Advice in buying a new Gaming Console [Archive]

View Full Version : Advice in buying a new Gaming Console

Alex Kidd

07-13-2003, 05:07 PM

Well, I think it's time I retire my Dreamcast like I did my Sega Genesis and Master System, meaning I'll keep playing them, but accpet that "new" games are going to be pleasant surprises once every now and then.
Games are just TOO hard to find now for it... I don't even mind so much that they aren't making new ones... but I can't even find any the of the ones they HAVE made! And don't tell me to find them online... e-bay prices tend to be a little high, plus I hate dealing with the people on e-bay who cant seem to realize that my being in Canada means you're NOT going to get your payemnt via mail in less than a week. If you don't want long waits for payment, then exclude Canadian bidders. And hey I'M the one getting the shitty end of the stick, I have to 3 weeks for the payment to get to YOU, THEN I have to wait another 3 weeks for my package to get to ME!
And THAT said, being Canadian means ALWAYS having to pay in US funds when it comes to ANY e-commerce which means I get reminded over and over again how the metal and paper our money is printed on is probably worth more thans it negotiable value.

Wow... that turned into quite a rant... back to the point.

I need (well... want) a new system, and I'm very torn up as to what to get.
I've been weighing my options.

PS2. Pros: a HUGE library of games, many cheap ones, PLUS it's backwards compatible with the PS1 and has probably the best controller design since the 16 bit eras.
Cons: I HATE the "PlayStation". Even just the word makes my stomach turn a little. I don't know why but I've ALWAYS harbored hatred for the PSX. and the PS2 is no different. maybe it's just cause I always root for the underdog... but I'm a man of my convictions and I don't think ANYthing could make me buy a PS2. So adding it here is probably just a waste of space.
Local Price? never even checked.

GameCube. Pros: I have a GBA which I won't be retiring any time soon, so combined with the GameBoy Player I have quite a dandy gaming system... Plus it's a failry cheap system to buy.
Cons: once again Nintendo's designers dropped acid before designing the controller.... jeez... thats what I hated most about the N64... you need 3 and a half hands to use the controller PLUS it had that WEAK analog stick... is the Cubes analog stick as structuraly unsound? However I'm not COMPLETLY dumping it's controller, it's not as bad as the N64, it just has such "sporadic" button placement...
Local price. $160 and is available with a Metroid, Zelda, or Mario Sunshine as packins. I'm yet to find one with a GB Player... but if i DO buy a Cube I'll wait till I can get one packed with one.

XBox. Pros: Some great Sega franchises, a failry decent controller, and a great library of games of which most are fairly cheap.
Cons:... Can't really think of Any.
Local price. $260 with Jet Grind Radio and Sega GT as packins.

Really, I think the XBox is my best option... but the idea of interacting my lovely GBA with GameCube is what's causing my indesiciveness.

Alex Kidd

I'm such a Sega FanBoy, this'll be my first Non-Sega console... I feel so dirty.

SoulBlazer

07-13-2003, 05:11 PM

How can anyone HATE the GameCube controller? I LOVE it. It's probaly the second best designed controller I ever used -- confertable, handles well, easy layout, good fit, lightweight.

The gaming support for XBox looks uncertain this next year. I'd stick with the GC. But the PS2 DOES have the best gaming libray for it. If you can find one used with some stuff for it, it's not a bad value.

hydr0x

07-13-2003, 05:20 PM

the gamecube controller is indeed fantastic, trust me, i hated the n64 one, but i love the cube's . the analog stick is much better than the n64 one and the z button at the back is gone which makes it a lot more comfortable to use

if u r such a ps hater, than u shouldn't even consider buying it

i think as all cons against the cube are gone and considering all the pros it has (mentioned gb player, most unique games, zelda *hehe*, load times, size...) the cube is the best choice for u

udisi

07-13-2003, 05:33 PM

I too must agree that the GC controller is awsome...I had some bad thoughts when I first saw it , but it kicks.

Since you are a big sega person it's a tough descision, as sega has sent exclusive titles to all platforms...if you're into the more experimental or niche sega games I'd definitly go xbox...Gunvalkerie, Panzer Dragoon Orta, etc.....The GC Has had all the sonic titles so far and the monkey ball series, but really all the sonics are remakes and the new sonic will be multiplatform.....and as for the PS2 it has Shinobi, which is a grat game in my opinon , and there is a sequel slated for release.

jonjandran

07-13-2003, 05:41 PM

Stop being such a little girl. Go out and get a 2nd and 3rd job and buy every system ever made like a real GAMER.
:D

petewhitley

07-13-2003, 06:16 PM

Since this is becoming the Gamecube Controller Appreciation Thread, I'll chime in with my praises as well. The Wavebird is easily my favorite controller EVER, and I think the slightly bulkier design makes it even more comfortable than the corded version. And the batteries last for-freaking-ever.

That said, buy an Xbox.

Funk Buddy

07-13-2003, 06:55 PM

I personally would choose in this order:

PS2
XBox
GC

That being said, I never owned a PS or any Nintendo console before the GC.

I bought the XBox because of the Sega titles and no other reason, but out of the three, it's second. I just bought the Dino Crisis import version so I'll try some imports soon. Well... what there are of them!

I bought a Panasonic GC just because, and it has the smallest spot in my collection next to the PS. If you don't like the controller get one of the cube joyboxes and use a PS2 controller with it. There are some great games for the Cube and I hope I'll grow to love it, but for now it's the dumps.

hezeuschrist

07-13-2003, 07:03 PM

Gamecube is easily the greatest current system in my mind. Sure I've got nearly 30 PS2 games, but most of them aren't that original aside from the fact that they kick ass, as I only put games that kick ass in my library. Well ok not really, I own some marginally shitty titles, but whatever.

I've got 10 gamecube games, and EVERY one just rocked my face off. Every one, I never got bored with any of them (except mario sunshine a little bit, what can ya do), and everything about the system looks, sounds, and feels excellent. Mario sunshine is one of the most colorful games I've ever played, and Eternal Darkness has the best atmosphere and creepyness of any game I've ever played. Pair that up with the other first party titles (Metroid, Zelda, ect), an excellent wireless controller, and the option to add every gameboy game to the library for a measly $50, and to me it becomes the clear winner.

Funk Buddy

07-13-2003, 07:41 PM

Well ok not really, I own some marginally shitty titles, but whatever.

LOL

Could it just be me never owning a Nintendo console before? I mean... am I really missing something because of that fact? I feel that there are some great games and I hope more will come out a little faster. Maybe that's one reason so many people have a PS2, because they pump out the games. @_@ Either that or the mindless sheep comments I've read in the past is true! :)

Kid Fenris

07-13-2003, 07:55 PM

PS2. Pros: a HUGE library of games, many cheap ones, PLUS it's backwards compatible with the PS1 and has probably the best controller design since the 16 bit eras.
Cons: I HATE the "PlayStation". Even just the word makes my stomach turn a little. I don't know why but I've ALWAYS harbored hatred for the PSX. and the PS2 is no different. maybe it's just cause I always root for the underdog... but I'm a man of my convictions and I don't think ANYthing could make me buy a PS2. So adding it here is probably just a waste of space.
Local Price? never even checked.

Have you ever actually played something on the PlayStation or the PS2? I'm sure you could find at least a few games to like in the PSone's vast library, and probably a few from the PS2 stable as well.

That said, there's no better way to gauge your interest in systems than by playing them, even if it's just at a department store kiosk. Try out a friend's system, rent one from Blockbuster, and then make a list of the games that you'd want to own for each console. You'll know which one to get.

Alex Kidd

07-14-2003, 02:14 PM

Well I did it.

I bought a GameCube and put a GameBoy Player on Lawaway (should have the money for it in about 2 weeks)

I got it bundled with Metroid. I was deciding bewteen that one and the one bundled with Zelda... but before I bought it I played the store demo just to see the game and wrap my head around the controller.
I wasn't too impressed with Zelda (then I also wasn't impressed with the N64 games either) And I got the one with Metroid.

I must say, Once I used it for about 5 minutes, I got into the groove of the controller COMPLETELY, I like it. However I haven't really played yet, I'm the kinda guy that has to read the manual front to back AND between the lines before I dig into a game. And I only picked it up about 30 minutes ago.

Cheers and thanks for the advice.

Alex Kidd

SoulBlazer

07-14-2003, 02:34 PM

Congrats, Alex, I think you made the right choice. :D

Yes, the GC probaly has the smallest library out there right now -- but I've enjoyed a high percentage of them as opposed to the PS2 and XBox games. (And I'm just talking about exclusive games, not ones you can get for two or three systems). I just don't see anything in the XBox exclusive library I want as opposed to what Nintendo and Sony are doing.

And getting a Game Boy Player to go with it is also a REALLY smart move. Will add a lot more playtime to everything. :)

You also might enjoy Animal Crossing, Pikmin, and Eternal Darkness -- and soon Harvest Moon, Wario World, and F-Zero are coming out for it also. And later this year the remake of Metal Gear Solid and Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles. A lot of good games! :-D

grayejectbutton

07-14-2003, 03:02 PM

Ah, the GC controller.... I used to despise it. First time I used it was in a store just after the GC was released. I thought it was a rickety, unplayable thing that felt like it was going to fall apart in my hands. But...I have since changed my mind, but only after considerable use of my own GC. It's a controller that takes a bit of getting used to. Personally, I prefer it to the PS2 controller (I've always hated PSX/PS2 pads) but feel it's not as good as the XBox controller.

As for which console you should get, I wouldn't necessarily rule out a PS2. But I think they are waaaay overpriced for a three year old console. But the PS2 has the best library of games by far. Plus, so many of the great games (i.e. GT3) are available for $20.

XBox would be my personal choice because it is the superior console, but it's a bit lacking in terms of must have games. It's true that it does have some nice Sega titles but so does the GC. Halo...ah, Halo...contender for greatest game of all time in my opinion. But it's the only killer app the XBox has. Sure, it has other good games, but none that come close to touching Halo.

Gamecube...see if you can pick one up at EB or somewhere that will give you a decent deal on a used one. You should be able to get one for $90 (US). Otherwise, if a new one is what you're after, get one with Zelda. Personally, I am not keen on the cel-shaded Zelda (although I think cel-shading is great in some games like Jet Set/Grind Radio), but c'mon...it's Zelda! If you can get one with Ocarina of Time bundled with it, even better. I say this because you can then buy a pre-owned Metroid Prime (a MUST HAVE game) separately, rather than getting than bundled with the system, cuz Metroid Prime is cheaper to buy pre-owned (about $30 vs $40 for Zelda). There is a logic to this... :)

Or you can just buy a SNES if you don't have one. That would be my choice!

Nature Boy

07-14-2003, 04:27 PM

Here I was all set to offer some advice and you go and buy the system already!!! :D

I'll commend you on your choice though - the Gamecube is my current heads and tails favourite of the big three.

(You should seriously get over that anti-PS vibe though - there are a lot of good games for the PS2 (and PSone) and of all three systems they easily have the cheapest games going for it - plus they're *still* releasing new PSone games :) ).

The Unknown Gamer

07-14-2003, 07:09 PM

No matter which system you finally buy as both of us are in the same
boat and I can't figure out which one to buy. I have just two simple
words to say to you they are: EXTENDED WARRANTY

I was talking to one of the salesmen at EB Games and he told me and I
quote "You wouldn't believe the number of returns we get, just because
the system goes bad".

hezeuschrist

07-14-2003, 07:32 PM

I think the extended warranty statement mainly applies to the PS2. I didn't do it myself (I bought it like a week after launch, and I could only get one of those absurd $500 bundles)... but if I could have I would. That, and I didn't forsee the problems that everyone was going to have with them.

I've got about 40 PSOne title and 25 PS2 titles, and they're all great... albeit vast majority being RPG's... what can I say, that's what I'm into. But great choice, it's already heavily outshining the N64.

Nature Boy

07-15-2003, 09:12 AM

I think the extended warranty statement mainly applies to the PS2. I didn't do it myself (I bought it like a week after launch, and I could only get one of those absurd $500 bundles)... but if I could have I would. That, and I didn't forsee the problems that everyone was going to have with them.

Personally I think the extended warranty is a scam. They might try to *convince* you that you 'need' one because of all of the returns they get, but it's still a crap shoot. I never buy lottery tickets, and I never buy extended warranties.

Kid Fenris

07-15-2003, 01:59 PM

As a former EB register monkey myself, I'd say the extended warranty thing is only worthwhile if you're getting a PS2, and even then, it might not be necessary if you always take extremely good care of your systems (like everyone here, right?).

Nintendo consoles have a well-deserved reputation for being sturdy, and from what I saw, the GameCube is no different, despite its disc-based mechanism. The Xbox isn�t quite as reliable, but the few that were returned to my store didn't work from the start, so they were still covered by the return policy.

Alex Kidd

07-15-2003, 05:45 PM

Nintendo consoles have a well-deserved reputation for being sturdy, and from what I saw, the GameCube is no different, despite its disc-based mechanism.
Exsqueeze me? baking powder?
The NES anyone? Hell it's not quite as serious but finding a SNES without a broken eject button ain't easy either

Alex Kidd

Kid Fenris

07-15-2003, 06:53 PM

Exsqueeze me? baking powder?
The NES anyone? Hell it's not quite as serious but finding a SNES without a broken eject button ain't easy either

Alex Kidd

Your results may vary, but I've seen plenty of SNES and N64 units that still function even though they've apparently been dragged behind pickup trucks. The NES isn't quite as durable, but the old toasters will stand up to a lot of punishment, and scores of them still work fine some fifteen years after they were made --a impressive feat for a piece of electronics that was never supposed to be more than a simple gaming machine. And as for GameBoys, I've witnessed them being hurled across a room or out of a moving car. They still play.

Not that other consoles are cheap, but I've always been particularly impressed by Nintendo's stuff.

hydr0x

07-16-2003, 05:18 AM

The Manimal

07-16-2003, 10:21 PM

Neither have I.

I do not like the GameCube controller. It is an improvement over the N64 controller, but they should have the crosspad at the far left and not the joystick. They are going backwards. Also, the X and Y buttons are awkward and the A and B buttons are different sizes? Why? They should have it similar to the PS2/PSX controllers...which weren't that far from the SNES controllers...

Get an extended warranty with your GameCube. Mine lasted ONE week before it had a system error and had to be replaced. I think I played it for about 4 hours max. New one is working fine so far..

grayejectbutton

07-17-2003, 03:23 AM

I was thinking to my myself, "Oooh, my SNES' eject button isn't broken! Maybe I have a rarity here." Then I immediately thought afterwards, "Hang on, I've NEVER seen a SNES with a broken eject button. Doh."

As for extended warranties, I would always recommend getting one but only if it's not too expensive. If it's only ten bucks or so, it's definately worth it. I bought a Dreamcast from EB a while back and the laser pickup screwed up after only 2 weeks. I didn't have the extended warranty but, thankfully, you get a month's warranty with EB anyway. I would have lost my $40 (not a lot, but imagine if it had been an XBox) if my Dreamcast had broken just a couple of weeks later.

Consequently, I did get the extended warranty on my Gamecube. I think it's good advice for any CD-based console since they are far more prone to breaking down than cartridge based systems.

hydr0x

07-17-2003, 05:23 AM

this warranty topic is soooooooo funny for a german

we have a 2 year full warranty on all electronics BY LAW, stores MUST give it, without extra costs

bargora

07-17-2003, 09:51 AM

this warranty topic is soooooooo funny for a german

we have a 2 year full warranty on all electronics BY LAW, stores MUST give it, without extra costs
That's interesting. Do electronics cost more in Germany than they do in countries that do not require warranty or that require a warranty of shorter duration?

hydr0x

07-17-2003, 02:43 PM

calthaer

07-17-2003, 03:05 PM

Germans just seem to place a much higher value on quality & durability when it comes to...well to lots of things. I didn't see any buildings made out of wood while I was there - all brick & cement. They'll last a good few centuries I'd imagine while most of the wooden quick-e-house developments in the US with wooden frames might rot away in 1-200 years...I don't know that would be an interesting topic to research.

Anyways I own a PS2 and a 'Cube and...well I have to say that as far as current games go the 'Cube is the best system. I owned the PS2 first but that was largely because I wanted to pick up a ton of PS1 games that I never had (because I never owned a PS1) and had always heard about...so I bought the PS2 and went right out and got Castlevania: SotN and Xenogears and Chrono Cross and FFTactics and FFIX and Grandia and Mega Man X4-X6 and a bunch of other games that I wanted to get. I think the only PS2 game that I have bought and actually enjoyed was Maximo. I have ICO but come on - the King's-Quest-type adventure went out of style years ago (as it should have - linear & boring), I don't care how good the game looks.

The 'Cube I got recently and man...Metroid Prime makes me feel like I've rediscovered gaming. I have a few other games like Sunshine and Zelda but haven't gotten into them yet. Oh yeah and Animal Crossing is a surprising amount of fun too. Just too many great games (although I did pick up Bounty Hunter and that game = su><0rz). The 'Cube is a good choice - I hope more people realize this and it becomes more popular.

Oberfuhrer Hamm

07-17-2003, 03:34 PM

A couple of days ago I actually went through the same thing in my head. Which new system to buy. Up until that time, I had been playing PC games. When I finally realized that my craptastic computer (it is a P2 400 mhz) was just too bad to play modern PC games, I decided to give up on upgrades to it and blow my money on a new console instead. After a few days of hard thinking, I finally decided to get a GameCube. My reasoning was that 1. I am a Nintendo junkie. 2. The PS2 is too underpowered and overpriced (Still $249CDN where I am) for my taste, and 3. I will let Microsoft learn it's console lessons with the Xbox before I consider looking at a BSOD not on my computer, oh, and it's exclusive games did not really leap out at me.
By the time I had settled on the 'Cube, I got a Platinum one with a pack in Zelda (Zelda rocks, except Majora's Mask >:( )

Anyways, enough of that. It is nice to get back into console gaming for the first time in 4 years! :D I am now a console junkie again!

PS: Next console I buy, though, I buy with a memory card! Not saving a Zelda game is supreme pain.... :smash:

Kid Ice

07-17-2003, 05:48 PM

Simple answer.

Which of the following do you want to play most?

Halo
GTA Vice City
Metroid Prime

Purchase accordingly.

As for your anti-PSX rant, honestly tell me you don't like ANY of the following games:
Gran Turismo
Tekken 3
Castlevania SOTN
Resident Evil
Colony Wars
G Darius
Wipeout XL
Syphon Filter
Metal Gear Solid
Ridge Racer 4
Parappa the Rapper
Final Fantasy 7
Driver

If you're not interested in any of these, then indeed, you probably have little use for a PSX.

And I agree the Gamecube controller sucks.

hydr0x

07-18-2003, 03:44 AM

just a quick answer

Gran Turismo --> enough good racing games on other systems (and a lot of people don't like racing games at all)

Tekken 3 --> got Soul Calibur 2 on GC, enough 3D-Fighting glory
Castlevania SOTN --> well, enough cv games on older systems
Resident Evil --> enough GC ports
Colony Wars --> get the PC version
G Darius --> got ikaruga :)
Wipeout XL --> F-Zero
Syphon Filter --> mh, doesn't interest me at all
Metal Gear Solid --> you've got Twin Snakes GC
Ridge Racer 4 --> same thing as with gran turismo
Parappa the Rapper --> mhhhhh ok but one game doesn't make it
Final Fantasy 7 --> PC Version
Driver --> PC Version

Kid Ice

07-18-2003, 09:30 AM