Why the Revolution is my Next Gen Choice

[2Dskillz]

Here we all are on the verge of a new generation of consoles and decisions must be made. Many maturing gamers are now starting families and cannot easily afford or have the time necessary to enjoy multiple consoles. This fact is even more prevalent because of a solid and growing handheld market that is also competing for our time and money. So, unlike the current generation I feel that many will be settling with one at home console. As not to mislead anyone reading further I have chosen the Nintendo Revolution as my future console purchase, what I would like to do now is explain this decision and the difficulty in reaching it.
Let me begin with an easy to remove option, the Xbox 360. I have never enjoyed first person shooters on consoles, nor do I spend much time playing sports titles. Equally I have grown more than tired of the paint by numbers third person shooters that have been filling the market since Grand Theft Auto’s spectacular debut. Since these genres tend to dominate Microsoft’s gaming line up, this is an easy buffet to skip. Additionally I feel the desperate to be hip marketing was pretentious, leaving the same sour taste as ten minutes of primetime MTV viewing. That being said, I am left with a difficult choice.
In this current generation have owned but one console; the PS2. It has treated me with an unimaginable bit of kindness. I have explored its inner workings like teens in a backseat. I have nursed this version one PS2 and it has continued to put out. Hardware wise I could not be happier.
What brought me into the arms of the PS2 to start with were many pleasurable experiences with the first Playstation of a former college roommate. From far too many hours of Street Fighter to a straight start to finish run through the original Silent Hill many great adventures experienced. Upon leaving college and getting a job, it was also time to claim a console of my own. PS2 had been out for a bit by this time and a close friend of mine looking for the gaming high like an addict in an evidence room was ready for Microsoft’s first offering. Gladly taking his sloppy seconds I purchased his used PS2 and about six games for about two hundred and fifty U.S. dollars or the equivalent of a tank of gas in a SUV. Of course I found a used copy of Silent Hill 2 the same week as my PS2 purchase, and life was good.
I had many wonderful Turkish gaming delights with that first year with my PS2. I experienced the then revolutionary free world roaming GTA 3 and the breathtaking splendor of ICO. I spent many a night on the near impossible goals of Palmers: Pro Snow Boarder. Essentially I got off of work and the console came on.
Slowly but surely however the games began to blur and those that were unique and captivating were coming out and only a trickle. I had ended up at a point where my PS2 held more dust than games, only awakening for the next installment of Silent Hill or a Karaoke Revolution party. A few blips however have prevented a total flat-line into mediocrity, God of War, Katamari Damacy, the awe inspiring Shadow of the Colossus, and hopefully the upcoming Okami. What could revive me from this gaming coma? All I remember is someone standing over me screaming “CLEAR” and repeatedly shoving a bizarre dual screened gizmo in my face.
Everyday I praise my DS, I am in love and not afraid to admit it to the world. If I could write sonnets and poems to it I would. This little handheld device taught me all over again what it means to be a gamer. From the simple pleasures of Animal Crossing to the raw competitiveness of Mario Kart everything is in the DS and all offering innovation is some form. I have purchased more games in 4 months than I have in the past 3 years since getting my beautiful teal DS.
The Nintendo DS has also breathed the breath of life back into many of my friendships. Much like poker nights of our forefathers I am gathering with all of my friends at least once every other week for some great multiplayer action. Strange the things that keep people close.
The DS has shown me not only the importance of innovation in gaming but also the care and commitment of Nintendo to fun and quality gaming. So while those that I know and love, Silent Hill, Karaoke Revolution you know who you are, will never be forgotten, I must move on.
Unless someone wants to buy me a PS3 to set next to my Revolution…

[Cmtz]

I'm a Nintendo Fan not a Nintendo Fanboy. Let me explain. When the DS first came out I told everyone I knew that that little system was going to be Nintendo's downfall. I could not believe Nintendo would sell some crap like that. When I saw the PSP I forgot about the NDS. I went out the second day and bought myself a PSP. The PSP was like heaven to play for 2 hours. After my 2 hours of playing time I placed it in it's pouch and rarely took it out. I was happy I had the PSP. The graphics were the best thing I had ever seen in a portable. Little did I know I had forgotten what real gaming was like. Months later I decided to pick up the DS with Mario 64 DS. I played it causually. Then I suddenly picked up Mario Kart, Animal Crossing, Lost in Blue, Trauma Center, Memory Trace, Phenoix Wright, Kirby's Canvas, Resident Evil, Princess Peach, Meteos, Age of Empires, Wario Touch, Nintendogs, Golden Eye, Advance Wars, Metroid and finally TETRIS. While my PSP is collecting dust along with Ridge Racer, Poplocorois, and GTA.

THE END.


Just yesterday I sat down with my co-workers and played 4 player Mario Kart on the DS. There was more yelling in that room than I had ever heard. My principal thought we were figthing and came to see what was going on. Multiplayer on the Nintendo DS is something everyone should experience. It will remind you why we became gamers.

[heybtbm]

Bad choice in my opinion. Anyone who chooses the Revolution exclusively is going to be missing out on 80% (my guess) of what video games have to offer in the next 5 or so years.

I'll be treating the Revolution much like I do my Gamecube (which I bought before a PS2 or Xbox)...as a companion piece to a real console.

Nintendo said themselves that the Rev. won't be competing with the PS3 or 360 directly. I'm sure Nintendo will have a few excellent, must-have 1st party titles every year, but that will be it. They might as well have called it the Gamecube 2 (+ retro download service). Besides the price and the thought of new Mario/Zelda games, the Revolution is my least anticipated next-gen console. Anyway, I will still be buying a Revolution and a bunch of their games, so I guess in the end Nintendo still wins.

[n8littlefield]

I actually think the Revolution will see better 3rd party support than the Cube did. I think that the DS has gotten many developers back with Nintendo and I think some long time developers (Konami/Capcom/EA) will be brought back in with the money to be made in the Virtual Console.

I know the source is iffy at best, but in their weekly video wrapout, the ign.com editor even says he knows of games being worked on (and is presumably under a non-disclosure on them) and that major publishers and big titles are already in the works. If the DS juggernaut continues and the virtual console works out, I think publishers will be lining up to work with Nintendo - especially with MUCH lower development costs involved.

[c0ldb33r]

The Rev will be my console of choice too. I'm really excited about it :D I also thought the DS was going to be the end of Nintendo. I was like ... wtf? Nintendo is resorting to cheap trickery. Virtual Boy II I called it. Man was I wrong.

It's not the system, it's the games.

The DS has rekindled my faith in Nintendo. I've got to admit, after the n64 and the cube, I wasn't sure if nintendo had it in them. Sure, they each had a couple of good (great) games, but most of the rest was crap. The DS though is just killing those fears. I'm super impressed :D (a little pissy I got the red mariokart DS and the Lite was announced right afterwards, but that's another story ;))

I have full confidence that Nintendo is making the right move, and that it'll pay off. There are loads of people that don't want the typical xbox/ps2 fare (especially xbox). Each has a couple of games that interest me, but most of their software I''m not interested in. Most of the time, I couldn't care less about the games by two brother-in-laws are interested in, both xbox/pc fanboys. I'm much more interested in whatever nintendo has coming down the line.

So, with nintendo offering a new console experience with a budget pricetag, I'm with you. Nintendo all the way :D

(I'll probably get a 360 and ps3 though - I'll wait for price drops - hopefully we'll be able to mod the 360 into a kickass home media center like the original xbox)

[le geek]

Silliness! :P

Wait until E3.

Right now I am interested in the new consoles in this order:

X360 - it's here now and it's starting to look tasty. XBLA is a big plus. Bird in the hand.
Rev - Hmmmmm, your ideas intrigue me, I'd like to subscribe to your newsletter. More 'green eggs and ham' than DS though...
PS3 - I have my doubts on price and actual performance, but many games may be exclusive.

Could all change after E3...

Cheers,
Ben

[jezt]

Geez, theres room for em all......

[n8littlefield]

Geez, theres room for em all......

Not in my budget there isn't LOL

Seriously though, I'd be lying if I didn't say price wasn't a factor. I bought my PS2 at full price, but I was younger, didn't have a kid, and didn't have a car payment at the time. I'm gaming on a budget now and the Revolution fits that just fine.

My plans are: Revolution on launch, PS3 or 360 in 2007 after their first price drop and 2nd batch of games hits.

[c0ldb33r]

My preference

revolution > 360 > ps3

Basically just based on price after the rev.

[jsiucho]

Bad choice in my opinion. Anyone who chooses the Revolution exclusively is going to be missing out on 80% (my guess) of what video games have to offer in the next 5 or so years.

I'll be treating the Revolution much like I do my Gamecube (which I bought before a PS2 or Xbox)...as a companion piece to a real console.

Nintendo said themselves that the Rev. won't be competing with the PS3 or 360 directly. I'm sure Nintendo will have a few excellent, must-have 1st party titles every year, but that will be it. They might as well have called it the Gamecube 2 (+ retro download service). Besides the price and the thought of new Mario/Zelda games, the Revolution is my least anticipated next-gen console. Anyway, I will still be buying a Revolution and a bunch of their games, so I guess in the end Nintendo still wins.


My thoughts exactly,, I already have a 360 and its a kick ass system this will get most of my play time. I will get the Rev next,as a companion(kinda like buying an old school system), Ill probably skip the PS3 unless it puts out some killer games(who knows).


JS

[n8littlefield]

I'm frankly tired of the type of thing that the PS3 and 360 offer, at least to start. I don't need any more military shooters. I don't need a better looking Madden. I don't need DOA4, I have VF4Evo - a better playing game than DOA will ever be.

The 360 has ONE game announced that interests me, and that's the Pinata game by Rare. Other than that, it's sports and shooters and I can live without those.

That's why I'm doing the Revolution first, then doing a "traditional" console the following year, if the need is there. It wouldn't surprise me if I never own a PS3 or a 360.

[SNKFan75]

I am going to wait until after E3 to decide on my next gen console. Sure price is a factor and so is the third party support.

Nintendo has always put out a quality product. I feel they are one of the only games companies that care about a quality gaming experience. Microsoft is always out to make money. How do you think they got so big. They have been treating their game consoles as if they were operating systems. To me that is a very bad move.

I look at how Xbox live started and though it was a very well executed plan. I now look at the latest version of it and it is plaqued with shopping, trash talking, and ecommerce. I can get that on the internet and Ebay, why would I want that on my gaming console as well.

SOny is cool and at times, innovative. The PS3 looks nice, but with no game demos and hardly any new info about the console, it is looking pretty bad. I like the idea of Blue-Ray discs, but at what price. We are all on a budget of sorts, and I personally cannot justify $65.00-$80.00 a game.

SNKFan75

[petewhitley]

My preference for the next several years:

PSP > PS3 > Xbox 360 > games on my cell phone > games on my PDA > not joining this "revolution"

Seriously. I'm waiting until I see what a next-gen system with current-gen horsepower and a remote control offers until I cream my pants with excitement. And then I'll quickly lose that excitement when Sony and/or Microsoft just comes out with their own damn remote controller for their vastly higher-tech consoles.

Don't flame me. Just my opinion.

[Daria]

I was excited about the Rev when they unvield the controller, and I'm just as excited now. It WAS going to be the first of my next gen purcheses however that was sometime ago and I still don't know when the system is coming out so I have a 360 to pass the time. And thank god I do because the arcade is godly.

But I will be getting a Revolution Launch day.

I'ill get a PS3 whenever it aquires a hefty backlog of RPGs and drops to an affordable price.

[Joker T]

likely just a 360 for me, but as said gotta wait till E3 for a final choice.

[Juganawt]

X360 = own it, love it
Revolution = intrigues me, and is probably the thing I'm most excited about at E3. 99.9% sure I'll buy one
PS3 = the more I see of it, the more and more disappointed I get. Judging from the tech demos and ingame demos, it looks extremely inferior to the 360. 30% sure I'll get one.

[njiska]

X360 = own it, love it
Revolution = intrigues me, and is probably the thing I'm most excited about at E3. 99.9% sure I'll buy one
PS3 = the more I see of it, the more and more disappointed I get. Judging from the tech demos and ingame demos, it looks extremely inferior to the 360. 30% sure I'll get one.

I'm pretty much in the same boat except i doubt the PS3 will be inferior in power, maybe in online support though.

[BrokenFlight]

Perhaps Sony are trying to do the oposite of what they did with the PS2 by underhyping the PS3. That way, when the games come out everyone will be impressed rather than let down.

[Lothars]

X360 = own it, love it
Revolution = intrigues me, and is probably the thing I'm most excited about at E3. 99.9% sure I'll buy one
PS3 = the more I see of it, the more and more disappointed I get. Judging from the tech demos and ingame demos, it looks extremely inferior to the 360. 30% sure I'll get one.

I will be buying a PS3, I will be buying the Revolution

I am still unsure about buying the Xbox 360, I probaly will get it.

but we will see.

to say that the PS3 will be inferior to the 360 by seeing what we have seen, which IMO is nothing it's still a long way to go

e3 will be a good place to see. but I don't like how your judging it without seeing it that's pretty pathetic IMO

[Lothars]

I'm pretty much in the same boat except i doubt the PS3 will be inferior in power, maybe in online support though.

I will agree with you about the Online Support, it should be interesting to see though.

[jdc]

I'm happy with my 360. I wanted to get into next gen gaming early. I wanted to play Oblivion, which was the biggest reason, and I was quite happy when it was said that the game selection this time around would include more RPGs. It was admitted that this is where they feel that they dropped the ball with the first Xbox. (interview with Peter Moore in one of my 2006-dated magazines, I forget which one).

Nintendo? I absolutely love the DS. Sheer brilliance in every aspect. The Revolution? Should be as innovative as the DS. It's all good if you are satisfied to play primarily first party stuff but what about third party support......and companies like EA in general? How are you going to play an NHL hockey game or Tiger Woods or F1 with a controller as unique as the Revolution's? Furthermore are third party developers going to even bother to make their games "fit" the Revolution controllers, particularly if it's a cross platform title? My big fear with Nintendo consoles is that after the initial years, large numbers of third party developers leave like rats off of a sinking ship. "We've filled our contracts, we're out of here. Have fun with your weird ideas."

The answer is, I can't see Nintendo alienating themselves to so many software companies, so I'll bet that there will be a "normal" Cube-like controller as well.

[comrade]

Nintendo? I absolutely love the DS. Sheer brilliance in every aspect. The Revolution? Should be as innovative as the DS. It's all good if you are satisfied to play primarily first party stuff but what about third party support......and companies like EA in general? How are you going to play an NHL hockey game or Tiger Woods or F1 with a controller as unique as the Revolution's? Furthermore are third party developers going to even bother to make their games "fit" the Revolution controllers, particularly if it's a cross platform title? My big fear with Nintendo consoles is that after the initial years, large numbers of third party developers leave like rats off of a sinking ship. "We've filled our contracts, we're out of here. Have fun with your weird ideas."

I believe the exact opposite. I think 3rd party developers will be more than happy to hop on the revolutions unique ablities. With the new controller, playing that hokey or golf game will be more interesting. It gives players a new way to play the game, ya know?

[n8littlefield]

Seriously, Nintendo has said it over and over again, as have members of this board - there will be a traditional controller with the Revolution - likely as a cradle for the remote.

Don't say that certain developers won't support it due to the odd controller when the option is already in place for them and has been repeatedly verified by Nintendo. Also, EA has been on record saying they are excited by the controller and what it could offer.

EA supported the Cube, they support (with crappy games) the DS, they support everything. Madden will hit the Revolution, just like every other system. And it will probably be very good as EA won't have to learn an entirely new development package and hardware to produce it.

[koster]

I'm waiting to see what pops up at E3, but from what I've seen so far, the Revolution is my next-get choice. I'm not big on realistic first-person shooters or sports games (other than non-traditional ones like Mutant League Football or Australian rules football :)). The only Xbox 360 title that intrigues me so far (ES IV: Oblivion) is also available for the PC.

PS3? - still too many unknowns at this point.

If the Revolution has GameCube backward-compatibility comparable to PSX on PS2, I'll pick up one regardless of launch titles, as I have a stack of Gamecube games that still need finishing. :)

[poloplayr]

Multiplayer on the Nintendo DS is something everyone should experience. It will remind you why we became gamers.

word. very true. 100% about the fun factor.

[SNKFan75]

The only consern I have about the PS3 is the pirating option they are looking at. I have read on several sites that Sony plans on locking out games to only work on the system you first play it on. If this is true, then would they make different games for the rental market? Would this not hurt the used games market as well?

SNKFan75

[Neo Rasa]

Game publishers hate the rental and used game markets anyway though so they wouldn't care.

What really worries me about it is what happens if there's a massive known disk read error type flaw with a large number of systems or something. Do they have to replace every game you bought or something? Are you just out $600?

That's why I don't think they'll actually do it though anyway. Not even Sony could be that stupid.

[n8littlefield]

The only consern I have about the PS3 is the pirating option they are looking at. I have read on several sites that Sony plans on locking out games to only work on the system you first play it on. If this is true, then would they make different games for the rental market? Would this not hurt the used games market as well?

SNKFan75

That's a rumor that has already been debunked. While Sony has in fact patented technology similar to what you are mentioning, it would actually either require a way for the system to burn information into the disk, or them to force a user to be online, neither of which are feasible.

If anything Sony is being more open this next gen by making the PS3 region free.

[NinjaJoey23]

Hmm. I'm definitely all for the Revolution. Two big reasons for this:

1. Low cost
2. Promise of Innovation

To be honest, I look at the 360 sitting in the store and the first thing that comes to mind is "Too expensive." I've played several games that are out for the 360 currently, and there's nothing that justifies me spending that much cash, even for the core system. Of course, I'll play it for Halo 3. Just like I did the Xbox, though I never owned one.

I'd like to jump on with the PS3, largely since I missed out on PSX and PS2, but when I think PS3, I think "WAAAAAAY too expensive." Sure, it will probably have good games, but I'm sure I could just take that money and buy 3 (4 maybe?) Revolutions. Or put some money toward a car...

I like innovation and creativity. The DS wows me, and puts the PSP, at least gaming-wise, to utter shame. Most people I know with PSPs use them only as portable web browsers. I'm hoping that Nintendo will bring this same level of uniqeness to the Revolution that they have with the DS.

In summary, I'm going to buy a Revolution. I'll play 360 games on my friends' consoles, just like I've been doing. I probably won't be getting to play much of the PS3, as I don't personally know anyone who will be able to afford one :P