SNES or Genesis? N64 or PS1? PS3 or XBox360?
The Console War is eternal. We as gamers have grown up playing one system and envying our neighbor for owning the other. I fondly remember my outrage at how cool the Genesis version of Aladdin was compared to the red-headed stepchild iteration on the SNES. I mean, come on, in the Genesis version Aladdin actually had a sword! As a kid it just doesn't get any cooler than watching your favorite Disney hero hack people to bits with a razor sharp blade.
SNES and Genesis versions of Aladdin. Notice the sword and added cool factor on the latter.
The problem was that my friend owned the Genesis and I was stuck with the SNES and forever doomed to simply hop on my opponents until they got bored of being abused in such a strange fashion.
And thus The Console War raged on in our childhoods and still continues today. Microsoft and Sony are certainly at each other's throats over things such as exclusive titles, exclusive online content, and even exclusive levels and characters in many anticipated games. Take, for example, the re-make of TMNT: Turtles in Time (as featured by us
here). The game looks awesome and I'm having a tough time finding any of my friends who aren't looking forward to playing it. But guess what. You better be an Xbox 360 owner or you won't be seeing this puppy until a little bit later, and in the gaming world "a little bit later" can feel like an eternity.
Why? The Console War, that's why. Microsoft shelled out the big bucks to make the new TMNT game an Xbox Live exclusive (at least for a little while). They also slapped down the cash to bring Final Fantasy XIII to the Xbox 360, and now we even have confirmation of Metal Gear making an appearance in Microsoft's camp.
This vicious battle for the triple A games and exclusive downloadable content are just getting started. With Sony still denying any sort of failure in their strategy with the PS3, Microsoft gaining some momentum now that the Red Ring of Death fiasco is in the rear view mirror, and Nintendo keeping the casual gamers in its death-grip, I believe we are on the verge of competition amongst game companies unlike any we have seen before.
Obviously I cannot even begin to delve into the complexities of The Console War in one simple post, so let's all throw our cards in on this one and get this discussion rolling. Which console do you tend to side with (if any) and why? How do you feel about this race for the exclusives in our games and what would you like to see me focus more on concerning all this craziness?
SNES and Genesis versions of Aladdin. Notice the sword and added cool factor on the latter.
Comments (40)
I've always been a Playstation girl. Not to say I don't play or like the other systems, but I grew up with PS1 and PS2 and I currently have PS3.
Sega
also had blood in MK, where as SNES had... black cloudy dust-like
stuff? That's right, right? It's been so long that I forgot. Genesis
had next to no RPGs though (yes there were a few, but not like the SNES
heavy hitters).
Dreamcast could have been good, but it was so far
ahead of it's time that ppl couldn't appreciate it to its full
capacity. If only Sega had waited even just 2 more years.
I never knew I played the inferior version of Aladdin when I was a child. I loved that game, too. Man, way to ruin some cherished childhood memories.
I like my 360, but not enough to fight for its honor. Although I think it holds its own when I talk about playing the exclusive DLC for Fallout 3 or GTA IV in front of a PS3 owner.
The exclusive thing is just irritating. I honestly don't see how it makes sense to agree to give a game to one platform.
I've use Playstations as my primary console, but I've always had other consoles around at the same time specifically because of that exclusive crap. I don't consider the PS3 a failure either just because SONY isn't cashing in big time on it. They went out and made a really good quality console. I've had mine since they were first released and haven't had any problems, but my 360 I've replaced 3 separate times and as I recall I had to send the original Xbox in to get repairs as well. It may be fixed now but it seems Microsoft just wants to impress with how fast they can bang things out and sell as opposed to making something durable, and it's sort of like a slap in the face for Xbox users.
The last Nintendo console I liked was the N64. I won't buy a Wii because the only thing going for it are the sports games, and I refuse to spend that much money to do something I could go outside and do for free (or at least substantially less).
I currently own an Xbox360 and plan on eventually getting a PS3. I finally got a PSP over the DS after years of careful consideration, but that MGS4 has been staring me in the face for too long. I love the series and I want it!!
Oh god I loved the genesis version of Aladdin <3
Hm. In my youngin days, I was a huge PS fan. Now I'm an Xbox gal. Go figure!
But I will always and forever love my genesis <3
i like the snes one of aladdin... better backgrounds! more detailed!
ok i admit it i'm an artist spying as a video gamer so i'm a nintendo/square enix fangirl all the way....
@snapeful@xanga - Indeed. The SNES version of Aladdin trumps the Genesis one in a variety of ways. Perhaps it warrants a post?
I remember when Nintendo and Sega sniped at each other back and forth when the idea of a "console war" was still kind of cute. It was hilarious and sad when Panasonic, Atari and others tried to squeeze their way in. It was also dumb then. It's reeeeaaalllyyyy dumb now.
I'm surprised the idea of THE ZOMG CONSOLE WARRR has survived to this day, especially since the Xbox 360 and PS3, as they are now, are friggin' IDENTICAL. They do the exact same stuff as the other. You can bring up Blu-Ray and you can bring up Xbox Live, but at the end of the day they both play video games, they both play movies and they both have online play. Heck, they play the same games for the most part. And that's all I, or anyone, should care about - the games.
The Wii... is the Wii.
And each company (not just Sony, though they're definitely the most fun to poke fun at) has had its stupid missteps, especially this generation. They also have their strengths, believe it or not. You wanna win the Console War? Own them all.
...
But man, I really do pity you Genesis kids. LULZ
@Riskbreaker - well i mean i liked the graphics better and the stupid sword just looked tacky yanno? -so not hardcore-
I. Love. My. SNES.
I never got an N64 because its last shred of uniqueness was stripped of it when the controller looked exactly like the Playstation one. I miss my ABXY buttons and D-pad.
I recently got a PS2 at a pawn shoppe, and I absolutely love it now.
The xbawks and the sony "oh sorry... no backwards compatibility" ps3 are identical in almost every way-- they have fucking HARD DRIVES. like a computer. Why not just get a controller peripheral for your PC and play that way?
I don't see the point in these new gen consoles.
The Wii is just... dumb in my opinion. It's a sad attempt to get obease 8-year-olds off the couch and moving around with Wii Fit and Star Wars lightsabers.
Nintendo 64, PS1, PS2, PSP, PS3, Xbox, Nintendo DS, Gameboy, Gameboy Advance, Gameboy SP... I love them all, but I think my favourite is the Sony collection.
As much as it sucks to spend the extra money to own all three game systems (Wii, 360, PS3) it's worth it in the end to be able to choose which ever game you want, and also have the ability to buy the better version of the game as well. We love being a PSWii60 owner.
@Takingthe38th@xanga - That's kind of like the PS3 today. Bluray is so far ahead of its time, and the PS3's specs are completely whack, that no one bothers to really make too many games for it; it's just too complex.
Other than that, I'm completely for PS3. Just 'cause it's losing right now doesn't mean it won't make a huge comeback. After all, it has specs for virtually the next generation of video game systems anyways; if it doesn't win this round, I'm sure SONY won't even have to try to make a new system for the next generation wars
I love the era of Nintendo vs Sega: each side featured their unique style and represented different types of gamer. Then common exclusive titles were also something to remember: the FF series, and the Zelda series were the reasons why I hold Nintendo so dearly to my heart. But then I was also envy of those were had titles such as the Sonics series and the Phantasy Star series.
The "battle" between Sony and MS is only on their marketing side, not on the console. They feature similar hardwares and titles, with exceptions only to titles that they develop on their own. Nintendo was the only one bold enough to not go with the flow of superior performance but rather superior fun factor. Nintendo probably won't be able to take much from the pie that Sony and MS shared, cause they're too busy creating a new pie of their own.
By the way, all controllers nowadays were based on the SNES design of having 4 buttons on your right thumb, direction-control on your left thumb, and extra buttons with your index fingers. ;)
Besides the SNES, the only systems I've owned are Playstation consoles, including the PSP. My gaming days started with the FF series on the PS1, so I've stuck with Sony (and Square) ever since. Never had much interest in other consoles...never had the money to own several consoles at once, either. Oh well!
I think we have to have a console war to keep prices competitive. If we didn't, then one company would have a monopoly... like the MTA in NY lol. And it would mean that they can keep hiking up prices or not caring as much about quality. Having a console war is keeping each company trying to create the best, newest, most innovative games.
i owned Genesis and PS1, and played games on all of these systems regardless of whether i own them or not. Personally, I liked Genesis, but both SNES and Genesis had pioneering games. Same with the N64 and PS1, they were the very systems that defined the basics of video gaming for all these years til now. Its too difficult to call. Its interesting to talk about the 3rd generation consoles because they have all taken very distinct pathways in trying to revolutionize gaming. I particularly like the direction Xbox360 has taken..theres more of a balance of gameplay, graphics, and running titles.
Nintendo will always have my heart. The reason for this is because Nintendo has all the games which I associate with my childhood. Mario? Check. Pokemon? Check. Donkey Kong? Check.
That being said, I'm not too pleased with the gaming consoles existing these days. Right now, all I own is a Wii and PS2, along with some classics (SNES? Game Boy? Game Boy Color?). The Wii is pretty much all I like these days, and not just because it's Nintendo. The game lineups for XBOX360 and PS3 don't seem appealing to me at all.
Or maybe that's just the classic gamer in me :P
@omgbeeaaa@xanga - I can see where you're coming from, but even though a huge part of my childhood belongs to Nintendo, I'm really upset with the showing the Wii's been putting on for lifelong fans. It seems more about bringing grandma, grandpa, and the whole family to the television screen rather than giving us amazing games like those you mentioned.
However, I do love what Nintendo's been doing with the DS lately. Yea, they have a ton of shovelware on the DS just like on the Wii, but the DS also has tons of awesome Zelda games, RPGs, Mario stuff, and just a great game library for gamers wanting more than collections of mini games.
I'm a Sony girl, so any PS consel for me makes me happy!
I've always been a PS girl (I own all the PS systems, including PSP), though my first console was a SNES, so Nintendo will always have a place in my heart (I didn't like N64, but I got a DS). Even when my dad bought the xbox (and xbox 360), I still stick to my PS (PS2 and PS3).
xbox, but when i was a kid, it was all about the genesis... i still have one, and if i can't sleep late at night i like to play some of my fave games (sonic 2 or 3, bubsy 2, aladdin, ristar) to reminisce.
Nintendo ftw! Always been a nintendo guy.
The SNES owned Sega's ass. Fuck that version of Aladdin with the sword.
N64 will forever and allways be my favorite console. There has yet to be a lineup of games as impressive on XBox or Playstation.
I've come to become a fan of the PC, actually. Sooner or later, EVERYTHING is emulated. (Even old Operating Systems.)