Consoles you just can't get excited about

[Rick Dangerous]

Some consoles fire me up, others I just can't seem to get interested in. Please share what those are for you and why. Maybe someone might bring something up that will spark an interest for you.

 

My List:

 

Early Systems: Bally Astrocade, Fairchild Channel F, Pong Systems, Etc. If I stumbled across one at a garage sale maybe. But mostly I'll take a pass.

 

Intellivision: Don't seem to have the time/space/motivation to collect for, especially given the age of the system and the fact that I'd have to track everything down online.

 

Colecovision: More or less the same, though if I had space I'd get this over an Intellivision. May pick up the flashback version as I've heard this system was ahead of it's time.

 

Sega Master System: Seems like most of the outstanding titles had better versions on Genesis. Get my 8bit fill with the NES.

 

Amiga CD32: Games don't look particularly impressive, too rare, niche, and foreign. (and this is coming from a Jaguar collector)

 

Turbographics 16: I just don't see the appeal. Not only that but i've never seen one or played one, but as a Genesis and SNES collector it doesn't look/feel like I'm missing much.

 

Neo Geo: I can see the appeal for certain gamers, just not myself. Expensive to collect for, ridiculously large carts. As with Turbographics have never seen/played one so no real compelling connection to the device.

 

Sega Saturn: I know I am going to catch some flack for this one. I had a medium sized Saturn collection for years and sold it about a year ago. I just didn't play it and the system didn't inspire much passion in me. I'd rather play stuff from that era on older systems (3DO) or newer ones (PS1.) Exclusives were good but it's not a system that inspires me to collect for..

 

PS2: The games are awesome, and my PS2 library gets an occasional spin on my PS3, but the look of the PS2 itself is one that hasn't aged that well I think. I just have no desire to own a real PS2..

 

XBOX 360: Just never interested me. Too busy playing Wii and PS3. Really wanted to play Banjo Kazooie in HD and Space Giraffe but not bad enough to spend $300

 

XBOX1: Would use as a doorstop if given. No interest.

 

PS4: Can't be bothered, no titles that currently interest me. Also disappointed in the lack of media play features. If they release a VR headset i'll be VERY tempted

Edited October 9, 2014 by travistouchdown

[Zap!]

You listed a ton of amazing systems, some bordering on blasphemy. Funny how you say you will catch flack for the Saturn, when you listed much better systems. A shorter list might have been systems that you DO like lol. For me though, the list is short.

 

Pong-type systems: I'll buy them if they are at a flea market, but don't have much desire to play them more than once to test.

 

RCA Studio II: I haven't even taken this system out of its box in 10 years or so. Hard for me to enjoy anything on the only programmable system to be in black and white only.

 

Fairchild Channel F: Barely makes this list. I can have some fun with it though. Just not too much.

 

Yeah, that's it. I like almost everything.

Edited October 9, 2014 by Zap!

[+save2600]

Didn't care for the look of the PS2 when it first came out, but really like it today. Great system and selection of games for us classic style gamers.

TG-16 is ugly, but a great little system. I currently have a CoreGrafx and love it. I've mentioned this before, but the games have this different "feel" to them - which is both good and bad. Mostly good.

Recently got the Bally Astrocade bug again, always wanted one - so since it's on the way, will have to see if it meets expectations.

Have to admit, I've liked and enjoyed most every game system ever made. For some length of time anyway. A few systems that have never really tripped my trigger (various reasons) include:

3DO - too pricey at the time and most of the best titles could be played on other systems or computers. Love the looks of it though.

Fairchild - too primitive for my tastes. Would rather play the O2 if i was ever forced to choose between the two. lol

 

Colecovision - don't get me wrong… cool styling and decent library for the time - but there's always just been *something* that kills the playability or "feeling" of most of the games for me. Controller has a lot to do with it I guess. Style of the graphics sooooo remind me of the TI-99/4A for obvious reasons. But even after all these years, I still prefer to game on the TI over the CV.

 

PS1 - I really liked this system for about a year when it was first released. Today, can barely stand to look at the graphics. Looks even worse on modern TV's.

PS4, XBox One - least compelling consoles IMO. Unless the industry changes drastically, the PS3 will probably be the last console I'll ever be interested in. And I'm barely even into that.

[Reaperman]

by major brand:

 

I can't get into atari 2600 or jaguar.

Nintendo ds, dsi, 3ds (whatever other ds's there are), wii, or wii-u.

Sega master system

sony ps4

xbox 360 and one

 

I don't think you'll catch flack for your list. There's a jag in your avatar.

I have a strong prejudice that arguing/disagreeing with jag fans is best avoided.

Edited October 9, 2014 by Reaperman

[Master Phruby]

I have an O2 with the voice in the attic. Never really played it even though I have about ten games for it. It's just a little too primitive to play for me.

 

My 3DO is fun to display but never really liked any of the games for it. It reminds me of the CD multi-media games I use to play on my 486 back in the early 90s. It's just too painful to play.

 

I had a TG-16 and it was fun to play but I have no interest in buying a new one unless its one of the funky Japanese versions like the one that looks like a UFO. I'm happy playing all the games on the emulator.

 

I have no desire to play any of the pong games but I would love to have the Atari stunt cycle game.

 

The CDI is just too big and uninteresting to play. Zelda and Mario look stupid there.

[VectorGamer]

Big list OP, do you even video game?

 

Odyssey 2: any kid that had an Odyssey 2 when I was growing up was ridiculed. I would have been depressed to have an Odyssey 2 when I was a kid. Now I own one and it sits on the shelf for 364 days of the year. Yes, one day a year I fire up the O2 and play KC Munchkin and Speedway and then it's back on the shelf. It wouldn't hurt me if I sold this system and games.

 

Intellivision: D2K is a great game and really the only reason I will fire up the Intellivision. I can play better versions of games on the ColecoVision.

[karokoenig]

PS1 for me definetly. I find both the console and the games very unappealing.

[Rhomaios]

No pre-crash system excites me except the 2600 and ColecoVision. I'm sure if I had more money and space I'd give the Intellivision a fair shake, but not right now. Even the 5200 just didn't have the necessary exclusives for me to keep collecting for it. I'm satisfied with 2600, ColecoVision, 7800, and NES for my pre-crash needs.

 

XEGS: Better elsewhere.

 

Amiga32: I might be convinced to get this in the future, but I'm doubting it's even worth grabbing. The pain of dealing with PAL problems means I'm not even looking at it right now.

 

CD-i: Zero fun. Zero.

 

The price alone for Neo Geo stuff keeps me far away. I do own a NGCD and a NGPC though. They're solid (enough) systems, though the NGCD could be faster.

 

PS4/Xbone: The PS3 and 360 already aren't that appealing to me, save for a few retro-styled games (Raiden IV, 3D Dot Game Heroes, Street Fighter IV, Mortal Kombat). The new style of modern games just falls flat in my opinion, so I'm skipping over PS4 and Xbox One completely. Even the PS Vita gets the shaft. I've been in Gamestop dozens of times looking at the Vita, and nothing I see there ever interests me at all.

 

Jaguar: Sorry, coders, but the homebrew scene on the Jaguar isn't enough to justify the cost and maintenance. Also, anything on it can be got better elsewhere, excepting maybe Tempest 2000, or else it's not worth playing.

 

3DO: Same as Jag. Just not enough unique titles to hold my interest.

 

SuperGrafx: Only seven games, and of those, two are found elsewhere, and not all are good. I'm a bit of a hypocrite on this, though, since I do own and plan on keeping a 32X for just a small handful of games, but at least there are almost 6x as many games for it as the SuperGrafx (including 32XCD).

 

PC-FX: Was there even anything on here besides porn titles?

 

Wii U: I may change my mind on this one, but the controller is a big no from me.

 

Ouya: I kickstarted the damn thing, and now I regret doing so. Such a flop. I was even one of the last people holding out

[Gabriel]

I can't get excited about:

 

Pong systems: I just can't find anything that interests me in them.

 

TG-16: I'm interested in a few Duo games, but I just can't muster up any emotion for the basic system.

 

Dreamcast: I just don't see why anyone likes this thing.

 

Xbox: This system was more than a bit crap when you get right down to it.

 

Xbox One: I really don't have any emotion whatsoever on this one. I don't have any fanboy loathing or anything. I just find myself completely and utterly disinterested. In fact, I had almost forgotten it existed.

 

PS4: I have a kernel of interest in this one, but only because some JRPGs are planned for it. But all those JRPGs could be done just as well on the PS3. I find myself disinterested in this one in a different way than the Xbox One. I just don't want to add yet another console to my household. I don't see the point.

 

Wii U: Hyrule Warriors is the only thing that interests me on this console, and even that is just another Warriors game. I have tons of those.

[+GoldenWheels]

For me the Intellivision is one I WANT to get excited for but never can. Maybe it's just my controllers that suck but man...these controllers suck. The games look really fun...I just can't enjoy them very well.

The Jaguar inspires mostly emotions that are the direct opposite of excitement, or worse.

 

Thinking about the 3DO and CD-i might actually slow my pulse down.

[Rhomaios]

Xbox: This system was more than a bit crap when you get right down to it.

 

I thought about adding this to my list, but there are just a handful of games that are problematic in installing on my PC, so it gets the stay.

 

As for the Dreamcast, there are way many awesome games on it. I can't understand the hate. Fighters, shooters, racers, arcade games, what's not to love?

[CatPix]

I won't list much of obscure systems... I mean, things like the Amiga CD32 are just too rare. I'll keep my list focused on the "big" systems since there is more interest to mention them than saying "I have no vibe for the Super A'Can".

 

There isn't much systems I don't feel a vibe for them, but here they are :

 

Atari 5200 :

US only system. Yeah, may seems trivial, but as an European gamer, it mean dealing with PSU and AV/modding it right out of the box. I accept it for the Astrocade because it's an unique system, but for the 5200... it's a castrated Atari 400! So what's the point, when I already own an Atari 600XL, I can play the same games already, without having to deal with a big clunky system.

 

Atari 7800 : The system itself is nice. But the games have nothing outstanding, and here, they are overpriced.

 

Atari Jaguar (what do I do on AtariAge? ) : okay it's a rare beast, but well famous enough. Same as the 7800 : too few interesting games, and the machine is overpriced for what it is. Medium Price I see, 100€? Thanks, I got a Vectrex for that price, it's much more fun.

 

Neo Geo AES : Again, price is a big issue, but the game genre is, too. And that "hype" from most Neo Geo owners doesn't help. I do own a Neo Geo CD tho, it's nice to test games and enjoy the feel of it, and it's enough to say "meh, doesn't worth putting so much in".

 

Sega Saturn : I wouldn't mind owning one, but what for? I don't fancy shmups that much, and from what Saturn fan tells me, it's all you got from this system, if you don't count all the PC and PS1 game ports. And why would I pay 30€ for Tomb Raider when I can pay 1€ for the PS1 version? Or the PC version?

 

Nintendo 64 : I have it, and own games for it. Like for the 7800, I have no complaints about the system itself, and the good games on it are good, but there is a serious lack of outstanding titles for it. I mean, there are unique titles for it, but when I look before at the Super Nintendo, and even after at the GameCube, I feel like Nintendo got wrong somewhere.

And I own the GameCube CD with all the Zelda games, which doesn't compel me to look for and buy the two awesome Zelda N64 games.

Not a system I dislike, but certainly, one system I very rarely switch on.

[Chuck D. Head]

Colecovision - I've played it, it is a great system, but with (my perception) a lack of original games. I can play most of the games another way, even if the ports aren't as good, I am happy. Somebody mentioned that most of what is good on Intellivision can be played on CV, which didn't make sense to me. Most of the Inty games that really interest me are exclusives or at least not on CV (Safecracker, Microsurgeon, Truckin, Locomotion, B-17 Bomber, Utopia and on and on...)

 

Studio 2 - I have just been warned off it so many times and never saw any info on a game I thought looked interesting.

 

Saturn - It seems like the good games are always so expensive, so I really never let myself consider it, but would accept donations gladly.

 

Jaguar - Just not feelin it.

 

I really want a Channel F, even though I know I wont play it a lot, it just has a lot of cool factor for me.

[Bill Loguidice]

For better or worse, I collect and enjoy anything and everything, so there are no consoles for me that would qualify or have ever qualified like that for me. I think the mentality someone like me has is that I just flat out enjoy the technology, history, unique experiences, etc., and simply want to experience it all. Naturally, there are plenty of stinkers out there, but even those have quite a bit of interest to explore/experience for me.

 

There also seems to be a lot of vitriol for the PS4 and Xbox One on here. I really enjoy both those systems, even if they have yet to have truly killer games. I particularly appreciate the latter always be on and ready to go as long as my TV is on. I'm as big of a collector of physical items as anyone, but I can certainly appreciate the convenience of on-the-spot digital access to my games.

[Blazing Lazers]

 

I thought about adding this to my list, but there are just a handful of games that are problematic in installing on my PC, so it gets the stay.

 

As for the Dreamcast, there are way many awesome games on it. I can't understand the hate. Fighters, shooters, racers, arcade games, what's not to love?

 

Those games you're having trouble installing wouldn't happen to be the Star Wars games by any chance, would they?

[VectorGamer]

Somebody mentioned that most of what is good on Intellivision can be played on CV, which didn't make sense to me.

 

Games that are common to both systems are better on the CV IMHO. The only game exclusive to the Intellivision that gets me to fire it up is D2K.

[Cynicaster]

I think that for the first and second gen systems--maybe third as well--"nostalgic connection" is much more important than it is for the later generations in determining whether or not a person will be able to "get into" a given system as a retro gamer. The strongest nostalgic connection probably comes from having owned a certain system in its heyday, but it can also come from, say, having known a kid up the street who had one.

 

At least, this is what I've noticed with myself and my own preferences.

 

I could rattle off dozens of Atari 2600 games that I love to play today, some of which I didn't even discover until recently (Solar Fox, Turmoil). But, I grew up with the 2600, so those games easily strike a chord. When I play Inty and CV, even if, objectively, I can see that those systems are more powerful than the 2600, I don't identify much with those systems and their weird controllers. So, if I'm in the mood for blocky old games, it's the 2600 all the way.

 

Fast forward a bit to the TG16, I never played that system when it was current. But I really like some of the games I've played on there, and continue to go back to it.

[Mister-VCS]

Vectrex - A b/w monitor with colored overlays and a jostick made for 9-year-old-kids hands. Pole Position in single-color-vector-graphic?

[Seob]

No system for me on this list. Just like Bill Loguidice said, i love the technology and history of the systems. So there are no bad systems for me. I'm mostly interested in the"failed" systems because they are different.

[+GoldenWheels]

Vectrex - A b/w monitor with colored overlays and a jostick made for 9-year-old-kids hands. Pole Position in single-color-vector-graphic?

 

Oddly, this was one that excited the HELL out of me, until I actually owned one. It's got charm to spare but exciting? Eh.

[Reaperman]

Fast forward a bit to the TG16, I never played that system when it was current. But I really like some of the games I've played on there, and continue to go back to it.

 

oh, forgot tg16. I've got a couple systems and some great games, but I really never get excited about it. Using it is such a hassle, and fixing the usage hassle would put it firmly in the 'too expensive for what it is' category.

[Jess Ragan]

The Xbox (Don't Want) One is pretty high on that list. Not as powerful as the Playstation 4 and with very few compelling titles. There's Killer Instinct and that's pretty much it for me.

[NE146]

Neo Geo for one.. everything about it screams I should like it, and while I do, it's far from a "i love this" kind of console. Too many fighting games that I find no fun. For the record I do like a lot of games on it, but more or less in passing.

[VectorGamer]

 

Oddly, this was one that excited the HELL out of me, until I actually owned one. It's got charm to spare but exciting? Eh.

 

Problem I have with the Vectrex is that there just aren't enough games released for this platform. I won't be playing Star Castle anymore since I've mastered it (the only way I'll play it again is if it's to raise money for charity), I won't play Web Wars because you can rack up points by going at the slowest speed possible. So what's left? Not much. Some home brews are great and some are meh.

 

I don't play it much but I still consider it a nice piece of my collection and considering I paid under $100 for a working unit with a controller that just needed a little cleaning.

[+GoldenWheels]

 

Problem I have with the Vectrex is that there just aren't enough games released for this platform. I won't be playing Star Castle anymore since I've mastered it (the only way I'll play it again is if it's to raise money for charity), I won't play Web Wars because you can rack up points by going at the slowest speed possible. So what's left? Not much. Some home brews are great and some are meh.

 

I don't play it much but I still consider it a nice piece of my collection and considering I paid under $100 for a working unit with a controller that just needed a little cleaning.

 

I guess I don't know what I was expecting honestly, I could be being very unfair here...the games (I only have 4 counting Mine Storm) seem very shallow to me--but I certainly should have known (by when it was made if nothing else) what to expect gameplay wise. I was (and still am) wowed by the design and the overall cool factor of it. It's one I show to my friends, even fellow videogamers, because it's so unique. Hell I still may build a custom arcade stand for mine, if I don't move it to get a Turbo Duo first.

 

But I never think to myself "man I can't wait to play some Vectrex tonight". And I think that about NES and TG16 and SNES and MAME and more.