Tech Overkill – Gaming Consoles
As this Christmas is just around the corner, I have started shopping for the small stuff for my kids when I can. Starting first searching the Internet for the latest games, consoles and upgrades for our numerous gadgets so I can try to get the best deal. Now years ago when my financial status wasn’t knee deep in shit like it is now, when something new came out, I just bought it! Our house now holds retro game systems Atari 5200, Sega Genesis and Nintend64 (my fave by far) Dreamcast (by far the worst) PlayStation 1,2 and 3 (2 of each), Game Boys, Game boy Advanced, Nintendo DS ,Wii and 3 computers all geared for online gaming besides other things.
As you notice, there is no X-Box,why? Well every year Microsoft and Sony announce something new and upcoming to buy for x mas. I figure, if I wait, I can get it, cheaper! Well when Sony released the PSP Slim, Microsoft had to counter with a price reduction in the X box Elite. But fromwhat reviewers of the PSP Slim said,they aren’t too thrilled with it. Sales aren’t hitting the projected figures as expected. So I know I wont go that route, but in my favor the Xbox Elite is cheaper. But so is the PS3, now you say, well you already have 2 of those in the home. True, I do, but I have 4 kids, 3 of whom all game the same game (you get where I’m going)
Then I’m researching some more,and now I hear that Microsoft has in development a hand held,which, rumor has it, will be like the XBox *gasp*but I am sure this will be something I will be looking into for next Christmas.
My head spins, Wii games, DS games PS3 games, PS2 games…
Is it overkill? Are companies trying to stay one step ahead of their competitors and therefore pushing out products that are less then they should be?
I mean through the years we have had some shit consoles thrown at us:
Phantom
Nokia N-Gage
Virtual Boy
3DO
Gizmondo
Jaguar
Philips CD-i
R-zone
R zone
I left out Atari 5200 and Sega Genesis, hey, I still have ours! and the Atari works!
What I am saying is there is such a rush and such a demand that sometimes game companies put out the most stupid shit. But I digress. It is the consumer who buys the stupid shit. *shrugs* I mean the N-Gage did sell 3 million. *sarcasm*
So this Christmas when the rest of my financial aid for college comes, I will have to choose wisely in which system to get, if I get one at all. With the way companies cram consoles down our throats its all we as consumers can do but to choke on it a bit, drink some water and get it down.
1Seigu
wrote on 8 October 2009 at 20:21
virtual boy was awesome
2irgrl
wrote on 8 October 2009 at 21:08
I guess you could say for when they came out it was awesome
3Professor Beej
wrote on 8 October 2009 at 22:31
I’ve had all of those systems, too, though I still have my Dreamcast hooked up. I actually love it and still pop in a Street Fighter III match now and again.
The worst investment, by far, was the Virtual Boy. I received one for Christmas one year, and my parents and I both hated it so much that we returned it and bought an original Playstation.
I love the Xbox, though. I waited for a while before I got the original, but now I prefer it to other gaming consoles. Well, to everything but Nintendo. I’m going to be a lifelong fanboy as long as they don’t do another VB. I think the GBA-SP was the best system they’ve ever released.
4Seigu
wrote on 9 October 2009 at 0:07
I would still play it now
5irgrl
wrote on 9 October 2009 at 0:26
@Professor Beej I think I disliked the Dreamcast so much because if you got an eyelash scratch on the game it was ruined. And me having kids, It was just too much. Now, Nintendo64 *sigh* man that was my system, Mario Kart, Golden Eye 007 and Turok were my favs, would play hours with my oldest son. I have to say thought, Turok for PS3 is quite good, made me jump the first time I played it.
6We Fly Spitfires
wrote on 9 October 2009 at 1:39
OMG the Jaguar! I wanted one of those so so badly when I was a kid. I just wanted to play the Aiens vs Predator FPS on it
7irgrl
wrote on 9 October 2009 at 2:01
Now that you think about it, would you still be as excited?
I know I am, even after playing games like Turok on Nintendo64 then on PS3,I do have a love for that gaming system.