GameCube Really And Truly For Sale 343
Several readers have submitted the news that the GameCube is now officially for sale. With the GameCube and Xbox newly on offer, and the still-amazing PlayStation2 still hanging on, and dirt-cheap, high-power PCs on every corner, it looks like the predicted deaths of both console and PC are still some ways off. On the whole, I'd rather have the Mandrake Gaming edition (mentioned previously) than a new console.
me too! (Score:5, Funny)
Import (Score:1)
Re:Import (Score:2)
Can't swear about American companies (Tronix [tronixweb.com] is my normal shop for US game purchases, though), but you can pick up a Japanese unit pre-modded to play US and Japanese games from Lik-Sang [lik-sang.com] in Hong Kong for a very reasonable price. I've bought from them before, and although some of the cheaper products they sell can be a little shoddy (I wouldn't trust their step down converters as far as I could throw them after one caused my import PS2 to start smoking) they've tended to be prompt and very good for better quality kit.
My personal approach has been to pick up the JP/US Gamecube from Lik-Sang, and the US software from Tronix, who are extremely prompt with delivery (took two days from US to UK by FedEx...)
Xbox thoughts (Score:3, Interesting)
Halo is a great game, although control IS definately a little harder without my aswd and mouse that I'm used to. Its a shame the network play isn't ready (for both xbox and halo/madden).
Re:Xbox thoughts (Score:2, Interesting)
Do you feel relieved when you buy PC's [dell.com], and don't have to buy the OS?
Bill
Re:Xbox thoughts (Score:2)
Take the PS2 for instance.
It retailed for $300 and that didn't include any method of storing your games. You had to buy a memory unit.
Xbox is $300 and comes with 50000+ units of storage.
Re:Xbox thoughts (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Xbox thoughts (Score:2)
I was reading an xbox forum where someone posted they had setup a vpn (from his gateway) with someone else and was playing halo with them.
Rock.
I dunno about that. (Score:5, Insightful)
"GameCube and Xbox newly on offer, and the still-amazing PlayStation2 still hanging on, and dirt-cheap, high-power PCs on every corner, it looks like the predicted deaths of both console and PC are still some ways off."
Actually, in my mind at least, that's actually an indication of the problem(s) to come for hardware companies. The fact that high-powered systems are everywhere you look means the market will become saturated with "more of the same" at some point.
Already, PC hardware manufacturers are facing vanishingly small profit margins (except for Apple, which always makes it a point to sell their stuff at a price that actually makes some money). Yeah, I know all the stuff about various tech leaders making sweeping statements about "never needing more than 640K of memory" and such, but we really are headed for a "meaningful speed" cap on this.
The gaming market will probably be the last of the hardware sectors to really feel the crunch in this respect, because new games always drive hardware to the limits (unlike business apps, which run fine on my old P2-266). One could say that companies like Microsoft drive hardware with new (arguably bloated) OSes that require bigger & badder computers to run well, but even that has to stop at some point.
Basically, there will be a point soon where even gaming consoles will all be "fast enough", which will mean bad news for hardware manufacturers until the "Next Big Thing" emerges to max out even cutting-edge stuff. Will it be "true virtual reality"? Who knows? I for one will be interested to see...
Re:I dunno about that. (Score:5, Insightful)
...except that it has never been about hardware performance. If it was strictly about polygons and mip-mapping, then the PS1 would not have been competition for the N64, because PS1 games all looked like shit. It's about fun games, and blockbuster titles like MGS1, Gran Turismo, Zelda, Mario, etc., make or break a system, which is why console makers love to see "exclusively for XXX" so they can have an advantage over console YYY.
Re:I dunno about that. (Score:2)
Even that isn't true. There are PS1 games that look as almost good as PC games: Crash Bandicoot 3, Crash Team Racing, Spyro the Dragon. Sure they don't look _quite_ as good as PC games, but the fact that they never ever crash or have driver problems is enough reason to buy a PS1 for $99.
Re:I dunno about that. (Score:1)
Nah, I don't think so. When you drop $1500 on a new PC, a lear later you're usually thinking, "Yeah, this is fast enough," and you don't upgrade. Consoles, at ~$300, are not as much of a problem. Besides, at that price you can buy 3 consoles before buying one new "cheap" PC, or 5 consoles for the price of a "average" PC. That's alot of upgrading.
I don't think that the "Next Big Thing" you mention will really change any of that. If a company figures out a way to make a cheap VR headset or something that could be sold at console prices, the same accessory will come out for the PC in successive months.
But, truthfully, consoles ALWAYS have a "next big thing" type of advantage over PCs that no PC can duplicate at this point. Group entertainment (read: party) games just don't go over well on a 17" monitor (or a 22".) You need a couch, a big TV, etc. And honestly, everything besides RPG and strategy on a PC is boring to me because of the lack of a social aspect. I think games are just more fun to play when people can watch what you're doing without getting a neck cramp or having to pull chairs over to sit next to you so they can see what's going on.
Re:I dunno about that. (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:I dunno about that. (Score:2)
First off, from a technical standpoint, I actually feel the same way (it will never be enough). Until game environments (or just plain sims) are realistic enough that I can't tell I'm in a fantasy world, I won't be satisfied with the technical side of things.
That said, I don't think the majority of the folks out there feel that way. There's a lot to be said for the strategy aspect of games, which has been sorely lacking for some time now (IMHO, for most games). Most gamers truly care about the true quality of the games they buy, and look at "gorgeous graphics" as a secondary condition.
I could, of course, have this completely backwards. Maybe most gamers today really just care about purty graphics. If that is the case, the hardware companies don't have much to worry about, but that's also really sad. I actually still have more fun playing a few old text mode RPGs than most of today's FPS clones. Maybe I'm just odd in that, but most of my friends feel the same way. I can't claim to have any sort of truly objective view on this matter, mostly because I don't know the thousands of gamers it would take to form such a view.
Thank you for the reply! It's got me thinking
Re:I dunno about that. (Score:2, Interesting)
Nah, most the poeple I talked to held out on the Dreamcast in favor of the PS2 because the PS2 would have "better" graphics. There is no such thing as enough, we haven't even begun to explre TRUE 3D envrionments, that will require an exponentially greater ammount of power.
Re:I dunno about that. (Score:2)
I think that's actually pretty close. I'd bet that the next generation of consoles (say around 2005) can acheive effects comparable to the Final Fantasy movie. In other words, strikingly lifelike, but not quite 'real'. The next generation after that will be indistinguishable from reality. At that point there won't be anywhere for graphics to go.
How will that improve gameplay?
Mandarake gaming edition? (Score:1)
come on (Score:5, Insightful)
On the whole, I'd rather have the Mandrake Gaming edition (mentioned previously) than a new console.
No you wouldn't. Come on, admit it.
Re:come on (Score:2, Informative)
Run popular Windows® games on Linux® with TransGaming Technologies®' portability layer.
Seamlessly run many Windows games on Linux including:
StarCraft®
Baldur's GateTM
Half-Life® Counterstrike
and many others through TransGaming's subscription service.
Or you could pay $72 to get a copy of WinME and run them natively without a subscription.
Windows, Linux, and Gaming... (Score:2)
If you simply HAVE to have WinME, at least install it with 98lite from http://www.98lite.net --it will let you keep Syetm Restore, Web Folders, and a thousand other pieces of bloat from ever getting installed. Despite some complainers who probably used it wrong, I have never had a problem with 98lite, and I use Windows in some very stressing ways.
However, for most things--especially gaming, particularly if you want to run DOS games--Win98SE is better than WinME. WinME has more recent drivers, but any self-respecting computer user downloads the latest drivers for all their hardware from the vendors' websites anyway. Again, installed with 98lite, you can remove a lot of the unnecessary crap, making it more stable and dependable.
I have no loyalty to Bill. I disapprove strongly of Microsoft's business practices. But I also am practical enough to use the right tool for the job, and if you want to game on PCs, that tool is Win9x. That will eventually change when newer games support only the Win2k/XP family, but for now, Win98SE or WinME (properly installed) are ideal. This is why I boot into Win98 for gaming, and have chosen Win98SE as the platform I'm going to use when I build an arcade machine a la MAME, but of course with multiple other non-MAME games available. My Win98SE machine can play all the newest PC titles, a few of which I actually have, almost all of the older PC titles going all the way back to early DOS, a lot of which I have (some of the oldest need a CPU slowdown program, but still run perfectly), most of the unique Mac games from the 68k days thanks to Basilisk II booting OS 8(B2 is also available primarily for Linux, but Linux won't run all those Windoze games, soo...), all the unique Linux games not requiring 3d acceleration thanks to VMware booting Linux Mandrake, all the unique BeOS games not requiring 3d acceleration thanks again to VMWare booting Be, most of the popular and many of the unpopular Playstaion 1 titles thanks to ePSXe and Bleem!, most of the best n64 games, SNES, NES, Genesis, 2600, etc. etc. games thanks to various good emulators, and of course the ubiquitous MAME for many many great arcade titles.
Win98SE is the most versatile solution for gaming. Linux's Win32 compatibility layer will never be perfct, and thus the majority of Windows games will never be playable on Linux, whether a Gaming Edition or not. IMHO, unless someone goes in the opposite direction and finds a way to run Windows' actual Win32 layer on top of Linux, with hardware accelerated drivers and all, it's just throwing dust into the wind to expend effort on getting Windows games to run on Linux.
If you hate Microsoft, pirate their OS for your gaming needs and have the best of all possible worlds--have the most compatible possible gaming machine, while not paying Microsoft anything, while having Linux for your real work. By all means, buy Linux games when and where available, to support gaming on Linux and try to help it become more viable and widespread. But don't deny yourself the world of games that will never play on Linux, even under emulation. You can if you want--but not me.
Re:come on (Score:2)
>>>>>>>>
Given that you're running through a Windows compatibility layer, you have to worry more on Mandrake than on Windows!
PS2 still rules. (Score:2, Offtopic)
Sony has one helluva head start on the two newcomers... WE'll see where things lie next year....
My bets? Xbox goes the way the Jaguar went. It will die, but at least have better numbers than ATARI was possible of.
nintendo? I hope they can do it, although someone needs to beat the engineer that though not using a standard dvd was a good idea over the head with several SNES machines. what moron in engineering or management thought it was a good idea to not have a feature that everyone else has?
my first notice was the fact that the local stores still have Xboxes on the shelves.. funny, you couldnt get a PS2 for months after release, yet I could liesurely buy an Xbox.... anyone else notice this? or is it region specific?
XBox Availability (Score:2)
Re:PS2 still rules. (Score:5, Interesting)
No DVD in the GameCube allows them to be $100 cheaper than both the PS2 and the Xbox. That sounds like a good first reason for not having it. Secondly, they're marketing it as a GAMES machine, not a home-entertainment centre for your living room. And thirdly, Playstation 2 got off to a dreadful start in Japan because a ton of people bought them just as a cheap DVD player (which was somewhat of a rare thing in Japan at the time). That means they didn't buy games, the companies who created PS2 launch titles lost a fortune (like Namco) and Sony lost money too, because of course they make money from the game sales.
Thats your other reason for no DVD in the GC. And also the reason why most Japanese developers are now happy to create games for all three consoles, instead of putting all their eggs in one basket and getting burnt again (like they did with the PS2, losing them money and killing the Dreamcast).
Re:PS2 still rules. (Score:2)
One thing's for sure, the mini-dvd driver certainly wasn't an engineering decision.
Re:PS2 still rules. (Score:2)
Nice, but completely wrong. No DVD movie ability basically saves them $20 in licensing fees (Which on the Xbox the consumer has to pay anyway by purchasing a special remote). Also, something you might have forgotten. Sony makes money whether you buy DVD movies OR PS2 games.
More likely it's "no HD, no Ethernet" (Score:2)
More likely the $100 difference is from no hard drive and no Ethernet.
This isn't a bad thing: the XBox hard drive seems to me like it could be the source of all kinds of problems when it a) gets filled up b) gets fragmented c) fails or gets corrupted d) gets used to patch games that were released broken. I couild be wrong, but I'm certainly waiting to see before I buy.
Ethernet would have been cool, but OTOH, I have the Ethernet card for my Dreamcast and have never hooked it up.
Jon Acheson
Re:PS2 still rules. (Score:2)
I'd say the cube and ps2 are on the level, except the ps2 has been out a little longer while nintendo corp has a good history going. After all, the ps2 and dreamcast didn't make the n64 go away or anywhere and vice versa. Sega just couldn't keep up a good fanbase nor release a good set of games. Well, at least not like it did in the old days
Re:PS2 still rules. (Score:2)
Re:PS2 still rules. (Score:3, Informative)
It was a management decision. Any engineer(ing team) that could design the GC would want a full DVD player in it. Just wait for the Panasonic GC with full DVD capability, if you dont already have multiple DVD players in your house. They used the miniature size so that the DVD couldnt be duplicated to a standard DVD and still FIT in the GC (that's my guess anyway)
Re:PS2 still rules. (Score:2, Informative)
"The bad news is that the system is only going to be available in Japan for the time being according to one of the representatives at the show. He commented that it would be too expensive to bring it stateside."
http://cube.ign.com/news/37782.html [ign.com]
- Benad
Re:PS2 still rules. (Score:2)
Re:PS2 still rules. (Score:3, Insightful)
I don't know what is up with "fanboys" and console loyalty, but to me, it is about the fun and the games.
I will buy and Xbox, and i'll get my nephew a GameCube, i have no interestd in Pokeman or Mario, i played that back in the 80's when it was fun for me, kind of burned out on that.
People will buy whatever they want, but it is way to early to forecast the death of anything. People say the DC died a horrible death, but it still chugs along. Most stores have long since wiped out the N64 shelves or have moved on to used games only, but even out here in Amishville they carry a great selection of DC games as well as every new release..
buy what you want, but no one is right. Jaguar has some awesome games. And as far as people missing the bandwagon, thats what it appears to me as.
Re:PS2 still rules. (Score:2)
Re:PS2 still rules. (Score:2)
The PC version is more of a guided tour. You are given a path and resources and from there it is just a shooter. Pretty decent one, but still not the same.
Fox produced the PC version, Renegade software did the Jag version.
Find a Jag and play that version. It is worth it.
Re:PS2 still rules. (Score:2)
Gran Turismo 3 A-Spec is right now the coolest driving game I've ever played, especially if you can get the optional Logitech steering wheel/pedal controller.
I'm hoping that Konami releases a PS2-specific version of Dance Dance Revolution soon.
Re:PS2 still rules. (Score:2, Informative)
Re:PS2 still rules. (Score:3, Insightful)
Of the XBox failes (not likely) it will be more of type of failure the Dreamcast had. A big buzz at release and a quick fade with a remaining and steady fanbase.
It isn't even SANE to think the Xbox will fail in any way similar to the Jaguar.
The Jaguar wasn't even truely 64 bit, had a horrid selection of first and third party games, had hardware that was very similar to the already ancient SNES, and had a price-tag in the area getting close to the vastly superior NeoGeo.
No games. Crappy Hardware. No fanbase. High Price. Atari's 64 Bit Gagwire. Do the math.
The XBox may not dominate. If any one of the three dominate, it will probably be the Playstation 2 simply because it's already situated well in the market. But I doubt even the PSY will dominate any more than the XBox will fail.
Me personally, I'm investing more into building up a Gamecube game library, then buying Xbox and PSX/Y titles on a see-them-as-they-come basis. Well, really, I do that with every system, but I already have a larger list of "I-gotta-get-it" titles for the Gamecube -- and none of THOSE are even out yet.
Re:PS2 still rules. (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:PS2 still rules. (Score:2)
First off, Nintendo is very careful to make money off everything they do ... so, if Sony sells 100 million PS2s (losing $ on consoles but making it on games), and Nintendo sells 25 million gamecubes (making $ on consoles and games), they both make the same amount of money.
Secondly, (I have to say this because everybody criticizes the gamecube for this) the gamecube is mostly targeted towards little kids, who don't really care that much about whether or not they have a dvd player. They care about Pokemon. Nintendo will battle in the older demographic but are unlikely to dominate except among hardcore fans of their systems and games (like me :) ).
Third, the gamecube is really really tiny and I'm not sure if they could have fit everything in with full size dvd's :)
Finally, since it's $100 cheaper than the other consoles at the moment, you can go out and buy a totally separate dvd player with that money. :)
Re:PS2 still rules. (Score:2)
A thought (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:A thought (Score:1)
Re:A thought (Score:1)
Re:A thought (Score:2)
Linux != Gaming (Score:5, Insightful)
This is humping Linux for Linux' sake, but of course, it's FUD. Linux is not a gaming platform - we've seen a plethora of evidence for this. The Linux gaming companies can't turn sustained profits, games get released months (sometimes years) after their other-platform counterparts, and support is sketchy, at best.
Timothy saying he'd rather have M:GE instead of a GameCube would be like me saying I'd rather use my bicycle to travel from LA to Boston instead of taking a plane. Sure they both serve essentially the same function, but one is more practical in an exponentially more obvious way.
If you're going to parade Linux around, at least do so intelligently in markets where it actually has the edge.
Actually, I'd like to go X-country on my BikeE ... (Score:2, Insightful)
Re: "markets where it actually has the edge," I'm not saying that you should want to buy the Mandrake gaming edition, or anything else. I like fireworks, Honda Goldwings, and Korean food, among other things -- if you prefer to spend your money and attention on things I don't like, well
Maybe one day I'll care enough to buy a game console, but so far and for the most part the actual games leave me cold. Tastes vary, situations are complex, etc.
And really, it was an offhand (but truthful) statement of preference, not a demand that anyone else agree. Chill
timothy
Re:Actually, I'd like to go X-country on my BikeE (Score:1, Funny)
Besides making you look like an idiot, it also reminded everyone who reads the story, for no reason at all, that GNU\Linux is a joke of a game platform when compared to the GameCube.
So is this version of the Sims unusual? (Score:2)
1. Mandrake + Ordinary Version of Sims + Transgaming WineX
2. Mandrake + WienX Winelib compiled version of the Sims?
I've heard reports that 2 is the case. If so can I play this version of the Sims on other distros? Can I obtain it seperately from Mandake?
cross country by bike (largely off-topic) (Score:2)
On a recumbent bike though, I think this could be a good way to travel the country, especially once there's unmetered medium-bandwidth Internet service through Low-Earth-Orbit satellites. A low-powered laptop, a trickle-charger, enough clothes to get between towns, and some high-calorie food
As far as the comparison I made being Apples-to-Oranges, it might even be more like horses-to-snowboards. But unless context makes it illegal, immoral, dangerous or fattening, there's nothing wrong with a good Apples-Oranges comparison, IMO. I generally like the texture and flavor of oranges better than apples, but if sliced and baked into a crust, I'd prefer apples
Cheers,
timothy
you may be right, but I might walk a lot :) (Score:2)
You're sure right that they're not easy to ride on hills, though, but if I were to ride x-country, I might just want to walk up (or hitch from drivers with pickups) the big hills
What I like about recumbents is in large part what they're not, which is hunch-inducing crotch-wedges.
Tim
Re:Linux != Gaming (Score:2)
Re:Linux != Gaming (Score:2)
FYI: The developers kit for the PS2 (The 'Tool' box) runs Linux. PS2 home kits now can run Linux. More importantly - most consoles are evolving to a cross-platform development model. You can take a decently programmed PC game and get it to run on an Xbox and GameCube with only a bit of fuss (If you don't need a bunch of storage on the GameCube.)
Physical space constraint (Score:2)
Timothy saying he'd rather have M:GE instead of a GameCube would be like me saying I'd rather use my bicycle to travel from LA to Boston instead of taking a plane.
Mandrake Gaming Edition on the laptop a fellow already owns takes up less physical space than a GameCube console and a TV. It also costs less than a GameCube console and a TV.
(I bought a GameCube because I'm not as space-constrained as some college students.)
Why I choose the gamecube (Score:1)
Also, I've had too many troubles with hard drives in the past and don't wish to introduce another one into my life. Are hard drives the most failure-prone component in computer systems?
Just got my GameCube (Score:1)
I got three games, a 3rd-pary controller, and a memory card.
Re:Just got my GameCube (Score:1)
Oh, and it's pretty easy to find XBox's in Austin, so I'm guessing XBox will flop
You opened by saying that it was really easy to find a GameCube in Austin too. What does that say about the GameCube?
Re:Just got my GameCube (Score:2)
I have yet to see an Xbox game look like a PS1 game. I have yet to see a store anywhere that has an Xbox on the shelf right now as well.
Luigi's mansion "seems like fun"
Super MonkeyBall "havn't unrwapped"
Star was "seens the same as the n64 game"
Buddy, it seems as if you bought the "wrong" video game system.
Dreamcast is awesome, your just missing out on some great gaminng if you didn't buy one. Xbox is awesome to, it will have Shenmue 2 of which i'm buying an Xbox for.
PS2 is nice, but i'm not a fan of really any games out for it, i got bored of Gran Tourismo on the PS1 so why would i fork over 50 bucks for a rehashed version?
Gamecube will sell, but there is no "wrong" console as they all have games.
Dreamcast has 300 titles alone, not including jap releases. Sonic, Sonic 2, Crazy Taxi, Shenmue, Virtua Tennis, NFL2k1, NBA2k1, Unreal Tournament, Quake 3 Arena, Jet Grind Radio, House of the Dead, Sould Calibur, Rayman 2, Mr Driller, 18 Wheeler, Phantasy Star Online, Sega Bass Fishing, Seaman, Samba De Amigo, and much much more are reasons i have a dreamcast. And each console has its own similar reasons.
Dream Gamecube (Score:2, Funny)
I love ReBoot by the way, maybe I shouldn't but maybe you should.
Is it just me... (Score:1)
Is it just me, or is timothy getting irritating with his insulting the very content he posts? If it's such awful news, or so pointless, why post it? And if it's worth posting, why put snide remarks in for the "department" and throughout the post?
Leave the snide remarks to us visitors. :)
Do your research (Score:2, Informative)
"By contrast, both Sony and Microsoft are positioning their boxes as the foundation for home entertainment systems. The Xbox has a built-in hard drive and high-speed Internet port, and the PlayStation 2 will soon have both through external adapters... Nintendo wanted to keep the GameCube price low and keep the audience focused on the games, analysts said."
The Gamecube _does_ have add-on components for dial-up and broadband connectivity. I think it's smart to have these features as an add-on for everyone who may/not want a wired box. This has been announced for some time now:
modem adapter: http://www.nintendo.com/systems/gcn/gcn_acc_modem
broadband adapter: http://www.nintendo.com/systems/gcn/gcn_acc_broad
Consoles with OS's (Score:3, Insightful)
I think it's a good thing that the gamecube doesn't have these things. "Do one thing, and do it well".
And btw, Zelda 64 is the greatest game ever.
Re:Consoles with OS's (Score:2, Insightful)
First and foremost, I've not had my XBox crash yet. Also, I don't expect it to crash any time soon, either. But believe what you will.
Consoles have had on-board "operating systems" for a while, now. Especially any console that uses CDs (though the old Sega Master System had a built-in game that would fire up if you turned it on without a cart). These on-board OSes are typically used for playing music CDs and managing memory cards. As far as DVD players go, what do you want instead? More low-capacity CD-ROM's? Some proprietary CD-ROM hack (like Dreamcast)? Or the coming standard of DVD? With the latter, at least you get high capacity (4.5GB per XBox game, for instance) and cheap production (because you can leverage existing DVD presses). Actually playing DVD movies is only optional, as with the XBox (it costs money to get a license, for CSS decoding for instance, and there's no point including that in the box itself unless you're aiming to be a DVD player. so make an addon, let anyone who wants to play DVDs buy that.) A hard disk is a good addition, imho, if only because it lets me save money on memory cards (I don't carry my memory cards to other people's consoles, so I don't care if the storage is local to my machine). Plus, it opens up the door for programming tricks like caching level data on disk rather than streaming it from DVD (no console has enough RAM to cache in RAM), thus decreasing load times and allowing for much larger levels. And finally, web browsers. Well, I'll agree with you there. But then again, if you're going to provide online capabilities for your console (Dreamcasts's built-in modem or XBox's built-in ethernet -- add-on's for PS2 and GC don't count, as no peripheral has ever been bought by more than 10% of a console's owners), you may as well give the users something to do with it until games exist that take advantage.
Where launch times are concerned, I've noticed that my XBox launches games much faster than my Dreamcast or PS1 (mainly because I don't have to sit through the Sony bios splash or the Sega bios splash). All I do is hit the eject button (thus turning on the system and instantly bringing up the menu, after an XBox splash), put in the DVD (in the process of getting the DVD out of the box and putting it in the tray, the XBox splash is done and it's waiting patiently at the menu), and close the drive. The game spins up in a second or two, and then it starts. Some games, like NFL Fever 2002 take the first boot to write some files to the hard disk, but this only takes a minute or so, and is well worth it afterwards -- NFL Fever 2002 only takes a scant few seconds to get to the "Press Start" screen after the first time running it. (and no, you don't have to reboot your XBox after NFL Fever installs files to the disk.) Anyway, comparing to N64 is a red herring, because you're talking about a cartridge system versus CD or DVD-based systems (Dreamcast, PS2, XBox, Gamecube). There's going to be lag time
Re:Consoles with OS's (Score:2)
I'm also steering clear of TV tuner cards(convergence? who needs it), high-quality audio cards (that's what studios are for), DVD writers (hooray for Hollywood), recklessly fast CPUs & excessive memory - my PC is for web browsing.. ok, between you & me, I use it for email too, somtimes.
I think it's a scandal that these things are even offered for PCs. Don't people realise that they're not what PCs are about? Just do web browsing & do it well, I say. Everything else just distracts from a PC's true focus!
Re:Consoles with OS's (Score:2)
I think Nintendo have got the market sussed. I've got a DVD player - I dont need another. I'd bet most people are in the same boat - especially in a family setting where Dad wants to watch his work out DVDs and little Jimmy wants to play a game having it all happen in one machine sucks.
Remember - the world doesn't all live alone!
The Nintendo machine seems to be a TV game, rather than a next gen console to most people. This makes it MORE appealing, not less. And the wee plumber is so cute! And Yoshi! dont forget the power of Yoshi!
Couple Observations (Score:4, Informative)
A few observations:
Hmm, titles speak... (Score:3, Insightful)
Compare:
"XBox Released" to "Blah, it just happened - who cares?"
and:
"GameCube Really And Truly For Sale" ... to "The day when our Lord and Savior shall return has come!"
Somehow, I get the impression that Slashdot is somewhat biased towards one of these systems =)
Anyway, I hope the console market will find a good direction too... and at least my sister will shut up when GC comes to Europe and she'll be able to get one =)
(And remember, verily, we shall speak like Shakespeare, for ever and ever...)
If people were paying attn.. (Score:2)
I've got GameCube (Score:2)
Basically Luigi's mansion is great, it's very similar to all the 64 games like DK64, and Mario 64. The controller is great, the Z button is the only slight problem, but the L and R buttons make up for this in a big way. All analog buttons should be like that. Overall the cube kicks ass. It's really really small too. Incredibly convenient, powerful, I gotta go play some more of that. And uplink too.
Sold out ... (Score:2)
Current generation consoles can kiss my arse (Score:2)
Re:Current generation consoles can kiss my arse (Score:2)
The Genesis was 16-bit.
Portland, Oregon Experiencces (Score:2)
Saw a number of display areas with Xbox turned way up, and PS2 off. Go figure.
Target had them opening day (of course) they handed out numbers so people would know if they were getting one or not. 45 people in line for Gamecube avg. age 20 something sales person told me there were about 8 for Xbox. Could be the neighborhood, but on Sat, there were many Xbox units for sale.
Target was giving away free game seats with your Gamecube purchase. They had the Xbox logo on them.
Re:They are late (Score:2, Insightful)
Anecdotal evidence (Score:2)
Number of kids and adults crowded around the GameCube demo: 6
Number of people lining up to see the X-Box demo: 0
Re:Anecdotal evidence (Score:2)
Re:Anecdotal evidence (Score:2)
Well, there may be reason for that -- the same reason as for those "malfunctioning" units. In my local EB, the X-Box kiosk was places within a few yards of the register. It got to the point where they couldn't tell who was on line and who was just waiting for their turn on Xbox, so they just turned the thing off. They now refer to it as "black box".
Re:They are late (Score:2)
Consider yourself informed; about 30 people (including me) were camped out last night.
Let's not forget that Nintendo has been doing this a while. They're not going to roll over and die, they're going to roll their sleeves up and show the industry a thing [gamespot.com] or two [ign.com].
About selling out (Score:2)
As an example: I was in both XBOX and GC overnight lines. The XBOX sold out, with 21 or so people who had camped out. The GC did NOT sell out, but had ~35 people camped out.
Re:They are late (Score:2)
Who was it that said the Gamecube is only for kids?
The system itself just looks so cool, and I picked up Star Wars Rogue Leader. Amazing graphics. The light effects and self-shadowing are superb.
Re:what makes the game cube so great? (Score:1)
Re:what makes the game cube so great? (Score:5, Funny)
Huh? Did you read something that lead you to believe the gamecube is an amalgamation of NES, SNES, N64?
Im not much of a gammer but even if i were i won't spend $300 on the game cube.
That's good, because it's $200. Add a game, $250.
Re:what makes the game cube so great? (Score:2)
When you just make up figures like this it really makes you look rather stupid.
If you really want to make an economic argument for the X-Box, how about factoring in the fact it also plays DVDs?
Of course, gaming shouldn't be about economic arguments anyway; do you want to play games designed by Shiguru Miyamoto? If so - buy a Gamecube. If you don't really care about games but would like a little distraction, get yourself a PS One, or maybe Mandrake Gaming Edition.. :)
Re:what makes the game cube so great? (Score:1)
Re:A Nice Thought & Commentary On The GameCube (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Mod parent down (Score:2)
Re:Mod parent down (Score:2)
Re:Late (Score:1)
All three games I got were damn nice. RSII looks very good. Luigi's Mansion is somewhat addicting -- much more addicting than I thought it would be. I'd say more but I'm busy playing. I don't really know what all the fuss is about. These new consoles (xbox and gc) are fairly nice.
Sad (Score:4, Interesting)
I'm Sticking them on eBay soon as they are good and out of them and let the people who MUST have one get one.
No one must have a Gamecube, so don't pretend that you're pursuing a noble cause. Having said that I hope Nintendo absolutely swamps the market will millions, meaning that the most you'll ever get is retail (and it sounds like it will be like that as Nintendo has good production, meaning that I'd much rather pay retail than deal with the hassle of Ebay and some unknown person. I doubt anyone is going to profiteer off the Gamecube, or the Xbox for that matter. It was sweet after Christmas last year seeing hundreds of wankers trying to pawn PS2s at progressively lower prices, eventually taking a pretty heavy loss as the store prices dropped). The fact that scalpers such as yourself run and buy up all the stock just to rape families whose kids want a game to play really pisses me off, and I hope that you are left holding the bag on that.
Re:Sad (Score:1)
But I am a pretty half-assed capitalist, and I agree with you, this is just wrong. There are probably plenty of mothers or fathers who really wanted to get something thier young children wanted for Christmas and now they can't on the budget they have because of "scalpers."
Re:Sad (Score:1)
Re:Sad (Score:1)
Scalpers are bad.
Re:Sad (Score:2, Funny)
Don't do it, radon is nothing but trouble.
Re:Sad (Score:2)
Re:Sad (Score:2)
Oh get over yourself. There's a bit of a double standard in that you seem to find it perfectly reasonable that retailers constrict supply of these systems, preventing consumers from (theoretically) eliminating the middle man and getting a better price. Some of them even enforce bundling restrictions. So why are the scalpers evil?
Like it or not, this is capitalism at work. If someone wants to hustle their butt and risk some of their cash in the hopes of pulling down a better price, who are you to criticize? Retailers do the same thing, but we've been numbed to accept it in the name of convenience. Marked up GameCubes are obviously worth it to those who purchase them - it provides a valuable second market for the systems.
Can you really blame someone? There is ONLY upside potential here. Get a good price? Sell and take it to the bank. Can't sell it? Take the store receipt in for a full refund.
Also, you assume that the families that buy these systems from resellers would be the ones to pick the system up from the store, were it not for the greedy bastards. This is absurd. For some families, people like this guy are the only way they'd ever get a system before Christmas. Their time is more valuable than their money. Get off your high horse.
Re:But. (Score:1)
Do not follow those links. The material is so lame (ph34r my eloquence) that I actually felt any joviality in my soul being absorbed.
I imagine the author of this site as a fragile old man, shaking and close to a nervous breakdown, desperately scraping for comedy material whilst sobbing at his own humourless ineptitude.
Re:But. (Score:2)
Thanks for letting us absorb some of your joviality!
In Tokyo the GC is just not moving (Score:2, Interesting)
With the Cube, there were only three titles available as well.
Re:Game Systems (Score:2)
Re:Spectacular! (Score:2)