Consoles you just can't get excited about

[Bill Loguidice]

 

Capitulation isn't part of personal enjoyment. I'll choose other consoles. I'll even make games for those consoles. I was just describing the systems I wont be bothering with. What are yours?

 

"Capitulation" is a loaded word, but so be it if you can't see the difference between accepting the way things are and "surrendering."

 

Considering my collection, I'd be hypocritical to say there was something I wouldn't bother with, though I did avoid getting an Ouya. I'd hardly consider that "not bothering with" though since I have other systems that do more or less exactly the same thing.

[+Gemintronic]

Of course, it would be capitulating to me (just to be clear). You obviously see it differently. As consumers I still believe you can talk with your wallet.

 

I think we both avoided the Ouya. Only, I went as far as buying development tools and a unit before realizing I wasn't excited about it. You're way ahead of the game compared to me

[Bill Loguidice]

Of course, it would be capitulating to me (just to be clear). You obviously see it differently. As consumers I still believe you can talk with your wallet.

 

I think we both avoided the Ouya. Only, I went as far as buying development tools and a unit before realizing I wasn't excited about it. You're way ahead of the game compared to me

 

Amongst other issues, for me a big deal with the Ouya were the reports of a poor stock controller. I can forgive that in a device like the RetroN 5 because I can use the controllers from three other platforms instead, but it seemed too much of a hassle to use something else on the Ouya. That's not to say though with that "damaged" part of my brain that wants every console, computer, or technology that I still wasn't tempted a few times. I admit I was. Luckily, I haven't missed out on anything by avoiding that one platform.

 

Paradoxically, when it comes to "non-generic" platforms (assuming one considers a platform like the Ouya, Nvidia Shield, etc., "generic") like the RCA Studio II, Intellivision, etc., a poor stock controller doesn't really factor into my decision. I consider that a quirk of the platform that gives it a unique identity. I'm certainly far less forgiving of clone/generic systems, and have been gravely disappointed multiple times in that regard. Even though Nintendo/Sony/Microsoft spend insane amounts of R&D on their controllers, it's hard to argue (usually) with the end results. That's something that companies with far smaller budgets clearly have trouble matching.

[darthkur]

It's obvious that the digital copy is the thing of the future and might be fine if things were like on Star Trek or the way Jaque Fresco explains in his Venus Project concept. That is equal and universal access to everything with the extinction of any monetary system. As it is today it's like gambling at a casino. The odds are always in their favor. I don't gamble because I refuse to get ripped off. Likewise I won't pay for something that I can't use on my own whenever and wherever I desire and for as long as I want. For most modern games though it's a non issue for me since all of the 3D stuff gives me motion sickness so I can't utilize it anyway.

Whatever though. It's not like there's anything I can do about it all. Things are what they are and I have a myriad of stuff already that will keep me occupied for centuries.

[CatPix]

About GOG? I use it. I buy games, some that are even available for free (like Battle Chess, that is (was?) downloadable for free on the official editor website).

Why is that?

They give us access to the games, and bonus (wallpapers, soundtrack, manual scan, etc.. for a reasonable price first, and second : the game come with a simple .exe. Install it, and.. that's it!

No DRM, no connection required anytime, not even at the installation to be sure you didn't shared that copy to all your friends. That, is for me, fair dematerialized gaming.

[HardZero]

 

Interesting opinions there. I'm not sure how I see "too many games" being a reason not to get into the system. I mean we have tons of after the fact info about the games released for these systems, so you don't have to wonder about what is good. I avoid collecting 2600 games I don't like. How is this different? Handhelds also take up so little space that to me there is very little downside collecting them.

 

The follow up comments about the original GBA screen are a more convincing reason to stay way - but then again we have the SP.

The little space thing is kind of a issue for me. I am a very messy person and tiny carts like the Game Boy, GBA, and DS get lost very easily. I have to shove it all in a single box for all my handhelds to make sure I can keep track of it. Also, the "too many games" was kinda dumb and I apologize for that. I guess a better way to put what I was trying to say is, most of the games that are good for GBA and DS are RPGs and the like. Long games and even if I wanted to play them, I just don't have the time for them right now.

Edited October 15, 2014 by HardZero

[Zap!]

 

That's fine, of course, but that trend is not going to change. It's a sad thought to ignore all of the wonderful new stuff just because it's not exclusively tied to physical media.

 

Many of us here think "wonderful new stuff" is an oxymoron. Maybe the upcoming Zelda Wii U game, that's pretty much it.

[Rhomaios]

 

Many of us here think "wonderful new stuff" is an oxymoron. Maybe the upcoming Zelda Wii U game, that's pretty much it.

 

If it weren't for my wife, I wouldn't have a GameCube or a Wii either. 2D games on cartridges or bust!

[Bill Loguidice]

 

Many of us here think "wonderful new stuff" is an oxymoron. Maybe the upcoming Zelda Wii U game, that's pretty much it.

I bet many do. I bet many also think that idea is ridiculous considering the dozens of new releases for every taste on a weekly basis.

[Zap!]

I bet many do. I bet many also think that idea is ridiculous considering the dozens of new releases for every taste on a weekly basis.

 

I forgot about the Ouya. I like that system because their new stuff feels like it's from 20 or even 30 years ago.

[Raticon]

I have a really hard time getting excited at all over early handheld systems, and the newer ones too. It always feels like a downgrade in every aspect like graphics, sound, general playability, ghosting screens and the fact they eat batteries like crazy.

 

I get that at the time they were revolutionary and people could live with a sacrifice of graphics, color and sound to be able to take the games with them anywhere, but i do feel they have aged horribly compared to their stationary counterparts.

 

The newer ones got good graphics and sound if course, but still are hampered in many ways. I feel the same about mobile games.

[Bill Loguidice]

I have a really hard time getting excited at all over early handheld systems, and the newer ones too. It always feels like a downgrade in every aspect like graphics, sound, general playability, ghosting screens and the fact they eat batteries like crazy.

 

I get that at the time they were revolutionary and people could live with a sacrifice of graphics, color and sound to be able to take the games with them anywhere, but i do feel they have aged horribly compared to their stationary counterparts.

 

The newer ones got good graphics and sound if course, but still are hampered in many ways. I feel the same about mobile games.

 

In terms of older handhelds like the Sega Nomad, Sega Game Gear, and Nec Turbo Express, I can say from personal experience that if you get one modded with a modern LCD screen, it brings the experience right up to the modern day, complete with better battery life. In terms of the Turbo Express, you can even go from a 2.5" screen to a 3.5" screen in the same form factor and with a seamless install. It's all great stuff and highly recommended.

[+Gemintronic]

The Turbo Express has a horrible screen (in my opinion). It is definitely not worth the price - then and now - without a better screen.

[Bill Loguidice]

The Turbo Express has a horrible screen (in my opinion). It is definitely not worth the price - then and now - without a better screen.

 

With a 3.5" screen mod, it's excellent. The only problem with the Turbo Express and Nomad - even when modded - is that obviously none of the games were optimized for small screens, so text can sometimes be difficult to see.

[Rhomaios]

 

With a 3.5" screen mod, it's excellent. The only problem with the Turbo Express and Nomad - even when modded - is that obviously none of the games were optimized for small screens, so text can sometimes be difficult to see.

 

I can't get into these two at all. Or any handheldized versions of consoles (like the kind Ben Heck does). Just doesn't feel right to me to play that way.

[Bill Loguidice]

 

I can't get into these two at all. Or any handheldized versions of consoles (like the kind Ben Heck does). Just doesn't feel right to me to play that way.

 

It helps that the controls are so well designed, particularly on the Turbo Express. That's often the failing of non-first party handhelds, the controls.

[ledzep]

It's obvious that the digital copy is the thing of the future and might be fine if things were like on Star Trek or the way Jaque Fresco explains in his Venus Project concept. That is equal and universal access to everything with the extinction of any monetary system. As it is today it's like gambling at a casino. The odds are always in their favor. I don't gamble because I refuse to get ripped off. Likewise I won't pay for something that I can't use on my own whenever and wherever I desire and for as long as I want. For most modern games though it's a non issue for me since all of the 3D stuff gives me motion sickness so I can't utilize it anyway.

Whatever though. It's not like there's anything I can do about it all. Things are what they are and I have a myriad of stuff already that will keep me occupied for centuries.

 

Well, even in the Star Trek world the rare, physical editions of something are regarded more highly than any all-digital version. The rest are just "there", just tools or apps or whatever that aren't by themselves worth anything to them, not even nostalgically or personally since those examples are just information and infinitely cloned.

 

If "accepting the way things are" held true then vinyl would have never made a comeback (and it keeps getting stronger). While bookstores are becoming rare actual books are still around and some, like me, prefer those to an e-reader. An e-reader is nice as a convenience (Star Trek mindset) to read something unimportant or reference something once or twice quickly with search engines but all my favorite books I own as books. Same goes for music (CDs and vinyl) and video games (console carts, disks as well as full-size arcade games though obviously not many of those). Do you know that if the power goes out I can still read all my books and magazines? No way! Do you know that if the Internet burns to the ground I can still play all my video games and music? Sorcery! And if every GPS satellite drops out of orbit I can still read my map book and navigate my way to my destination, just like the cavemen did way way way back.

 

There is something you can do about it. "Vote" (talk) with your wallet, as theloon put it. I do, still get lots of packages from Amazon and eBay showing up with actual physical shit that I wanted (just received an Oil's Well cart for my 5200 from AtariAge, that was nice), not their digital equivalents. You know that business doesn't drive anything, consumers do. If all consumers abandon downloads and insist on physical copies then that's what will be offered. So whatever happens, it's on you, the businesses don't care so long as they make money. I still watch TV using my 36" Sony Wega CRT because even plasmas still look like ass in comparison (LCDs are hideous), no amount of marketing will convince my eyes that dot-crawl distortion isn't there. Now, when OLEDs aren't stupid expensive that will probably mark the point where I ditch the CRT because by then it will probably actually be dead but it won't be because I was simply accepting the way things are.

[godslabrat]

The sale of blank CD-Rs and DVD-Rs show that physical media still has plenty of life in it, even if newer options are becoming more popular. For me, I don't spend money on stuff I can't back up and keep.

 

Systems on my "Hey, it's cool, but not as cool as everyone seems to think" list:

 

*Original Xbox

*Dreamcast

*Vectrex

*PSP (hacked or otherwise)

*Jaguar (Okay, I admit, I UNDERSTAND why this is thought of so fondly, but still, it's a mediocre system that would be completely forgotten if it didn't have the Atari name on it)

 

... on the other hand, I truly think the Virtual Boy was a system that should have been way more popular than it was.

[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.

 

I'd like to change this to include the Super Cassette Vision as another pre-crash console I do in fact want, along with the 2600 and ColecoVision. Still nixing the others so far. But hey, it's progress!

[LynxVGL]

The early systems like the Fairchild and O2 just do not do it at all for me. Every generation from the 2600 on has stuff I like. I'm really looking forward to an Inty Flashback to get the a better entry point into the Inty. Pretty much all of the the Inty emulation has been hampered by controllers/interface/UI. Saying that, I find the Vectrex to be interesting, but would never collect it. Same for the TG-16. A Jag would be a fun conversation starter, but I seriously don't know if buying one JUST for AVP is worth it today. Same for a 7800. I'm waiting to surprise my wife with an XEGS or a straight up 800 or 800XL, but I think she'd divorce me if I did. Mmmmm.... "Rescue on Fractalus...." droool....

 

I think the modern dislike for the current gen (PS4/XB1) has a lot to do with the online component. I dislike games that have a huge online portion that rely on hosted servers. Once the publisher axes the server, all you have is a coaster. Fact: No one will be able to play "Destiny" in 5 years. (If they wanted to, that is.) In the last gen, a game like Borderlands can be played in an offline mode, but at a huge loss to the experience. The SSX relaunch by EA a year or two ago is in the same place. Single player is good, but a big chunk of it relies on multi-player/net connection. Yes, you can still play Halo & Halo 2, but that online multiplayer that made many fans of the series is lost.

[CatPix]

 

I'd like to change this to include the Super Cassette Vision as another pre-crash console I do in fact want, along with the 2600 and ColecoVision. Still nixing the others so far. But hey, it's progress!

Pre crash? It's 1984, and irrelevant as the crash never happened in Japan. Still a nice system. The sound is poorest than the NES, but the graphical capabilities are good in the sprite range. It's limited to 16 colors however. But seeing a game like Star Speeder running is dang impressive! It's F-Zero in 8 bits!

[gamecat80]

Pre crash? It's 1984, and irrelevant as the crash never happened in Japan. Still a nice system. The sound is poorest than the NES, but the graphical capabilities are good in the sprite range. It's limited to 16 colors however. But seeing a game like Star Speeder running is dang impressive! It's F-Zero in 8 bits!

 

I agree. I've been playing my SCV and Astrocade a lot lately. I need to find a better power adapter though.

The sound on the SCV may not be as good as the Famicom/NES, but it's capable of some pretty nice/sophisticated sounds, despite only being 'one channel' (although I swear I hear two or more sounds at once on some games). Still has better sound than the AtariVCS/7800 and most early consoles, imo. I'd say the graphics are like a mix of Sega SG-1000 and Atari 7800 -- good resolution, capable of MANY sprites and though the colors are limited to 16, they are beautiful. The games seem to be arcade-style, which I like. Really, it's a pretty nice system! I need to buy a couple more games sometime...

 

 

 

I'd like to change this to include the Super Cassette Vision as another pre-crash console I do in fact want, along with the 2600 and ColecoVision. Still nixing the others so far. But hey, it's progress!

 

This guy is nice and has a SCV for a very good price. Includes 4 games:

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/EPOCH-Super-Cassette-Vision-CONSOLE-4Gmaes-Japan-Import-1984-SCV-Working-RARE-/221554759268?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3395b15664

 

You should snatch it up if you can! I don't think you are gonna find a better deal anywhere else. I paid a lot more for mine, and it didn't include 4 games.

[gamecat80]

As far as consoles I just cant get excited about.......the very early pong units and the Fairchild Channel F. Too primitive for my tastes. I even sometimes have a hard time getting into the Atari VCS and the O2. And the newest consoles don't get me excited, either.

 

It's the 8-bit/ 16-bit/ arcade era that does it for me, baby!

[CatPix]

 

I agree. I've been playing my SCV and Astrocade a lot lately. I need to find a better power adapter though.

The sound on the SCV may not be as good as the Famicom/NES, but it's capable of some pretty nice/sophisticated sounds, despite only being 'one channel' (although I swear I hear two or more sounds at once on some games). Still has better sound than the AtariVCS/7800 and most early consoles, imo. I'd say the graphics are like a mix of Sega SG-1000 and Atari 7800 -- good resolution, capable of MANY sprites and though the colors are limited to 16, they are beautiful. The games seem to be arcade-style, which I like. Really, it's a pretty nice system! I need to buy a couple more games sometime...

Paid more? wow D: I got a Yeno (French version) SCV for about 50E plus 3 games, and I think it's pretty much expensive already

The sound is I think on par with the Master System chip, which is, if I'm right, the same than the Colecovision.

And yeah, the 16 color palette is good enough.

 

[+wongojack]

I miss the banter about "capitulation" in this thread. I haven't been reminded that modern systems expect me to connect to the internet for at least 3 hours!

 

Did I ever actually respond to the topic at hand? I'll say that despite having a C64 growing up and loving it, I can't really get into retro computing, but since this is about consoles, I will go with the SNES. It isn't bad, but there just isn't enough there to make me want to collect for it.

 

Actually since the NES (and beyond) controller is more or less the same as a modern controller (except worse), I always have to check myself before buying any hardware on those systems. If I'm fine emulating and using a USB gamepad then I just usually stay away.