How many good games does a system have to have to make it worth owning?

[rhindlethereddragon]

How many good games does a system have to have in order to make it worth getting one? Are there any systems you've gotten just because there are 1 or 2 exclusive games, or versions of games that are your favorites?

[108 Stars]

It depends on the price of the system.

If there is only 1 or 2 games I like I´d only buy it for a few bucks second-hand.

[Gabsters89]

Agreed, if it's only got a couple good ones I usually wait for a good price. I got a Virtual boy almost purely for Wario Land for example

[Austin]

For me it usually has to have at least six(ish) exclusive titles that are good or excellent ports of solid titles that are vastly enhanced for the system (The 7th Guest on the CD-i, for instance). The Virtual Boy fits this with a library that is small, but at least half a dozen exclusive titles that I thoroughly enjoy.

 

The only system I have owned (that came out in the last 25 years) that can't even fall into this category is the Game.Com. The NUON just barely crosses this threshold as well but I let it slide because it has Tempest 3000.

[AtariLeaf]

This is the reason I don't own a Jaguar. There's only a couple of games that interest me. Tempest 2000 and, um. . . Ok there's one game on the Jaguar that interests me.

[Eltigro]

As far as I'm concerned, it's not so much about the games as it is about what system do I want? I mean, there are some price barriers to certain systems, but I'm more concerned with owning the hardware.

[raskar42]

for me 10

[+Ransom]

There needs to be a dozen games I really like for it to be worth adding a system to my collection. Mostly that's a space issue, since I like to have all my systems out and hooked up all the time so I can play when I want to without any setup hassles. I'd be happy to own systems with just a few, really wonderful games, but there's just not space to put so many systems out all the time. And if they're not already out and hooked up, I'm not likely to go through that effort in order to play a game or two.

[the-topdog]

It really varies for me depending on the system... In most cases it has to have dozens of games I am interested in to make it worth my while. But sometimes the wow factor is so large that I just HAVE to have the system.

 

For example, the Vectrex has a very small library of games, but OMG it is the coolest system in the seven known universes!

[Hatta]

Zero. Even if there's absolutely nothing worth playing, a system is still interesting for historical reasons. And it's fun playing with shitty games too. There's an MST3K like charm to playing with really terrible games.

[jferio]

I think it would depend on the games that are interesting. And the console, particularly what the console goes for used or from the thrift stores. But my preference number for 'must have' games is typically in the range of 3-4 for me to consider a console. This doesn't mean I'll turn down a gift console that would have less games in the category.

[lastkill3r]

Only one ;P If it's really good, i will buy for just one game!

[davepesc]

How many good games does a system have to have in order to make it worth getting one? Are there any systems you've gotten just because there are 1 or 2 exclusive games, or versions of games that are your favorites?

 

Zero

 

It all comes down to if the games you want to play are worth the cost/aggrevation of owning the system. But, on the other hand, I've owned systems with no redeeming qualities (Virtual Boy), just for the comedy factor of how bad they are.

[AtariLeaf]

How many good games does a system have to have in order to make it worth getting one? Are there any systems you've gotten just because there are 1 or 2 exclusive games, or versions of games that are your favorites?

 

Zero

 

It all comes down to if the games you want to play are worth the cost/aggrevation of owning the system. But, on the other hand, I've owned systems with no redeeming qualities (Virtual Boy), just for the comedy factor of how bad they are.

 

This kind of sums up the Colecovision for me. Lots of great games but the buggy hardware just turns me off of it. If I get another it'll be a professionally refurbed model.

[Pong]

A few good games, or if it's open to the public with a free SDK and a simple language. I'd buy a CD-i just for Wand of Gamelon, I'm not kidding. It's a good game, just suffering from the horrible ideas that the Russian animators had and the fact that it's on CD-i.

[Seob]

one, But for me it also is price related. If i see a system i don't own yet and has the right price i buy it. Same with the games, if i see a game for a system i don't own and it's just a few bucks, i will buy it, and pick up the console later.

[SlowCoder]

I am a gamer at heart, then toss in some collector. I want fun games. But while I'm at it I might collect some not so good titles just to help fill out the collection.

 

AtariLeaf, I've heard you mention CV bugginess a couple of times. What kind are you talking about?

[raskar42]

thinking about it - i bought a gamecube just for rogue squadron 2-3

[Taskmaster99]

A brand spanking new system.........1 or 2 could hook me in as long as the release list shows promise. A cheapie system i could go with 2 or 3 good games then just collect the crap for completist sake.

[mimo]

one, that's why I have a Jaguar and T2K

[AtariLeaf]

I am a gamer at heart, then toss in some collector. I want fun games. But while I'm at it I might collect some not so good titles just to help fill out the collection.

 

AtariLeaf, I've heard you mention CV bugginess a couple of times. What kind are you talking about?

 

Power supplies, controller ports, power switches, glitchy graphics. All the normal complaints about CV's. I understand many of these are simple soldering fixes but I've never learned to solder and know nothing about these things.

[The_Laird]

Lot of hate for the Jag here which has at least 10 must have games . . .

 

I also have a massive CD-i collection too and that has better games than its given credit for.

 

Personally I really listen to reviews or other peoples opinions anyway I just buy a machine if it interests me. By doing this I have found ALOT of real hidden gems!

[tz101]

One is all it takes.

 

I bought xbox for Tecmo Classic Arcade alone.

[JPjuice23]

It's one for me. The collector in me wants to collect every system regardless of it's games, but the gamer in me says one. I could buy a system for one game, and be confident that down the road there will be another game that I'll play.

 

I only bought a next gen console for Call of Duty 4. And I loved playing following games ever since.

[rhindlethereddragon]

Interesting how many people said just 1 game is all it takes. I feel the same way, and the game doesn't have to be an exclusive, either. Here's my list of MUST HAVE systems, and why they are "Must Haves":

 

Vectrex - Star Castle, Armor battle

 

Intellivision - Space Armada, Night Stalker, Lock N Chase, Star Strike, Demon attack

 

Colecovision - Omega Race, Frenzy, Gorf, Centipede, Time Pilot, Mr. Do!, Cosmic Avenger (WAS Donkey Kong back in the day, but there are better versions now).

 

Atari Computer 8 bit - Too many to list.. Asteroids, Pac Man, Gorf, Galaxian

 

Atari 5200 - None, not worth the trouble since the code can be played on Atari computers.

 

TI 99 4/A - TI Invaders, Munchman, Donkey Kong (good one! all screens!), and of course MUCHMOBILE (which doesn't appear anywhere else on the planet!)

 

Commodore 64 - Bruce Lee, Centipede, Pac Man, Mr. Do!, Avenger, Radar Rat Race

 

MSX - Twin Bee, Road Fighter, PAC MAN (good one!), Sky Jaguar

 

Atari 2600 - Vanguard, Ms. Pac Man, Pac Man Jr., Asteroids, Space Invaders, Centipede (good one, plays great!)

 

NES - Super Mario Brothers 1 & 3, Donkey Kong Classics, Heavy Barrel, many others

 

Vic 20 - Vic Avenger, Cosmic Cruncher.

 

Genesis - Altered Beast, Golden Axe, Space Harrier

 

SNES - Final Fight 1,2 & 3, Street Fighter 2

 

7800 - Asteroids, otherwise not worth the trouble if you have a 2600 already