tiger Woods for ten bucks, but I wasn't at best buy to buy anything for myself, just happened to see the ten dollar thing on the way out...