what do you think is the best console?

[MJRevell]

In an attempt to save this from the 'which is better - console or pc' debate, i'll pose a question.

What do you make of this new Wii controller? Do you think this technology is going to work for the long run? I notice the Ps3 is doing something similar (though only to a smaller extent) with their controller - but the only game it is working on so far is a helicopter one.

I personally like the good old, controller controller, with no weird movements required.

[Green]

It's a gimmick, and puts me off more than it interests me. Think back to the power glove.

Give me a PS2 controller any day

[McMurphy]

It is a shame that the age of the classic Playstation controller is over. It really was the apex of controller evolution. Unfortunately, however, Sony lost an extremely expensive lawsuit over patent violations in regards to the rumble kit in their controllers, and it has prompted Sony to abandon any interest in keeping the controller design the same.

[MJRevell]

Originally Posted by McMurphy

It is a shame that the age of the classic Playstation controller is over. It really was the apex of controller evolution. Unfortunately, however, Sony lost an extremely expensive lawsuit over patent violations in regards to the rumble kit in their controllers, and it has prompted Sony to abandon any interest in keeping the controller design the same.

Are you sure about this? Because the controllers of the PSone and the PS2 still vibrate. As do the X360 controllers.

[kyektulu]

Im totally happy with my PS2, I dont get to play games much anyway, yet PS3 looks great!

I vote PS2, as it is the only console I have got!

[dustinzgirl]

In my house (remember--five kids) we have 3 pc's, two xbox's, three gamecubes, one original nintendo (over 100 games), two nintendo 64's, one original atari (so far, only have pitfal and pong and tron for games) two PS2's and I think we have three PS1's.

Now--the Nintendo I have had since 8th grade. It has never stopped working. The atari was my dads, again, never stopped working, and niether has the 64. The PC's have all had recent body part swaps. The ps1's and 2's have all had 'eye' swaps. The gamecubes--alll three of them---continually shut themselves off, even after being 'cleaned,' the xbox's work pretty well, except sometimes they refuse to read movies and the controllers have to be constantly replaced--the good controllers, not the generic ones. Occasionally have had to replace the ps controllers too.

So, my vote, being the frugal kind of gal I am, is on the nintendo, nintendo 64 and atari. Everything else is made cheap and crappy these days.

PS: I really vote nintendo. I own Tetris and Mario. Mainly because, um--the new controllers are so dang confusing!!!!

[McMurphy]

Originally Posted by MJRevell

Are you sure about this? Because the controllers of the PSone and the PS2 still vibrate. As do the X360 controllers.

Positive. Sony has been fighting this lawsuit, which could cost them up to thirty million dollars, for several years now, and all of their legal recourses have pretty much run out after the courts keep finding them guilty of patent violations. Because of the lengthly legal battle (and under the impression that they could, in fact, win eventually), Sony went ahead and continued to use the Duel Shock design for the PS2. The company can't go for a third round with the same design now that it is clear that they have lost.

As far as X360, Microsoft isn't included in the lawsuit since it has settled out of court and has agreed to pay a licensing fee to Immersion (the company holding the related patents).

Below is a link to an article about the lawsuit that even includes the patent numbers that Sony has used without permission:

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20060313-6366.html



On the topic of past systems and how they have held up throughout time like Dustinzgirl has discussed, my breakdown (in both senses, I suppose) is as follows:

Atari 400: Worked perfectly without incident until a couple years ago, but I have a feeling that it is more due to the fact that is was placed in storage and suffered heavy dusting. I still need to open it up and clean it out. Perhaps, it will go back to unflawed working order then. The old Atari joysticks all need replacing.

Nintendo (NES): Like many systems of that generation, it had to work against an uphill battle with the side-loading cart position. Such a design makes it easy for the port within the back of the machine to shift and have problems loading games (people, stop blowing on the carts! It will only make matters worse!). Throughout my childhood, the system became more and more fickle until it would only play a game after a half of an hour or a full hour of monkeying around with it. I took it apart in college, cleaned each part, and reassembled it...and now it works well again. Still using the original controllers. One still works perfectly, but the second one needs to have the rubber matting under the directional pad replaced.

SNES: Worked perfectly, but I bought the last generation of it so it never had much use outside of playing Mario Kart. Controllers had no problems....not even the generic ones.

N64: My first system worked without incident. Controllers worked well, also. The system didn't take kindly to the generic memory cards, though. I lost that system to an ex, so I have another (green) N64 now. It sometimes doesn't load the carts.

Playstation: I never had a problem with this system. The memory card ports also worked flawlessly. The controllers, however, were a headache. Had to replace the original one and made the mistake in doing so by picking up generic controllers.

Playstation II: The system has worked without issue. It came with the internet part, but I have never used it, so I can't vouch for its stability. The only problem I have come across with this system is that the slot 1 for the memory card doesn't always read. At times, I need to take back out the card and try again.

[Green]

Seeing as how I won't be buying any new consoles, I'm not fussed what Sony do with their controller - I'll just keep using my PS2 pad for my PC. The only worry I have is that if it breaks (which it's liable to do, those things rattle from day one), I won't be able to buy a new one.

My console history:

NES - never broke, no complaints. Nowt.

Gameboy - same again.

SNES - ditto.

PS1 - hmm. Had to play it on its side to load up some games. God knows why.

PS2 - no problems.

I never owned a Sega or an XBox, though I've played on plenty. Bad controllers combined with uninspiring franchises put me off them (although, Nintendo's good record with gamepads was raped by the abysmal N64 controller. So long, old friends.)

Imo, Sony can stick their rumbling gimmicks up their arse if it means I can keep the pinnacle of gamepad evolution for ever more.

Seriously, does anybody care about rumbling that much? I actually find it annoying, and it's not exactly realistic, is it? "The gamepad is rumbling! This must mean that the dragon has just bitten off my ass! Lo and behold..."

[McMurphy]

Originally Posted by Green

Seriously, does anybody care about rumbling that much? I actually find it annoying, and it's not exactly realistic, is it? "

I never minded it all that much. In fact, I look forward to the feature when it is used correctly in games. Most over-use it because the designers most likely didn't really know what to do with it, but felt as if they had to take advantage of the system's feature.

In the end, I am glad the rumble feature exists (you can always turn off the rumbling in virtually all game set-up menus or simply press the button on the controller to deactivate it, you know), and I wouldn't doubt if Sony decides to cough up money in the future to continue having a version of the rumble pack capable in the next generation of gaming.

[Green]

Too many gimmicks. Maybe for the PS9, Tekken 54 will come with a free* Filipino boy who will sit next to you and punch you in the arm when you get hit.


* Actual cost = £57.99, included in console price.

[SkywardShadow]

Would you have to feed him, and let him use your restroom, or would there be a monthly subscription plan to deliver new ones consistantly?

[Green]

Once he dies, you would have to buy a replacement. £450. Or you could get him in special Metal Gear Solid 6 Edition pants, for £499.

Course, back in the day of the NES, you would have got two of them for free with the console :P

[Crymic]

Originally Posted by Green

PS1 - hmm. Had to play it on its side to load up some games. God knows why.

The laser head on the ps1 was pretty shotty. I had to replace mine several times by taking it apart.

[sidewinder]

Having played almost every games console from the VIC 20 to a PS2 my favourites are the SNES, Dreamcast, PS2, Gamecube and Xbox in no particular order.
Each console has its pros and cons and are great for single player when you want to escape stupid reality.
As for multiplayer games I prefer to use the PC at LAN tournaments there is nothing quite like vaporising the guy sitting next to you at one of these events

[ColecoVisionist]

PS2.

Great controllers, backward compatability with the PS1, tons of great games (Maximo, RE4, God of War, etc.).

Brett Weiss: Words of Wonder