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What Game Console Would You Buy?

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What gaming console system would you buy or recommend based on price/performance?

  • Nintendo Gamecube

    Votes: 20 19.8%
  • Sony PlayStation2

    Votes: 44 43.6%
  • Xbox

    Votes: 25 24.8%
  • Dreamcast

    Votes: 7 6.9%
  • Other (please list below if other)

    Votes: 5 5.0%

  • Total voters
    101

Breadfan

Inactive Moderator
Joined
Jan 4, 2001
Location
Northern VA
Assuming you do not already own a current gaming console, what would you buy?

Keep the following things in mind as you decide:

Console Price
Graphics Quality/Speed
Available Games/Game Quality
Game Prices
Overall Fun Factor
Other Features

Considering all those items, which console would you buy or recommend to someone who does not have a current system?
 
None.

Consoles are neat because they are more stable and easier to use than PC's. So are Macs.

Games look better on a PC, play better unless the developer screws up the code, and you can get games for the PC that would bring an X-Box or PS2 to its knees. You can't buy a game rig for the cost of a console. But you can go a long way towards turning a ho-hum PC into a competent gaming system.



BHD
 
I'd have to side with the GameCube for my personal preference.

Price It's the cheapest console out there from my small investigation. It seems that the PS2 and Xbox are of equal pricing right now.

Graphics I don't really feel that graphics can be compared right now between the top contenders right now. Althought theoretically the PS2 should come in last due to it's age for graphics it seems that it's still holding it's own.

Games Nintendo has a long line of developers that are willing to develop for it's console, especially some titles that are Nintendo exclusive like Mario games, Metroid and others. The quality that goes into the games by Nintendo are excellent, it's been in the industry for a while and knows what it's doing.

Game Price It seems that titles tend to be cheaper on the GameCube side of things. I compared titles that were available from all systems like Madden 2003 and Star Wars: The Clone Wars. The GameCube came out on top with the cheapest pricing, perhaps due to the small size of their CD's. XBox came right after and then PS2 came in with the most expensive titles. For example, Madden's price for the three systems was as follows: GC $30, XB $60, PS2 $75.

Fun I can't really compare fun between systems. They share a lot of the game that are coming out and each has it's own system exclusive titles. I'd have to declare a draw.

Other Features This could get lengthy. :)

Online Play: The XBox has an integrated ethernet card so online play will come cheaper than the other systems where you have to buy an adaptor. Although you have to pay Microsoft a monthly (I think it's monthly)subscription fee for online play. That would be one price for every game that you have. From what I hear the GC is going to use a per game subscription fee. I'm not sure how this will work exactly or what prices because I only have small details. The PS2 works with the existing internet connection so if you already have the internet (which I'm sure most of you do) then this won't tack on any extra costs besides that of the adaptor.

Controllers: XBox's, even the newest smaller models, feel very bulky. As you all remember that original controllers were behemoths compared to anything else we've ever seen. Good if you have large hands, but I think the majority of us don't. One thing that is an excellent feature is the long cable and the piece that disconnects when you tug on it. Every system should have this. The PS2's controller design was kept from their original PlayStation system. A good move in my opinion for the people who don't want to adjust to something they don't know. It's an average controller and should feel confortable to most users. I personally love the GC's controller, it's a perfect fit for my hand, doesn't have too many buttons that it's confusing but still useful. This is my personall favourite.

Portability/Size: I'll keep this short as I've probably spent too much time on this post already. :) XBox: Behemoth of a system, difficult to move around due to it's size and heavy weight. PS2: Good size for portability. Average weight. GC: Designed for portability, has a handle too. :)

Well I hope you enjoyed my large speach on theses systems. I didn't look at the Dreamcast due to my lack of knowledge of the system, it's difficult to get games for because so much are out of production, and no recent titles are available for comparison.

-DarkArctic
 
BaldHeadedDork said:
None.

Consoles are neat because they are more stable and easier to use than PC's. So are Macs.

Games look better on a PC, play better unless the developer screws up the code, and you can get games for the PC that would bring an X-Box or PS2 to its knees. You can't buy a game rig for the cost of a console. But you can go a long way towards turning a ho-hum PC into a competent gaming system.



BHD

I understand many of your sentiments here -- my computer is a very competent gamer, and I wouldn't trade it for any console when it comes to playing UT and many other great games I have.

But there is also somethign to be said for consoles, such as plopping down on the couch, popping the console on, and playing a few games on the TV.

The other thing consoles have going for them are they are relatively cheap, (149 gets you a gamecube and atleast 1 game), plus, take a walk down the game section at the electronics store. The number of games for consoles compared to the number of PC games. There are ALOT of games that make consoles that never make it to the PC. (This is a shame, I know, but it's also the way it is.)
 
LET THE FANBOY DEBAUCHERY BEGIN!

Console Price:
Price is well not that much of factor now as it was a year ago (when the PS2 and the xbox were $299)

all three major consoles are under $200 today


Graphics Quality/Speed:
graphics quality not much of a factor, yeah you can be picky and spout out a bunch of stats and numbers that no one (especially myself) cares about

Available Games/Game Quality
This is what a console should be judged by, what games you can play with it. each console has their flagship titles that hold it up

xbox-Halo, what else I dont know
ps2-Final fantasy series, Madden 2002-?
Gamecube-Zelda, Mario, Metroid

a lot of people argue that the gamecube has too many "kiddy" games, I grow tired of these comments and pity people who have to resort to making such shortsighted comments to justify their positions.

for sheer numbers it would go to the PS2, this can be just because it has been out longer than the other two consoles. and maybe because it has great third party support.

xbox-i dont know much about the games in this console, halo? meh.

game prices-
not much of a factor as almost games when they are released are 49.99

Fun factor-
the fun factor depends on the user, I might have more fun on the game ikaruga than the other joe shmo video gamer next door.

Other features.

controller:
I would have to say the PS2 controller is superior to the other 2 as it is effective for all types of gaming: fighting, rpg, etc. the gamecube controller is only weak for fighting games. as for the xbox, from experience i found this the most difficult to use small, oddly placed buttons.

of course the controller problem can be easily solved by a 3rd party controller or an adapter.

online
clearly the xbox is leading in this category for having the most titles available and the built in ethernet port. but quickly the rift between the xbox and both ps2 and gc is closing, as all the next EA sports games (madden, Tiger woods golf etc) are being released with online support and will probably be the most popular online games (especially madden).


oh yeah I'm a proud owner of a Gamecube.
 
I just realized the other day that I could get a gamecube and 4 games for what I would pay for a 9700 pro. hmm...

but i have to sotp spending money so, no! bad thoughts! :D
 
PS2 just cause of the massive game selection, plus you can always play a PS1 game which has to at least double your selection of featured titles. All systems have good games, but PS2 in my opinion has more games worth playing than any other system. Plus it has the The Final Fantasy Series, and now with the remade originals you can play any final fantasy game ever made on the PS2. I own both a PS2 and a game-cube. Would never invest in a Halo-box when I have a mouse keyboard, better first persons and better graphics sitting in front of me now ;). Game-cube only has a few good games, but since it only cost me $150 w/metroid, add on some used games resident evil/zelda, and you got a pretty decent product for your money. Still though PS2 while some games are lacking in eye candy, it has more games with enjoyable gameplay and its controller is the easiest to hold/use. Not oversized like X-box with tiny close together buttons, and not small with akward sized buttons like the gamecube controller (although I do really like my wavebird) :)
 
I own an X-Box and a Gamecube...I used to have a PS2 but a kid offered me $350 because the BX was sold out and I was leaving the base...he was desperate for FFX. I told him if he bought my games as well he had a deal....made for a lighter load when I moved. My roommate has a PS2 and the truth be told...you will find me on my computer and laptop, but hardly ever on the console systems...I'm just not a huge gamer. :cool:
 
Game consoles suck. I don't know why anybody would revert to such sub-par performance compared to what the pc can do.
 
The NES dude!!! Duck Hunt is the best seizure-causing game EVER!!! And I can't plop on the couch because my console collection is connected to the video input of my computer...
 
mikapc said:
Game consoles suck. I don't know why anybody would revert to such sub-par performance compared to what the pc can do.

Value (You're not able to build a computer for under 200 with the graphics of an Xbox, PS2 or even Gamecube)

Portability

Cause it doubles as a DVD player

Cause the xbox will eventually (already does?) play divx movies. Playing Divx movies off a CD onto your TV is killer.

Better stability

No installation headache

No driver headaches

Better resale value. People STILL pay a relatively high amount for SNES systems. Good luck trying to sell a 13 year old computer.
 
I go with computers all the way with hooking up a xbox to it later if i feel like it.

even with computers you can hook it up to your tv, and get game controllers, sit on the couch and have the same gaming fun as consoles. Same for movies too.

You can get a good graphics card for the same price as a xbox or ps2 also.

Dreamcast, i had that one and loved it. Was so underrated, it had great games, graphics, but never really caught on, i still dont know why. I still love thinking of my dreamcast. Going online with it and the net was such new and enthusiatic thing too for me.
Chu chu!
 
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