Why do you buy consoles at launch???

[jeepnut24]

Having seen the recent launch of the DS and the PSP, with the upcoming launch of the new XBOX, I got to wondering why so many buy at launch.

 

Is it the launch titles? Or one specific title that sells you?

 

Is it having the latest and greatest???

 

Is it the new technolgy available that makes it worth having right away?? IE, wireless, Harddrive, Backwards compatability???

 

Is it the lineup of future titles???

 

I continue to find it hard to justify the extra $100+ you pay at launch when I can wait 6 months to a year and have a better library available and save the money on the console. Not to mention a better idea of what the console shapes up to be.

[+FujiSkunk]

I've only ever bought one system at launch, and that was the Dreamcast (though I was still a few days late to the punch). I wanted to play Sonic Adventure when it was new.

[tr3]

bought the DS at launch because i think it is a great console (touchscreen r0x)

[jeepnut24]

I've only ever bought one system at launch, and that was the Dreamcast (though I was still a few days late to the punch).  I wanted to play Sonic Adventure when it was new.

 

Yeah, thats what I meant. Should have said at the launch price of the console. My bad. Im interested in seeing the motivation behind buying a console at launch.

[Stingray]

I never buy a console at launch. I always wait until at least the first price drop.

 

-S

[Gregory DG]

I don't think I've ever bought a game system at launch. The closest was getting a Nuon for Christmas...

 

Anyway, I think most people get them at launch for bragging rights. I personally prefer to wait for the price to drop, the bugs to get worked out, and the library of games reach a critical mass.

[Dones]

Except for the N64 I have waited for price drops.

[Cousin Vinnie]

I never understood it. I actually got mad at my wife b/c she bought me a Gamecube for Christmas at launch. I really thought the Cube was gonna be neglected more than their N64 was. After their wrestling games sucked ass, I traded it in on a PS2, and two broken PS2s later I gave up on that system. Then two Christmases ago (2003), I asked for a Cube again for Christmas, and in 14 months time I have bought 40+ games and have only bought 3 at full price.

 

The moral of the story is that I really enjoy finding deals on games, and you simply can't at launch. The Cube, even though it is in 3rd place, has actually shaped up to be my favorite system. Sony's PS2 would be great too if it wasn't made so crappily.

 

I'm gonna buy one more PS2 when the third one is launched and buy some cheap games for that system as everyone runs around spending hundreds of dollars on the latest craze. Then two years later, I'll buy the PS3, unless my wife gets me one for Christmas.

 

Cousin Vinnie

[Lord Helmet]

I bought the GameCube at launch for Rouge Squadron 2. It is the only console that I have bought on launch day.

 

I did buy a PS2 at the original launch price, a couple of months after release, but that was only due to the shortage Sony had when the PS2 was first released.

 

I waited to buy an x-box simply because there were no games out there that I thought were worth it at launch. It wasn't until I played Halo at a friends house that I decided to get an X-box. Up until then, most of the games I wanted were on multiple platforms.

 

I will say this. I will probably not be getting any of the new systems at launch this time around. I have found myself liking the current gen of games less and less.

 

Actually, the new Nintendo system will probably be the first one that I get, and not because I'm some kind of fanboy. It will be because I tend to like Nintendo's first party games, and they will be exclusive to the new Nintendo system. Most of the other games I like will be available on all platforms.

[Stingray]

I never understood it. I actually got mad at my wife b/c she bought me a Gamecube for Christmas at launch.

 

Okay, just because I wouldn't buy a system at launch the last thing I would ever do would be discourage my wife from buying me video game stuff.

 

-S

[BydoEmpire]

The only consoles I've ever bought at launch were Nintendo's. I had to play Mario 64 the day it was available. While the Cube's launch titles weren't of that caliber, I was looking forward to the system and I wanted to play Wave Race, Rogue Leader, etc. I was extremely happy with both of those choices. It sounds stupid, but I also wanted to support Nintendo's efforts as the only pure gaming company left.

 

Oddly enough, I bought a GBA at a launch, too, and I was pretty disappointed with the screen and games. I just don't play handheld games much.

 

I'm not planning on buying a next gen console at launch, but I can't really say for sure until I know more about the systems and games.

[Radio F Software]

I NEVER have bought a system at launch. My mom and dad have though. They bought me a Genesis when they came out. I bought a Game.com... 7 years after its release. I bought a Classic GameBoy.... god know how many years after its release.

[jeepnut24]

I usually wait for the first price drop and the library to increase, but if the hardware provides something that is important, Im there. If the PSP had serious MP3 storage, Id have been in line. Ill be sure to get the XBOX 2 at launch though...

[Dones]

I bought the GameCube at launch for Rouge Squadron 2. It is the only console that I have bought on launch day.

I bought my GC mainly in hopes to play Perfect Dark 2. Wasn't all that happy when rare "defected" (LOL just kidding).

 

Seriously though, I don't think it's a good call to buy consoles based on promised yet to be released titles.

[Cousin Vinnie]

I never understood it. I actually got mad at my wife b/c she bought me a Gamecube for Christmas at launch.

 

Okay, just because I wouldn't buy a system at launch the last thing I would ever do would be discourage my wife from buying me video game stuff.

 

-S

 

I really really thought the GC was going belly up quick though. This is the first time in history 4 systems (including GBA) have done really well for multiple years. I basically thought she was throwing $$$ away.

 

CV

[SteveW]

I bought my Jaguar and Dreamcast at their original launch price. The Jaguar, I bought out of sheer technolust. After seeing it in the store, I couldn't resist buying up a new Atari videogame console. As far as the Dreamcast goes, I hadn't bought a modern game console since the Jaguar, and I had slowly stopped playing games. Once I bought the DC, it got me back into the modern gaming scene.

 

 

Now that the edit function is active again (Hurray!), I also thought I'd mention that I bought the N-Gage QD on it's launch day. That was another case of geek lust. New videogame device, pockets filled with cash from hellish amounts of overtime, and payday off. Couldn't stop myself.

Edited April 12, 2005 by SteveW

[jeepnut24]

I bought the GameCube at launch for Rouge Squadron 2. It is the only console that I have bought on launch day.

I bought my GC mainly in hopes to play Perfect Dark 2. Wasn't all that happy when rare "defected" (LOL just kidding).

 

Seriously though, I don't think it's a good call to buy consoles based on promised yet to be released titles.

 

Good thing you didn't buy an XBOX for PD0 either. Looks to be shaping up to be a XBOX 2 launch title...

 

 

Sorry about your luck loosing RARE though...

[BydoEmpire]

Heh, I bought my Xbox for PDO - Panzer Dragoon Orta. Actually, I got the Sega GT/JSRF bundle, knowing PDO would be out soon.

[dinovelvet]

Having seen the recent launch of the DS and the PSP, with the upcoming launch of the new XBOX, I got to wondering why so many buy at launch.

 

Is it the launch titles? Or one specific title that sells you?

 

Is it having the latest and greatest???

 

Is it the new technolgy available that makes it worth having right away?? IE, wireless, Harddrive, Backwards compatability???

 

Is it the lineup of future titles???

 

I continue to find it hard to justify the extra $100+ you pay at launch when I can wait 6 months to a year and have a better library available and save the money on the console. Not to mention a better idea of what the console shapes up to be.

 

Probably "all of the above" for me. Though funnily enough, I find it hard to justify waiting around a year hoping for a price drop when you can just spend the extra $50 and get it right now! I bought the Cube on release date, Xbox in the January after its release, and the PS2 I got last, about a year and a half after its release. As for the next gen, will definitely get Xbox 2 at launch, the Nintendo system I will wait for the AAA titles like Metroid and Zelda to be released, PS3 ehh, I don't think I will bother unless there's a killer exclusive or two

[The Eidolon]

The only systems I bought close to launch date were the Atari 5200

and Nintendo SNES. At the time, games were improving so

dramatically (at least in terms of graphics) that I wanted a new system

just to be able to play better games as they came out. Not for a

specific title but just because the next generation looked so cool (to a kid).

 

Now days graphics still keep getting better, but I can't get as excited over it.

You can do a lot graphically with a GameCube, or even a PS1 for that

matter. Better graphics don't necessarily make a better game, but they

can make a game more immersive. Now that we are fully in the 3D

era, just about any game can have good enough graphics to pull you

in, so to speak. More powerful consoles may look a bit prettier or

play newer games, but nothing to make me feel the need to buy my

games at $50 a pop instead of $20 eash a year later...

 

--The Eidolon

[sega saturn x]

The only system i think i got at launch was DS and that was because it was an x-mas present. But i always wait at least 6 months before buying a new system.

[xenomorpher]

I don't think I ever got a system at launch. Probably I didn't have the money at that specific time. I did however get games when they just came out in that same day.

[Lemmi]

I never buy a console at launch. I always wait until at least the first price drop.

 

-S

 

same here, but i usually wait untill the 3rd or 4th price drop

my 7800 was just after the first price drop and after i found out my vader died, i think the only one i paid full price for was TG16 but im not even sure what i paid, it might have been after the first drop, because i was waiting for the first new console to put out a Hockey game, and the TG16 beat the Genesis by 6 months for a hockey game

[Lord Helmet]

Considering we are less than a year away from the next gen systems, I have not seen 1 reason why I should shell out $300 bucks for one of the new systems.

[Flojomojo]

To have the shiniest new toy as soon as it's available, of course. It's only money, after all. I can pay a little more for gratification NOW.

 

This attitude probably comes from growing up with nothing but a secondhand Odyssey 2 for years until I could buy my own clearance Intellivision and yard-sale Atari VCS.

 

Many of my favorite games are launch titles:

 

Super Mario World, Mario 64, Mario 64DS

F-Zero

Pilotwings, Pilotwings 64

Altered Beast

Golden Axe

Wipeout, Wipeout Pure

Ridge Racer, RR5, PSP RR

Soul Calibur

SSX

Virtua fighter 3tb

Project Gotham Racing

Halo

Rogue Leader