Discussion: Favorite video game console

Get a modded XBox (original XBox, not the 360 or the (stupidly named) XBox One), and put a larger capacity hard drive it (mine has a 500GB HD). The XBox has emulators for just about every 8 and 16 bit computer and console you can name, and most of them are fantastic, with lots of great features, such as cheat code support, on-screen keyboards for computer emulators, the ability to hold down a (predefined by the user) button on the XBox joypad and have the emulator go as fast as it can (much faster than the normal speed of the console) to bypass boring, unskippable intros or cutscenes in the games, etc). It even has emulators for 32 and 64 bit machines, but these emulators have problems with compatibility and glitches. And with a large hard drive, you can put all of the emulators and roms on there, and load everything from HD, via the easy to use menus. Once you've turned on the XBox via it's ON switch, you don't need to touch the XBox again, you can reset the XBox by pressing Left Trigger + Right Trigger + START + BACK at any time, and on the main menu there's an option to turn off the XBox.

I've heard the Wii makes a very good emulation machine too, but I don't know how it compares to an original XBox in that regard.

 

For me, the problem with collecting old hardware is the space it takes up, and the number of connections it takes on your TV. I only collect systems that I'll play on (and mostly only collect games I'll play, though I have around 90% of all PAL games for the N64 and original XBox, the two consoles I'm serious about collecting), and with six consoles now (a small number by many collector's standards) the wires behind the TV are now more complicated than the human brain, the joypads are forever tangled, and the games take up a lot more shelf/cupboard space than I can afford!

Still, some people break bones or even die for their hobbies (hang-gliding, skiing, mountain-climbing), so a bit of clutter and tangled wires is a very small price to pay for the fun of playing so many fantastic video games!

The Playstation was and is fantastic. I went down the N64 route myself, and never regretted it (the N64 is still my favourite console), the many of my mates had a PS1, and it had a lot of fantastic games. Nintendo always said that the N64 represented "Quality, not quantity", which was true (as long as you ignored utter rubbish like Superman 64 and Carmageddon 64), but with the PS1 you got quality AND quantity.

Every forum I've seen, and every Dreamcast owner I've spoken to, loves the console. The Dreamcast is a favourite amongst many, and I can't offhand remember anyone slagging it off. No doubt it has it's detractors (everything does), but I can't recall anyone saying/posting that they didn't like the machine. I know it's joypad wasn't too popular with some people (but they loved the machine and games, which is why the joypad irritated them), and lots of people were upset that Half-Life was promised but never emerged (instead it jumped to the Playstation), but overall the most common complaint (I mean it made up like 99.9% of the complaints I see about the Dreamcast) is that it died a commercial death many years before it should have. A truly great console, and even I (who never owned one, though I might one day) agree.

Why? Emulation (when the emulator is well written, and the host machine can run it well enough) is fantastic - giving not only a perfect experience of the game, but often with lots of really nice extras, such as cheat code support, snapshot save/loading, accelerated loading of the game, etc, plus you can have all of the games on one hard drive/DVD-R/etc, and run any region games. Granted emulation isn't always 100%, but for most people it's usually close enough (i.e. some hardcore SNES fans might say that SNES9X or ZSNES might not 'feel' right, or not look totally authentic, but to most people (especially those who never owned the console, only played on it at friend's houses) it's fine.

I'm not saying you're wrong, of course, as what we like is all down to personal opinion and taste, so everyone's opinion is valid. But I don't know from your post if you are against all emulation (and if so, why?), or you just feel that current emulators of a given machine(s) don't give a 100% true experience of playing games on the original machine.

Actually, I'll make a poll, to see how many people feel this way.


Edit: the poll is at http://www.assemblergames.com/forums/showthread.php?52547-Emulator-or-the-genuine-thing

 

Dreamcast, Mega Drive, Gamecube, PS1, PS2, PS3


And the ouya.........just because it is near enough perfect for what i use emulation wise

 

As unpopular as this may sound, the Panasonic 3do is definitely one of my favourites, captain quazar alone makes the system worthwhile. But there is a huge collection of rather good games (mostly the better DOS ports) for it, many of them two player, I found mine at a garage sale with a box of games for $50 and have never regretted it. The NES is however my favourite system of all time, the catalogue of games and the time in history that it came out brings nothing but good memories.

 

Make a case for the 3DO. It has the only Version of Super Street Fighter II Turbo with that remixed soundtrack. It got crazy Japanese support. What else?

 

Gex is great, it's got good versions of a lot of EA games. And one other thing...

No. Region. Protection. At all.
Oh, and no copy protection, so a thing I like to do with it is download an iso of a game, burn it (or play it on the good 3DOplay emulator), and play it before I buy it. Or if it's a really expensive game that has no replay value (*cough, cough, PLUMBERS DON'T WEAR TIES), just don't buy it. Plus I got mine with all the hookups for $50, with 2 games and samplers.

Speaking of hookups, every FZ-1 (not sure about the other models) uses regular standard jacks, no special cords, just a regular RCA cable (or S Video), and you're ready to go.

 

my favourite has got to be the Saturn. Sega's focus has always been about arcade games, and the Saturn is no exception.

I hung around arcades as a kid before I could afford systems of my own, so I preferred the style over longer games and the Saturn hardware resembled most of the games Id seen in arcades. couple that with alot of original games with that trademark Sega arcade flair and it was a keeper.

not the first console Ive had but definitely my fav. One day I hope to own the entire NA library. Dreamcast is a close second for virtually the same reasons. Third would be Atari 2600, which was my first system. probably helped set up my love of quick play games.

 

I think the Saturn was the first Sega machine that could actually replicate their best arcade games in the 80s and early 90s. Too bad most of those conversions stayed in Japan.

 

Dreamcast, without any question!

The Sega Dreamcast was the last true gamers console, I remember having one when they were fairly new and a few mates did and we absloutley loved them!!

I still do "computer nights" at my house where 3 of my mates come round and we play powerstone 2 4 player - always brilliant nights! (having one this friday) 4 nearly 30 year olds shouting at each other while playing a Dreamcast is pretty awesome lol.

The Xbox 360 is close behind as of all the great games, great arcade titles etc

 

I reaaalllly wanted a saturn back in the day, wouldn't stop pestering my mum about it. Got a PS1 instead for my birthday, was kinda dissapointed at first but looking back it was probably the better choice for me. as much as i loved the megadrive and dreamcast the western saturn library leaves alot to be desired imo

 

Does that mean that it was the last console to be dedicated to games, and not try to be anything else? I know what you mean, though I think the Gamecube or maybe the Wii (I don't know, I don't have a Wii) fits your description (not the PS2 or original XBox, really, as they were also DVD players, though I don't mind that). Whichever it is, though, I too hate the way modern consoles are supposed to be 'media centres', with Facebook and other rubbish. How many people actually use a console for social media, when a desktop PC or laptop or tablet or even a mobile phone has the advantage of either giving you a keyboard, or being more convenient? I don't know one person who uses a console for Facebook/twitter/Youtube/etc - well, I can't say for sure, I suppose, but I really don't think I've seen anyone do so, or mention that they have done so.

To me, a games console should be about games, nothing more.

 

I have always felt very much the same. I feel that somewhere in the late 2000's the development costs and graphics requirements of games became too great for developers to take risks with outlandish concepts. The Sega Dreamcast really did have some unique and amazing titles like Rez, Jet Grind Radio and Chu Chu Rocket, not to mention the already existing library of arcade games. I must admit that I also quite enjoyed the Saturn, the savage bottlenecks and poor 3D performance meant that there were a lot of quirky and very pretty side scrollers and fighting games developed for it which I think made it age much better than the PS1 when looking back.

I am a little disappointed by the widespread popularity of online FPS and 'press this button to win' cut-scenes that seem to have permeated into every game since those awful PS2 tomb raider sequels. The old consoles were about breaking new ground and innovating, often due to cleverly working around technical limitations of the hardware, but there was a real optimism in what came out. I feel that now we are simply getting repackaged versions of a theme that developers know will sell, and which have expansions that they know we will buy.

 

I don't want a whole computer with all kind of games on it, I want a shelf of games with box art and it's awesome. I don't want to play games on a keyboard and I don't want to play on a computer screen, I want to plug in the controller, turn on the console sit down and play it on the Tv. I love how the games cartdrige look and how the console looks. The console feel is just yum, too bad the new video games are all going online. The only reason why I would use an emulator is to play rare or really expensive games. You have no idea how much I hate it.

 

indies are the ones taking risks now

 

Wow my post is a hit!! haha

 

Since I am a fan of emulation I think the console I have put the most hours into is my psp with cfw (and its own amazing library).

A system that plays every system from the N64 and before is an amazing game console. The answer may be a cheat but its the truth. Also I remember when the system was announced and how absolutely amazing it was.

 

I have to say, being able to emulate up to NDS/PS2 is pretty damn satisfying. Does it ever truly beat the actual console? I am not sure... Something like NDS will never be better due to the required input (unless your on some perfectly sized pen tablet maybe?) (although games like Hotel Dusk work on the Android platform extremely well)
Having a huge library at your fingertips & other easily accessible features is great too. I love ZSNES. I am an outcast compared to 9x lovers, but I just love all the options you get with emulating. Truly no hassle if you're just trying to have a quick game, even with a friend.
(jumped from SF4 on XB360 to SF3 on xbox, then to sf2 on ZSNES, then MAME for Alpha/vs. X-men/MvC & some Metal Slug. Good fun, no setup of a ton of consoles. I wish I had USB converters for every controller, though! =]

 

Yeah, hopefully soon they'll be able to make something besides "retro" platformers. I like Super Meat Boy and all, but seeing the indie scene filled with them is annoying.

Question: should I put CFW on my 3000 or my 1000? I'm waiting on a part for the 3000, and if the UMD drive doesn't work it's definitely going to be modded, but otherwise I haven't decided.

 

I would go ahead with the 3000. It's a very painless process now to install cfw and the 3000 has that great light hardware and superior screen. The only reason to keep the 3000 on regular firmware is if you wanted to still login to psn and there may even be a way around that.

 

Sure, that's why there are so many platformers and Minecraft clones with zombies and fake 8-bit graphics...