How did you decide what console/portable to buy?

[farfel]

Explain your decision-making process.

 

 

 

 

 

The decision was easy for me.

 

(1) I have no time for portables, because I'm always working or at home, so that automatically eliminates Neo Geo Pocket, Neo Geo Pocket Color, Game Boy Advance, N-gage, Nintendo DS, PlayStation Portable

 

 

 

(2) I waited until 2002, because I wanted to let the market decide. That eliminated the Dreamcast which was removed from the market.

 

 

 

(3) That only left 3 choices - Xbox, Cube, or PS2. The PS2 was clearly the winner. It had the most games, a game for every genre, lots of variety, and had the support of 50 million users to attract future games.

(Plus backwards compatible with the old PS1 games...bonus!)

 

 

 

(4) In 2003, I bought a second console. I looked at the Box, and saw nothing worth buying. So the Cube was the obvious choice.

 

 

 

(5) Bought an Xbox. It now grows mold. Worse decision I ever made regarding gaming.

[xenomorpher]

The games plain and simple.

[Raijin Z]

I am no longer permitted to answer this question truthfully.

[shep]

Handhelds are great whether on the go our sitting back watching tv while playing a little game.

[Stingray]

I bought a PS2 because of the games available for it. At the time Gran Turismo 3 & Grand Theft Auto 3 were the big draws for me personally.

 

I got a GBA mostly because the major thing I regret about getting a PS2 over a Gamecube was that I'm a big time Mario & Metroid junkie. GBA soothes my addiction to those titles.

 

So clearly the answer for me is also I based my decision on the available games for each system. I can't imagine any other reason to buy a game system.

 

-S

[joeybastard]

I bought a Gamecube because it had the games I was interested in and was reasonably priced. Out of the PS2 or the Xbox, I would probably get an Xbox but only to mod it and use the emulators. The PS2 may have a huge library but a good portion of it doesn't appeal to me.

 

I boughta GBA because I likeNintendo handhelds. I would have gladly bought a Neo-Geo also but I could never find one in stores.

[Adrian M]

1. XBOX - I bought the XBOX on launch day along with Halo and PGR. Why? Because I value Microsoft as a company and I felt that the gaming scene NEEDED a new player, seeing how Sega's system had perished less than 2 years after launch and the fact that I hate Sony and didn't have much faith in Nintendo's GC.

 

2. N-Gage QD - Again, I bought the Ngage because I was impressed with the all-in-one functionality AND it helps to support other players in the handheld gaming scene seeing how that segment is monopolized by Nintendo's products.

[devils advocate]

1. XBOX - I bought the XBOX on launch day along with Halo and PGR.  Why?  Because I value Microsoft as a company and I felt that the gaming scene NEEDED a new player, seeing how Sega's system had perished less than 2 years after launch and the fact that I hate Sony and didn't have much faith in Nintendo's GC.  

 

2. N-Gage QD - Again, I bought the Ngage because I was impressed with the all-in-one functionality AND it helps to support other players in the handheld gaming scene seeing how that segment is monopolized by Nintendo's products.

 

 

It's sad you did not buy any to have fun.

[Adrian M]

1. XBOX - I bought the XBOX on launch day along with Halo and PGR.  Why?  Because I value Microsoft as a company and I felt that the gaming scene NEEDED a new player, seeing how Sega's system had perished less than 2 years after launch and the fact that I hate Sony and didn't have much faith in Nintendo's GC.  

 

2. N-Gage QD - Again, I bought the Ngage because I was impressed with the all-in-one functionality AND it helps to support other players in the handheld gaming scene seeing how that segment is monopolized by Nintendo's products.

 

 

It's sad you did not buy any to have fun.

 

Actually, I got more fun out of Halo and PGR than I did with the ENTIRE Dreamcast library! No joke!

[devils advocate]

I agree great games!

 

I just thought it was very sad for you ,that you purchased your systems based on HATRED of one system, and the reduction of a perceived monopoly.

 

Did you base any of it on the games? Or whether you would have fun?

[shep]

My decision to purchase any of my consoles or handhelds was because I wanted to play the games that system had. Not to just furthur my collection or have some stoopid plan to blindly support some big corporation that doesn't even care how I feel about games. (And that goes for all companies).

[Adrian M]

I agree great games!

 

 I just thought it was very sad for you ,that you purchased your systems based on HATRED of one system, and the reduction of a perceived monopoly.

 

 Did you base any of it on the games? Or whether you would have fun?

 

Ironically enough, one of my motivating factors for buying the XBOX (aside from the hatred of Sony) was not only for Halo but also to play the US release of Shenmue II which Microsoft had scooped up from the ashes of Sega during their crash-and-burn period. I had the DC and truly enjoyed Shenmue...when the DC was pronounced dead by Sega, there were still a trickle of titles coming out here and there with Shenmue II being readied for a stateside release. They even advertised it. But alas, only the Euros and Japanese got the DC version of Shenmue II. When I heard that Microsoft was going to bring the game out complete with English dialog, that only reaffirmed my faith in the company and their stance in bringing GAMERS the games they wanted. By and large, you look at how Microsoft has been to gamers and developers, you'll see that they are taking the right approach and catering to both segments. It was a refreshing change, and considering how the whole DC debacle left a sour taste in my mouth in regards to next-gen consoles, the XBOX is truly the reason why I still play newer games.

[xenomorpher]

I bought the Xbox even though I hated Microsoft a tad bit, when I first got it I played it a lot! Like the most I ever played was 3 hours straight (long for me I usually at the most average an hour) because it had Unreal Championship and Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six 3 which were (at that time) were exclusives to me since I didnt have a powerful PC. So I basically bought it to play Doom3 and Half Life 2 and the games listed. Halo did come across my mind but I waited. Now I have a powerful AMD 64 PC I dont see any games that I like so Im selling it because I dont want it to go to waste, but I will remember the joys I had playing it. IMO you should deff get it if your PC isnt up to date. Im wanting to get a Gamepark (GP 32) next since well duh the possibilities are endless to me emulator wise or an Apple computer since I only used on once around 9 years ago and just curious.

[Radio F Software]

I bought a GBA SP because of its conveience. And really I didnt buy one. I won one for $1 in a raffle. I WANTED it because of its light. I got a PS2 console (and XBox) because of the cool games, but I dont really have the time for either of the 2.

[Gabriel]

The PS2 was an easy decision. Ace Combat 5 and Tekken Tag Tournament were both exclusive and excellent titles for the console and were available right then. Then there was Time Crisis 2 (which was OOP when I got my system, but I knew I'd find it eventually) and Namco Museum. Overall, I knew Namco was going to be a near exclusive developer for the PS2 and I like Namco's games. So, in short, I went with the games. There was so much good stuff available that buying the system was a no-brainer.

 

The GameCube was a purely impulse buy. I saw a demo unit playing Godzilla in Best Buy and had to have it. The lower price point than the other systems helped the decision. Since then, I've found lots of use for the GameCube from the GameBoy Player and the beyond excellent port of Soul Calibur 2.

 

The decision to buy the X-Box was based on a false premise. The only game I wanted for it was Dead or Alive 3. DOA Volleyball looked like it might be entertaining (heh), and Panzer Dragoon Orta held lots of promise, but neither were available yet. Something else interesting just HAD to come out later down the road. In short, I bought it for the promise of upcoming games instead of buying it for what was available then. I ended up hating Panzer Dragoon Orta. And I have yet to see a game that justifies the system for me. Oh well. Live and learn.

 

I purchased the GBA with a bit of a vague intention that might have ended badly, but didn't. In short, I missed old school RPGs and 2D games. The GBA seemed to provide these aplenty in addition to backwards GB compatibility. It wasn't long before I discovered that the GBA seemed to be going through a tactical RPG renaissance. I didn't really buy the GBA for anything specific. I bought it more for its vast library of old school options. My game collection consists of classic compilations, scrolling shooters, and lots of RPGs.

[Major Havoc 2049]

I bought the Xbox, because of the great games on the system. Halo just looked awesome in previews, before the Xbox launched. I was a big Dreamcast gamer in '99, '00 and '01 and liked many of the games on the system. The Xbox has Dreamcast inspired controllers and Microsoft was going to continue the online console gaming that Sega started and multiplayer gaming can be loads of fun. Microsoft signed a big deal with Sega to bring a bunch of games to the Xbox and I was on board at that point. Loved Dead or Alive 2 and Dead or Alive 3 was coming to the Xbox. My favorite racer on the Dreamcast was Metropolis Street Racer and the sequel, Project Gotham Racing, was a launch Xbox game. Microsoft also bought FASA Studio and I have always liked the BattleTech/MechWarrior games on computers. I bought an Xbox at launch, with Halo, Dead or Alive 3 and Project Gotham Racing and was in heaven.

I also love all the great Sega games on the Xbox, like Gunvalkyrie, Jet Set Radio Future, Phantasy Star Online, Panzer Dragoon Orta, Crazy Taxi 3, House of Dead 3, Shenmue II and I'm looking forward to OutRun2 in a few day. Those are the reasons why I bought an Xbox.

[Numan]

Xbox: Bought when I first played Halo with a friend soon after its' launch.

 

PS2: Bought when a deal I could not refuse was made to me.

 

GC: Gift.

 

Dreamcast: Bought in Jaunary 2001 with a gift card. Played Shenmue, Skies of Arcadia, Draconus, and Jet Set Radio and never regretted it.

 

Saturn: Bought it used for $25.00. Bought the newly released Panzer Dragoon Saga for $50.00. Best purchase ever.

 

N64: Gift.

 

PS: Bought in January 1998 to see what everyone was fussing about. Final Fantasy Tactics took up alot of my time.

[King Atari]

GC: Got it in the summer of 2002, pretty much just for Star Wars Rogue Leader, and the Resident Evil games. That's not to say that there aren't other games I enjoy playing on the system, because there are, but those games were and remain my main reason to play the system.

 

PS2: Got it sometime in 2003, over a year ago, I believe. Basically for the GTA games, the remaining RE games that weren't on the GC, and the backwards compatability (though I already had a PS1).

 

Xbox: I probably wouldn't have paid for it myself, but I got it for Christmas last year. This system has the least amount of games I'm interested in, but I will say Max Payne (and especially the sequel) were the main draws for me. Plus, if a game is released across all three systems, I'll probably buy it for Xbox, for the better graphics. I'm not a graphics junkie, but a little eye candy doesn't hurt.

 

I'm anticipating the Nintendo DS more than any of the next gen systems now, and unless one of them gets some truly must-have titles, this console gen is probably my last for avid collecting. Games today don't appeal much to me, besides the Resident Evil & Max Payne series, obviously. I'd much rather play some classic consoles. Or better yet, but DVDs.

[Chrispy]

When I heard about the PS2 I had no plans on buying.

I waited until about a year ago and I could not prevent myself from buying it.

The main reason I bought it was the games.

I was a huge Test Drive fan and a new Test Drive game came out.

[NE146]

Easy. I want them all. So the deciding factor is simply money. Thankfully, since graduating from college I've been working steadily so it's been a 'get every console' world.

 

If I didn't have the finances, then I simply get the ones that will play the games I want at the time. And if a game comes out for another system that I want, then I slowly build to getting that one. But essentially it's all based upon the games... not the consoles themselves. Consoles are just a means to an end to play x, y, or z game that I want.

[Evilbay]

The decision for me was easy. I chose a station because it was the easiest one to run out of the store with. It was a happy coincidence since the station is the best stsytm ever made and everything from Microsoft suckS!

[Adrian M]

and everything from Microsoft suckS!

 

Generalizing a bit, aren't we?

[Flack]

Bought a PS2 because it came out.

 

Then, bought an Xbox, because it came out.

 

Then, bought a Gamecube, because it went on sale.

 

Simple.

[liquid_sky]

xbox for packin game

 

no ps2 due to hatred/boycott of sony

 

no gamecube due to lack of interesting games.

[Paralistalon]

I bought a GC for Super Smash Bros. Melee.