WIL WHEATON dot NET: 1.5

Wow...did I actually get to do the silly 'firsties' thing? :) (snickers)

I think I'm first, yeah

PS2 because you can't get the cube in the UK, besides the guy down the corridor from me just got a PS2 and I can say not a lot of sleep is happening.

Spike
8.12pm GMT
23rd Feb 2002

truthfully, from what i've seen, gamecube is fine (maybe better) for the smaller kids but ps2 definitely for the older (cooler) kids!! at least that's what my husband says!!

elisa

And now for something completely different -

content.

Instead of just that 'firsties' silliness.

Unfortunately, it's not going to be the most amazing content in the world, as I'm not much of a gamer - the last gaming system I owned was an Intellivision.

From what I've seen at friend's places, though, were I to get a game station, I'd go for a Playstation. Primary reasons - the ability to function as a DVD player (as I'm something of a movie nut), and the fact that in addition to any PS2 games out, it will _also_ play all the old PS1 games. Every other game station you have to wait for whatever comes out just for them...PS2 has an already-available slew of games that, while they may not take full advantage of the hardware, are just as playable.

So them's my 2 cents.

PS2 definately, not only does it have cool games, but you can play your old Playstation games if a certain sibling of yours happens to be a bitch and is not letting you use it. Also, you can plsy DVD's on the PS2. And if the PS2 went away I'd just as soon buy an X-box than a GameCube

I still prefer my Atari 65XE. It's a computer AND can play the 2600 cartridges. How much more superior is THAT?

PS2 most definetly, Game Cube nor X-box have the Final Fantasy series. :)

oh final fantasy games are great although the film sucked.

Spike
9.32pm GMT
23rd Feb 2002

PS2, definitely. The DVDs, both PSone and PS2 games, and CDs. What more could someone want? Plus I'm big on survival horror and the games they've been coming out with have been spectacular. There's also power there that game developers haven't even tapped into, so really, the games are only going to get better....

I vote for ps2.
The games are more mature as you said.

I am a HUGE travelor and have been to liek 23 plus countries and have taken that with me recently on my trip to egypt, pakastan, etc.

Not that this on the subject but I landed from Pakastan at Dulles airport on September 2. Ouch. Close call.

Does anyone else like the Abe series
Abes oddersy (can't spell)
Abes Exodus

theres meant to be another three comeing out and I can't wait!!!

Spike
can't be bothered to put the time
England
Earth
Third planet in the solar system
The Universe!

I have a PS2. A friend of mine has a GC. I was under the impression that the GC wasn't as powerful, graphics-wise, as the PS2, but haven't compared them side by side, so I don't really know. Tony Hawk 3 seems the same to me on both.

PS2 has the advantages of DVD player, and PSOne games... GC has.. well, Super Monkey Ball. Absolutely amazing game. And GC exclusive, unfortunately. Damn Sega. They should make it for the dreamcast or something.

If I had to do it again, I'd probably still go with my PS2, but the GC is a nice system.

I know everyone hates Microsoft, but the XBox kicks ass. We've had it since the day it was released! Halo is unbelievable. I'm addicted to Munch's Oddysee, which sucks because I have a paper due tomorrow that I've not even started yet. Awesome system!

Dreamcast. That's all I have to say. It was cheap ($50!), plays some of the cooler older games, can run Linux and MAME, and all the games are on the clearance rack. A penny-pincher's dream!! :)

I'm going with Gamecube on this one. Cheaper, more powerful, etc. Sure, it's got no DVD player, but I've got one of those on my computer. Admittedly there is a lack of "mature" games right now, but they're on their way. The entire Resident Evil series is going to be coming out on Gamecube, and Eternal Darkness is coming out in June.

I prefer PS2, myself, but I think GC is better for kids.

But then you're venturing into the dangerous world of Pokémon, heh.

Nintendo has always had better titles for kids of all ages, hardly any violence. My stepkids have recently re-discovered the SNES and they play it a LOT more now than the PSX and the PS2 combined. Everyday, they're playing Super Mario. It's almost endearing...

...And leaves the PSX and PS2 free for us to play... hee hee.

It all depends on what you want to play.

Personally, I have both GC and PS2, and I probably play my PS2 more often, but that's because the GC is more for multiplayer games from where I sit. Smash Bros. Melee? That game is freaking incredible. I love my NCAA Football game for PS2, but all in all, I'm more excited about the GC games coming out in the second half of 2002 - Metroid, Zelda, Mario, Eternal Darkness, Star Fox Adventures.

I think it boils down to this - PS2 : Deeply involving games for the "mature" (I hate that word) player who wants to spend 25-50 hours playing through a game.

GC : Fun, colorful games for ALL players (not just kids) that don't generally require a month to beat.

Best Games for GC :
Smash Bros Melee
Star Wars : Rogue Squadrom
Super Monkey Ball
Pikmin

Best Games for PS2 (That I've played) :
NCAA Football 2002
ICO

Oh, and Spike... if you're gonna say the FF movie sucked, please enligten us why.

I'm lovin my ps2.

The only reason I would play Nintendo nowadays is for SUPER SMASH BROS. (and the 64 one at that, not the gc..)

Gamecube. Solely for Zelda, my favorite games of all time. That's why I bought my N64 and that's why I'll buy the Gamecube. As soon as the game comes out.

Of course the PS2 DOES have Final Fantasy. But, I've never played a FF to completion. I HAVE played the Zelda games all the way through.. more that once. So, even with FF, I'll have to stick with the Cube.

And I LIKED the FF movie, so THERE!

OK... the Cube is cooler, for one reason only: Super Smash Bros Melee! If you're going to have a Cube, that is the most important (fun) game to have. The only reason why the PS2 might be worth getting is for GTA3 or FFX.

So have the kids had a chance to play with it yet?

No, I mean really?

Xbox. NFL Fever 2002 blows Madden away as far as graphics are concerned.

Halo rocks. I was addicted to the game for a couple weeks after we got it.

Amped is a kick-butt snowboarding game. SS Tricky is a more off the wall game, but Amped is a more realistic game and the graphics rock.

No opinion on PS/2 or the Cube. But the ghost painting.....

http://www.hollowhill.com/rules.htm

I dunno Wil, you're gonna think I'm awfully old-fashioned... buuuuuuttttt.... I play stuff I can install on my Windows 2000 workstation so that when I get tired of writing, I can (heh-heh) slip into "game mode" with just a mouseclick.

Just got around to buying Delta Force: Land Warrior. Click it on, slip on the headphones and mouthpiece, and I'm ready to lock 'n' load.

Hmmm...

Gamecube. Smash bro's, Rogue Leader, and Pikmin are great. too bad the next round of cool games isn't gonna arrive til the summer

Well, when I was a kid, the big question was Nintendo or Sega, and I always wanted to have the Sega, because the games were cooler. But... I got the Nintendo, and I really liked it a lot. That was about 14 years ago, I think.
My little half-brothers got a Nintendo64, which I also like a lot.
Sega doesn't exist anymore, but Sony definitely has the cooler games for the PS2... Nintendo is trying hard to catch up, though (James Bond, Duke Nukem etc.).
As for the Game Cube, I can't say much, since it's not officially available yet here in Germany. I checked it out the other day in some Computer store together with the X-Box from Microsoft, and I liked the X-Box better (guess why... it had a cooler game running...).
It really depends, Wil, who is gonna spend more time playing with it... you (buy a PS2) or the kids (get the Game Cube) ! ! !
I checked

i still play my old NES, as for GC and PS2, the PS2 overall is better I think (stats wise), but I've only played a few games on both of them. I'm still hooked on Mike Tyson's Punch Out for NES :D

Whatever. I'm just waiting for Tekken 4...

Hey Wil, if you haven't seen/played Deus Ex for the PC, then be sure to pick it up for the PS2 when it comes out (scheduled for next month I think). One of the best games ever made.

Get both and end the contraversy.

Oh yeah, I'll tell you why the FF movie sucked: crappy plot, crappy characters, crappy dialogue. The animation was fair at best; even if it was excellent, it couldn't carry an entire movie...

Playstation 2, definitely. My friend has one and it rocks. Poor underprivelaged me only has a regular playstation.

I've had a PS2 since the day they came out and I love it! My favorite series of PS games has to be the Crash Bandicoot series. I like colorful games and the Crash games have some really creative scenarios and the play control is wonderful. Plus....unlike the gamecube, you can easily find PS1 games for under $20. I've picked up many previously played games at Blockbuster for under $10.

My husband and I have been looking at the Gamecube and XBox. My brother-in-law has a gamecube and I'm sold on it. Super Monkey Ball is one of the zaniest games I've ever played. Luigi's Mansion is a lot of fun. I haven't played any others yet.

As far as the XBOx is concerned, the ONLY game I'm interested in so far, is the Buffy game whcih comes out in a few months. But even that probably won't be enough to convince me!

I'm not big on the games but from my 6 year old son.."the cube rules!" From my 10 year old nephew..."PS2 is way cooler."
From me... that haunted painted creeped me out!

PS2. The only nintendo I bought was the very first one. I swore never again. I'm not sure why.
PS2 because, I like the games more on it. Nintendo dosen't have the games that interset me.

Hey Wil,
Can I suggest some games for ya on PS2?

My brother plays these ALOT!!!!

"Grand Theft Auto III" and I find myself playing it..you want to talk MATURE?!

You can do anything you want in that game, you can rob, shoot, kill, and its SO REAL!!! I mean everynight my brother plays that I hear the cops siren or he's stealing a firetruck!
Its mostly like you work for a gang organization and you run deals for people around town.
He's stolen planes, boats, cars, trucks, buses, vans, you name it, you can steal it...and the variety or weapons?! Geesh!
I'm NOT one for wrong-doing, but this is a KICK-@$$ game!!! :D

either that or the "RIOT" game he just bought, I'm not wild about that one tho. :-/
You go around beating up people for points?

I don't know what Snow is down here in Houston, but he has an awesome SNOWBOARDING game!!!
Can't think of the name of it.

I love the game, "HOCKEY HITZ" as well!! That's awesome. THe hockey game!! :)

What was the other he has, some race car game...to me that's boring going around the track 5 million 1/2 times!!

But I choose DEFINATELY P2!!!!

Go 4 it WIL! :D

See, what it comes down to for me is this:

PS2 has Final Fantasy X

Game Cube does not.

:)

Ooh, Wil. Opening a possible can of worms with this. :)

My choice: Gamecube. I grew up with Nintendo, I love their characters, and they have ALOT of promising titles. Star Fox: Dinosaur Planet, Mentroid Prime, Soccer Slam, etc.

And Super Smash Bros. Melee owns all ass.

Oh, and a few comments on what others have said.
Halo is a mixed bag. It was fun, but it was ALOT more impressive back before it was made into a FPS.

Plus if you HAVEN'T played Deus Ex, you're realling killing yourself. With your strong political views, you'll LOVE it. Pick it up for PC, though. It just won't be as fun on a console. Or as pretty.

I'd say PS2 for single-player action (read: Silent Hill 2 [Hell yeah!]), and GC for multi-player (read: Smash Brothers).

However, the DVD-compatibility of the PS2 gives it a particular kick-ass distinction.

Totally off-topic: Wil, have you heard "River" by Natalie Merchant? It's a tribute to River Phoenix... I thought you might enjoy it.

I would go with GC.

Although PS2 has more games (merely since it's been out longer), the quality of the GC games both out AND coming out more than make up for it. GC just has and will have more of "those" games that stand out above many others... like Smash Bros. Melee and Rogue Leader now, and Perfect Dark 2 and Metroid Prime later (Just to name a few)...

I thought FF sucked because the plot was just straight forward and boring, I thought it was predictable, the cornal guy (whos name I really can't remeber) looked like Jaquin Pheonix, who although is very cute, if they weere going to base the charactors on real actors surely they should have filmed it for real with real actors and all, even the 'hero'/love interest of the film looked like Ben Alffick. Why? there's not point, if your going to use CGI make the charactor unique and individual and so people like me can't pull the charactors apart. I thought it was way tooooo long and actually satrtrd to fall asleep until the kid I had taken with me started to play up, to which I had to wake up so I could tell them to be quiet.

The good thing about the film was the CGI, the affects were brilliant and the way everything moved, and the ghosts moved and appeared and stuff, it was great, but that is the only decent thing about the whole film.

Wouldn't recommend it, which is a shame because I was really exceited about seeing the film, and I felt majorly let down.

Spike
12.13am GMT
24th Feb 2002

Neither! *sigh*
Even if i could afford such things, I would probably suck at most of the games, especially the 3D games. I played Descent2 once. Within a couple minutes I was upside-down in a corner in a small room, and I was having a bitch of a time trying to get out of that damned position.

Stop Laughing

I've watched people play other 3D games and I cant figure out how the hell they gnow where they're going.

It's not funny!

*pout*

Dude, am I the only one here who went straight from Atari to computer and never went back to gaming systems?
I remember my brother once got a second-hand Nintendo in '94 and we used to play whatever football game was on there, which forms the basis of any and all football knowledge I have today. It really did upset me when they added those new teams...
Anyway! I just went into a software store at this terrible ghetto mall in Jersey and picked up the WHEEL OF TIME for PC!!! Sure, it was only 6.99, sure it was only on a 3.5 floppy. Sure, it's probably at least as old as that old techno football game. But then, Legend put out some cool shit.

I would have to say Xbox on this one.

For a few reasons:

1. Halo (Can't put it down. Absolutely STUNNING!)

2. The Oddworld Series (From Munch's Oddysee onward, the Box is the home of The Odd)

3. Enclave (Looking to be one of the defining Fantasy Games of the Consoles. Exclusive on Box)

4. All those PS2 and PC Ports (GTA3, Max Payne, and more look wonderful on the box)

5. Online Plans (MS's official Online Services shall be up this year. You can already play 3 Games online through Gamespy though.)

PS2! Reason...? Grand Theft Auto III, for road rage therapy, 24/7. (Silly me thought nothing would ever beat Carmageddon!) CDs, DVDs, and PS1 games are a bonus.

The painting made me shudder, but I doubt that counts as a supernatural experience. I can't believe someone actually paid $1,000+ for it!

I'd have to say that each system has its advantages with certain types of games. The PS2 does seem to have a better selection of games at the moment such as Metal Gear Solid 2, Grand Theft Auto 3, Final Fantasy X... then again, the Xbox is showing a lot of promise with games like Halo and Max Payne. The xbox 3d shooters look far superior to the PS2... but... not quite sure how the gamecube factors in. Heh, I already have a PS2 and an Xbox, so I don't think I'd fork out the cash for a nintendo system. Enough rambling for now...

*Sigh* I would just love the opportunity to play with either one of them...

ok, i am a big Mario Bros. fan, but i do perfer the games that seem like horror movies and the car stealing ones are fun ...
yeah, the pikmon (isn't that how it's spelled?) do seem pretty freaky, but they also remind me of lemmings.

okay one more thing, what is up with that haunted painting? i never heard of it b-4. what is that doll holding? and... okay, it's just weird... freaky weird.

The PS2's specs are above and beyond what the Gamecube can put out. The only reason why games appear to be better looking at times on the GC is because of certain tricks the system can do in hardware that the PS2 doesn't do in hardware (but can do nevertheless). That means that some of the general effects are made easier so they can spend even more time doing graphics.

But then again, have you looked, and I mean looked, at Metal Gear Solid 2? Grand Theft Auto 3? THPS 3? C'mon now. They just rule. Plus, they're fun to boot.

PS2 also plays PS1 games (with enhancements, perhaps even more as time goes on), PS2 games, and DVD movies right out of the box, so that automatically makes it 100 percent better than the X-Box. Gamecube still has a few of those exclusives that I'd want to play (Zelda, Mario, Metroid, you know it)

for an extremely well written article about it, check out http://www.actsofgord.com/Proclamations/chapter01.html

"Metal Gear Solid 2? Grand Theft Auto 3? THPS 3?"

All of those are coming to Xbox in one way or another. (Metal Gear Solid X is a version of MGS2 Apparently)

Eh. Who cares? Either one would be more money down the drain. We can just use our PlayStation for another twenty years or so.

I have a PS2. So far other than Silent Hill 2, Zone of the Enders and Metal Gear Solid 2, I've been unimpress with the line up of software to date. Most of the games I've ended up playing will be ported to the GameCube anyway. I do plan on getting a Cube soon as I get a couple of paychecks under my belt -- I was on unemployment for a while. As for "mature" games, just read Shiggy's interviews linked on BluesNews.com -- Nintendo realizes that there's a market out there for games that are not only playable by ALL ages, but also a significant demographic (largely teenagers to mid-twenties) that want fighting, horror, and FPS games. Think about it. Every Resident Evil game is being redone for GameCube. Metroid is going to be a FPS/OTS game...

Nintendo's starting to get their act together... and I think the GameCube will not only surpass the expectations left from the N64/PSX wars, but will become the new "Super Nintendo".

Oh yeah, I had fun with Final Fantasy X too... I didn't get to beat it, but I do plan to pick up a copy. Sorry I forgot it. *grin* ...I guess the best answer is to get both systems! That way you have the Sony exclusives like Metal Gear Solid 2 and FFX... but you get the Nintendo exclusives like the Resident Evil remakes (and RE0), along with Mario, Zelda...

If memory serves (which it does not always I admit) that is the Kanomi Code (sp?). The game company Kanomi used it in many of thier games. Ninja Turtles... Contra... I've seen a few others mentioned here.

Wil. The GC is getting resident evil soon. And actually you can find some pretty cool import games if you shop around. I remember for my NES I had a game that was all about pimping hos lol. It was hilarious.

Anyways. If XBox had a decent shot at sony then all would be well. Sonys like MS.....They have a huge monopoly thats barely even being challenged. Nintendo, MS, Sega, Atari...etc. only have a 4% market share total while Sony has 96% of the gaming market...thats included games addons and so on. Nintendo has fully admitted their system isnt as powerful. The Flipper chip in the GC developed by ATI can only push 12million PPS while VF4 which we all know is going to rock on the PS2 uses up to 63 million PPS....sounds to me like Nintendo just had a heart attack. Now if XBox would be looked at a little bit more they could give sega a run for their money.....sure its not a pretty...and yes the controllers ugly.......for the doubters I have just 5 words. Max Payne, Project Gotham Racing. Play those 2 games on the XBox and I guarantee you will be hooked for life ;)

RANT OFF

Sorry Wil......had to be done :)

All in all. Both systems are equally blessed. From a fiscal standpoint: Short term: GC Long term: PS2, because you can play all their old games. One of the many gripes I have had with Nintendo, since the dawn of the Super Nintendo, is that you can't play the old games on the new system. However, Nintendo has the best character lineup in the gaming world. Having said that, I think PS2 is slowly hedging in on that action. My picks for PS2: Legacy of Kain series and Maximo. Some of you may remember Ghouls and Ghosts from Sega, well the knight with hearts on his boxers is back! And this game kicks ass.

Hmm, in my opinion just about every console you can get your hands on is cool. Being in the UK, I'm GC and Xbox-less, but based on many other people impressions I would say that they both fine consoles. The hardware is all of the big three is cool, all in different ways, so it comes down to games.

Personally:

PS2: Has the widest selection of titles, and can play ps1 game (most of the time), but it the slowest of the big 3. Also has dvd watching abilities without having to buy a pointless remote (note: to get the patch you have to buy a pointless remote) (note: the remote is not pointless). SEGA are concentrating their dev. efforts here, and there is far more developer experience in the PS2 than the other systems, which is worth something. However...

Xbox: The xbox is pc like, which makes it by far the easiest to learn. Some titles which have appeared so far look good (esp. halo, jsrf, doa3), but what the long term support will be is hard to say. They'll be lots of games for sure, but it took a year for the ps2 to hit it's stride, and that's not just down to it being difficult to program. The controller puts some people off (though I haven't tried it) and don't drop it, as there's no shock protection of that hard drive. Built in networking is a plus, price is a big disadvantage (over here at least GC is launching at about £150, PS2 is £199, Xbox is launching at £300).

GC: The gamecube is cheap, and fairly well designed. As a nintendo system you're going to get some good, innovative games for it, but whether they will justify the system in the long run or not is hard to say. It has sold the least of the three, but still shifted a lot of units. The hook up with the GBA is cool, and there is the ever present Shigeru Miyamoto factor.

DC: The old dreamcast is definitely worth picking up as 1) it's cheap 2) the games are cheap, and cool (Jet Set Radio, Sonic Adventures 1/2, Shenmue, PSO1/2, Headhunter, Virtua Tennis 1/2 etc. etc.) 3) You can download emulators and save time from blowing the dust off you megadrive (genesis)/snes etc, but still get to play on a tv set in your living room (or however your setups stands). For coding geeks, the Dreamcast has about the best homebrew scene for any console ever really (if I'm missing a massive Vectrex scene or something, sorry :).

Plus, of course, a nicely tricked out PC is a key component of the gaming experience :)

also forgot and wanted to add.....XBox just like the PS2 can play DVDs. It can also do Karaoke, and regular CDs. The standard GC can only do those mini DVDs for games unless you buy the panasonic version.

Not to mention the onboard broadband included in the XBox. I have cable internet..wouldnt it be nice to play a multiplayer game with a console?

ooooooh Legacy of Kain *DROOL*

My favoritest part so far in the series - Meeting all your Sarafan "brothers" in Soul Reaver 2. Too bad the game was so short. And oh my, That ice palace was SUHWEET LOOKING. I wish I had a floor like that.

oh... uhh.. sorry about that

"The PS2's specs are above and beyond what the Gamecube can put out. The only reason why games appear to be better looking at times on the GC is because of certain tricks the system can do in hardware that the PS2 doesn't do in hardware (but can do nevertheless). "

The thing about the PS2, it's not really like anything else. Sony went with a fairly parrallel style of setup, as it has a processor, and two vector units. These can't all "talk" to the system at the same time, so to get the speed it can do, you have to be quite clever about using it. The GC is a lot more straightforward (in this area). Another exampple: When it comes to the graphics chip, the PS2 has a thing called the Graphics Synthesiser, which is another strange beast. It again has vast amounts of memory bandwidth (like 48GB/s which is a smeg load. Geforce 3 gives you 10GB/s or so, iirc). The bus width is 2560 bits, which is again absolutely loads. It's got a great big fill rate.
However, it's not subtle. The pleasures of really important effects (like antialising) are missing. Plus, you can only get the big numbers out of it if you can fill it up with data (basically). A slightly crap analogy is if you're trying to fill a swimming pool in two different ways. The gamecube has pumps and a small hose to give good output, while the PS2 is basically a great big tube, so to get the PS2 to fill the pool quickly you have to be able to fill the tube completely. This is Hard To Do.

There are a lot more things about the PS2 which are just different, but the fact is that in general, people don't buy consoles for the hardware, they buy them for the games. There is an advantage in MS being able to put "fastest console in the world" on the xbox, but in general if you don't have good games, you're not going to sell. My personal opinion on the christmas sales figures is that the GC lost out because of it's launch titles, and upcoming titles. Halo was a game that people would buy the console for, MGS2 was a game people would buy the console for. Luigi's Mansion was not, even though it did sell, I really don't think it looked as cool as the other, and most people who are getting one of these machines will not have had a chance to play the various games. Nintendo will be fine whatever happens as the GBA will sell well, as you would expect from the sequel to probably the most successful "console" :) ever. The gamecube needs a killer app type game that makes the console cool in some way, a Wipeout, Golden Eye, JSR, GT3 or Halo.

PS2. You get the FF series and DOA2.

Buy a Gamecube or feel my wrath.

get both wil! you really can't go wrong with either of them. I urge you to gget both since they both have some great titles out and coming out this year and beyond. gamecube is getting Phatansy star online. being a big dreamcast gamer I can tell you PSO is an awesome title. I have a gamecube and a ps2 and a dreamcast I would say I play them all about the same. and I love my dreamcast the most but ps2 and GC are equal in my book.

so here you have it will GET BOTH!

PS2 all the way. Me and my brother play it all the time. I navagate the strategy guides and he does the playing.

These new games systems are too complicated for me (;

My first taste of video games came when I was five, and my dad brought home a TI-Basic "computer." It plugged into the back of our TV set, and gave me such wonderful game cartridges as Burger Time and Hunt the Wumpus. Like Atari, it had a joystick with ONE BUTTON!!!

Dreamcast.

Or Vectrex.

Or Atari 2600.

All others are pretenders to the throne.

I'd go with option C: XBOX

DOA, HALO, Project Gotham Racing, the football game...no else's graphics can compare. The DVD feature is a nice bonus and you can add your own music. Just think about it, Wil...Cake + really cool video games. You wouldn't have to listen to that creepy music anymore.

Since no one has said anything about this I want to let everyone who is banking on their PS2 for a DVD player needs to think again. The PS2 will NOT play DVDs with a lot of info on them. See, my supernerd husband has an anime collection and the PS2 will not play those 5 episode wonders. So, of course, he now has an excuse to spend more money on his crap! We got that 80$ DVD from Circuit City and it, so far, works well.

Brandy

VECTREX!!!

VECTREX!!

MOTHER F-ING VECTREX!!

Mine Sweeper, man...Mine Sweeper, Armor Attack (i think?) and SCRAMBLE, baby.

I did much damage to my eyes (That's why Mrs. Wil wants me to wear glasses now) by basking in the seductive glow of Vectrex...hunched over, hidden beneath my Empire Strikes Back comforter, well after I should be asleep...

I think there's a Vecrtex EMU out there, someplace.

Thanks, You. :)

Best coin-ops of all time...

Bosconian.

Satan's Hollow.

Robotron: 2084.

Tron.

Berzerk.

Death Race.

Star Castle.

Gorf.

Gauntlet.

Pleiades.

Tutankham.

Portland has this retrocade...

http://www.groundkontrol.com/

When I lived in Seattle, I used to go to one on Cap Hill.

Jesus.

Why the fuck am I not there right now?

Later, bitches.

I have a sudden craving for vintage gaming goodness.

And coffee.

And pussy.

But...

Only ONE of those can be had for twenty-five cents.

You don't like my wulgarity?

I GOT NO FUCKING BONES!

I'm entitled, you ass muffin.

Vectrex EMU my ass.

I got the real deal sitting not eight feet away from me.

Now...

If we are quite complete with our bizness this evening, I believe I have an appointment with a certain blue valkyrie who needs food badly and is about to die and whose life force consequently is running out.

Do I have ANY right to sit here and type when my twenty-five cents can make the difference between life and death?

I will leave you all with this...

Tony Stark.

Makes you feel.

He's the cool executive.

With the heart of steel.

...

...

...

I just made that up.

That's all I got.

Tank's empty.

Night.

PS2 all the way. The games are better. What I'm wondering about is the xbox. God I hope that dosn't take off. Microsoft has its hands in just about every other damn thing so why does it have to meddle with the console market. You'd better believe their goal is to do what they did to the OS & office software markets.

I have both ps2 and gamecube. Don't got x-box yet though. And I really like PS2 because of the games they are able to get, the kewl ones.... But they got too cocky and that's why X-box is swiping a good majority of their games, since they had really no competition before other than Nintendo/GameCube but Nintendo was toooo obsessed with kiddie weiner games. Except for Zelda and Smash Bros. Anyway overall I like both. I like my PS2 because of the great RPG's they got and some of the kewl action games,etc... And I like Nintendo/GameCube because of Smash Bros., Mario, and Zelda.... Oh well I'm hopeless... Let's just say PS2 has more games of quality than gamecube does...Anyway later peeps!

GameCube all the way. 'Nuff said.

Well, if you like the PS2 games better, then get the PS2. It's honestly that simple: get the platform that has the games you want to play.

The GC is more kid-friendly, but it has a much smaller library, and not very many of them will appeal to adults. (Pikmin, Super Monkey Ball, Rogue Leader... they're all amazing games, but I can name dozens of excellent games on the PS2, not to mention all the superb games on the PSX/PS1.)

Don't bother win an XBox. It'll be a memory by the end of 2003, once it bombs in Japan. (It's a great platform, hardware-wise, but it's a gaping money pit for Microsoft, has a territorial lockout on controllers -- which means that US gamers are stuck with those utter abominations that make the DC controller feel downright *pleasant* -- and has no killer titles. Halo? Sorry, I tried it, and it's beautiful, well-executed, and mind-numbingly boring.)

Ok... I gotta admit that I'm a bit biased in this respect because I have a GC and that depleted my money (that I clawed from my bill collectors hands so I could have a little extra for a game system ) but I love it.

First Smash Brothers Melee rocks.
Second Rogue Squadron is the best game I have ever played to date ( still waiting for Zelda to take that title )
For a person who's attention span is very short I keep playing it. Most games I don't finish because I quickly get bored with them. I keep playing this over because I just haven't found everything that's hidden in it. Working on the second documentary right now :)
Third Pikmin is cool. Although my wife had nightmares after marching 20 pikmin into a river and watching them die... she's kinda sentimental like that.
Fourth.. You won't get Metroid ( bout time ) or Zelda ( I'm one of the few who like the new look ) anywhere else.

It's bad because
It's another reason for Pokemon to continue... not my personal favorite series.
It doesn't come with a DVD player
It doesn't come with a self running thermo nuclear power supply
It doesn't come with a full running PC core.
It doesn't .. ah you get the point

the ps2 is a year and four months old. the first two games that have come out for it that would make me want to buy the system are gta3 and ffx. as u can tell, they are 2nd gen games. now if we only gave the cube and the xbox a year to catch up software wise, then we could actually compare the 3 systems fairly.

i went with the cube myself. the xbox is an inferiour attempt at a pc... did u know that obi wan was a cancelled pc game? and really the only thing making me want to buy a ps2 is square. if i wanted to play old ps1 games id buy a ps1... now if i had a ps1 and a library of games i might care. dvd? well if i wanted a GOOD dvd player id buy a GOOD dvd player. overall, i dont have the time to dedicate myself to crappy games. i went with the big N because i know at least N games are going to kick ass and chew bubble gum.

PS2 - for DVD capabilities and the fun new movie/games that are coming out

The X-Box is way too cheap anyway. Almost all the games that are on that system are PC ports, will become PC ports, or are ports from another system.

So all it's doing, in essence, is re-creating masterpieces from other systems with a few little nips and tucks and everything else has been blisteringly mediocre at best.

So... that's a really shoddy reason to buy an X-Box.

NINTENDO 64, baby :-D!!!!

mmmmmmmmmm... x-box ;)

We already have nintendo, the standard pc games, and my brother has PS. So, definitely x-box...
But what about the Amiga??? HUH? Cool stuff!

Gauntlet... memories... "Warrior. You are about to die" And those damn black sucky-life force things! Grr, used to irritate the daylights ouyt of me! My brother and I used to play this game till 3-4am in the morning! :)

Does everyone know that you can get Gauntlet along with other cool games for PS??? Games like PaperBoy, Marble Madness, Millipede etc

Well, they're both great. If I had the cash or the time, presently, I'd own both. For now, I leech off of my friend, who does own both. Overall, however, the PS2 may be the least technologically advanced of the gaming platforms, excluding PC, but it's titles (both adult and child-oriented) are the most creative, innovative, and engrossing by far. GC has some great titles now, and many more to come, with the acquisition of an exclusive game production contract with Sega, but PS2 has the new titles, with current franchises (Silent Hill, Rockstar, Final Fantasy, Tekken, etc, not to mention PSOne games) to be the most enjoyable console in the long run.

By the way, Wil, I sent you an email some time ago (can't remember how long) asking if you'd like to contribute periodically to the gaming website project I'm producing, www.the-monolith.net. I can understand your never getting back to me; I'm sure your inbox is filled daily. We aren't yet launched, but we'll be a large-scale, serious, and intelligent geek website/community. We'd all love to have you on, as you seem to be an excellent writer and a generally amicable guy. What say you? I can be found at scathe@the-monolith.net, if interested.

Regards,

Bill "Scathe" Granberry

My dad has a PS2. I have a GC. I like the GC better because it seems to be geared more towards younger people (I know, 26 isn't that young... but everyone says I act like a child anyway.). I tried playing some of the PS2 games. Let me tell you, I COULD NOT PLAY THEM AT ALL! It's sad that my dad, of all people, could beat my butt at a video game. :)

So, I guess I'm saying that the GC is for kids and the PS2 is for mature adults (Is there such a thing as a 'mature adult'???)

i am not a sportsy-game type bunny, but i REALLY enjoyed tricky! (snowboarding) for the game cube. (the only game i've played so far on it) and of course, zelda is always good... and if they have a new dr. mario...

then again, if you want good RPGs like FF10 (i've only seen bits and pieces, looks awesome), your best bet is a PS2. that and you get the DVD player and you can play old PS1 gamex on it. (PSX?)

if you have the money, get both. i don't have the money, so i get none ;-;

what is up with the 'firsties' dances?! is it that big a deal to reply first? >.

Ive heard that the XBox has overheating problems, causing the chip to malfuntion on some consoles. the PS2 has internet capability, and will soon allow you to connect and play other people over the net! Im a believer in the addage "you get what you pay for". if the game cube is $100 cheaper than the PS2, there has to be a reason for it. Ive read reviews on PS2, Gamecube, and XBox, and even though Xbox had the best and faster hardware, they rated the PS2 an overall better machine because of the backward compatiblity, and for stability.

Hey Wil, if you need "cheat codes" for GTA3, just let me know, hehe. Its funner to have an "edge".

I bought my PS2 in the rush almost a year ago and I love it. Granted I don’t own or have ever tried another competing console. However, given the game line up, I definitely prefer the PS2. Although I really wanted to play X-Wing Rouge Squadron II, damnit! The features such as backward compatibility, and support for DVD and CD media are already well documented. However, I’m also “onboard” with Sony’s vision of a total home appliance, which is why it supports USB connections. What does that mean? When the Stat Trek crew used to say, “Computer… who, what, where, why, or when?” It is Sony’s vision that they’re talking to a PlayStation. That’s the vision and I’m on the migration path. I don’t know if Game Cube or X-Box has that same long-term strategy. Well, the makes or X-Box want to take over the world, but I don’t think that’s really the same thing.

oh geez. I think you'll find Wil, that the re really isn't all that much difference between the Cube, X-Box and PS2.

1) okay....the Cube is generaly a great machine, there's not a lot that I can fault it on, apart from maybe Nintendo themselves a pain in the arse, not helping us developer when we really need it (I'm still bitter from my experiences on what was my first and last N64 title that I worked on).

2) The x-box. Y'know, on paper it looks like the surperior concole. A CPU that runs faster than any of it's compeditors, groovy NVidia gfx hardware and oodles of RAM. It's sheer horsepower all the way. But...well....the basic arhcitecture sucks. It's nothing more than a PC in a bulky, badly designed box. Like any PC based 3D hardware, it has a limit on the fill-rate. (somthing the cube, PS2 and Dreamcast don't suffer from).

Lastly the PS2. It's the most esoteric, awkward and infuriating piece of harware that I have EVER worked on. And God, do I ever love it. Games that look bad ??? Take a look at the just released Herdy Gerdy (shameless plug there folks). It has it's limitations, but Sony aren't so anal about the requirements for games on thier console. It has amazingly powerful hardware, fill-rate is not even an issue and well..it's just cool :) Ofcourse, I'm biased in this opinion....I'm currently working on my second PS2 title.

Oh...b4 you all get on my back about the X-Box CPU being the fastest, let me remind you that Intel have NEVER made a fast processor. The Intel in the X-Box HAS to run at 700MHz to even come close to match the MIPS R4000 in the PS2 running at 300Mhz(well..actually, it's 150Mhz).

All three are great systems, granted.

But the GameCube wins in my book. It's got the most bang for the buck. For $199, you get a system that's more powerful than the PS2, only marginally less powerful than the Xbox, and you can stick the little box almost anywhere you have a few cubic inches to spare in your entertainment system. Also, the Cube has the little handle that makes transporting it to your buddy's house that much easier. It can do 8 textures per pixel per pass in the hardware, while Xbox can only do 4, PS2 can only do 1. The Cube processor is an IBM PowerPC (almost identical to Macintosh processors) running at 450 MHz. In an Intel equivalent, that's over 850 MHz. So what if it doesn't have a DVD player? You can pick up one up for less than $100 now. Also, it's got progressive scan capablilities, which I'm pretty sure PS2 and Xbox don't have.

Also, there are several non "kiddie" games coming out this year, so that'll help offset the Cube's childish image.

For the money, the Cube's the way to go.

Gotta love the Game Cube -- I'm not a big fan of "modern" gaming (I prefer the 2D universe of anything pre-N64 myself) but even I can get into some o' the neat-o stuff on the Cube. Our kids (11 and 14) are enjoying the hell out of SSX Tricky (snowboarding as I recall) and the latest Tony Hawk - but we've got friends who come by regularly to play group Super Monkey Ball -- what-a-hoot! I'm mourning the apparent death of non-3-D gaming; but Super Monkey Ball makes it easier to swallow. ;)

Wow... you *have* to go with the GameCube. If you can't play Mario or Zelda on the console in question, then it's just not worth playing IMHO ;)

Lermontov -

The Cap. Hill retro arcade was pretty cool - unfortunately, it closed this last summer. (sigh) New building going up next door, needed some of the space...and *BANG*, there it goes.

They said they might try for a new place, but no word yet.

Sucks.

I miss that stuff.

Though...personally...I'm all for pinball.

Hey Wil- Although I haven't had time to read through all the comments, I'm noticing a trend, so I will try not to say anything that hasn't already been said. My personal preference is for the GameCube, only because at 27, I still have no interest in "matrue" games. :) However, for those people who are waxing to PS2 because of it's DVD and CD capabilities, they should know that Panasonic actually makes a version of the Gamecube with a DVD player built in. Right now, it's cost equivalent to buying both seperately, and from what I hear, the cooling fan only works on the Gamecube portion and somehow shuts down on the DVD portion. Oh, and it weighs a little more too, but it's definitely available. I think it's called Gamecube X or something. Anyways, it's just a matter of time before they improve it, and make it less expensive. I don't think I'm doing such a great job talking up the GC am I?...

It's called Q. And it won't be released in the US.

hey..I never said the Cube wasn't great...it IS a cool piece of hardware.....only really being held back by Nintendo being such a bunch of asses when it comes to third-party developers.

"Progressive scan capabilities???" dinnae teach yer grannie to suck eggs (as the saying goes).

Also...what the PowerPC chip does in 450MHz, the PS2 does in 300(err...sorry..make that 150)Mhz :)

I like the Gamecube. I'll probably buy a US one when I finaly have some free time to play all the games I want to play. I just have a softspot for the PS2, and this kind of thing overrides ANY debate about superior hardware. Besides... MGS2 is on the PS2 and that has gpt to be the best game released in the last 2 years.

Ok, I have neither.

I grew up on Atari. The last system I had was the original Nintendo. I KICKED ass at Super Mario Brothers. I could go from 1-1 to 8-4, saving the princess, WITHOUT warping on 1 guy. Anyway, I would love either. I miss that - something fun to do when there's nothing on the boob tube. So, Wil, can ya bring one home for me? Hell, I'll even come pick it up. Otherwise, just send it on down.

Thanks. Preferably PS2, but I'm not picky. Hell, I'll take a PS1.

Vickie

James:

The PS2 is less powerful. Period. I'm not saying it's a bad system. In fact, I absolutely *LOVE* GTA3. I wish it would be released on the Cube. mmf.

Well..I don't like games..Yeah what AM I doing
on this geeky site anyway? Oh yeah Wil.

YAY! I'm getting a PS1. Practically for free. My darling, younger brother has both a PS1 and PS2. He's not using his PS1 anymore and is giving it to me, along with games. ALl I have to pay is the shipping (he lives in WI and me in CA). SA-WEET!!!!!!!!

Gotta love younger brothers.

Sony is releasing a linux kit for ps2 in May, which gives the ps2 the hackability advantage.

I'm sure if you could hack some drivers together, you could load Mac OS on the Cube and Windows on the Xbox. I'd really like to see if anyone's done that yet. I haven't heard anything about it so far.

I've got both systems and frankly, couldn't live any other way. But then I've owned every major console system to be released since the Atari 2600. No, I don't yet own an XBox. I'm sure I will some day, but that day is far off. Anyway... which would I recommend? It really depends on the games you want (duh). I love both systems very much, but if I had to pick just one... it'd be the Game Cube. Yeah, there's more games for the PS2, but Nintendo always wins in originality and "fun".

More powerful Bret. Oh dear.....yes in some ways the Cube is definitly more powerful that the PS2, but in other the PS2 is mich more powerful that the Cube..... and PLEASE don't start quoting me numbers and specs or I'll be fored to give you all a crash course in computer architecture :)

Had a PS2. Sold it. Enjoyed the hell out of SSX (aside from the "caught in a rock" bug), wasn't intrigued by any other title. Realized I was basically using the console to play PS1 games, and sold off the whole shebang as a party kit on e-bay (4 controllers, multitap, memorycard, console).

For the money that I got back from the PS2, bought a GC, a PS1 (used), a DC (new), and accessories for all of them. I loathe the XBox's controller -- I have small hands. I keep looking over the PS2's titles to see if there's anything that I feel I absolutely have to have. Nada. The only thing I miss when comparing the GC to the PS2 is that I think the PS2 had slightly better rumble built into the controller.

But I like quirky games like Super Monkey Ball, DDR, Space Channel 5, Samba de Amigo...none of which are destined for XBox or PS2-ville. (And I *like* Pokemon Snap!)

Oh, and the DVD player on the PS2 sucked bigtime. It refused to play a bunch of my favorite DVDs. I'm much, much happier with the standalone I have now.

I got a GC for my birthday a few weeks ago. I was debating between it or a PS2, but went with the GC because I became insanely addicted to Zelda on my friend's N64. I am eagearly awaiting the new Zelda for GC later this year.

Sure, the PS2 has more games for *now*, but the 2 games I used to like on the PS1 were Spyro and Crash Bandicoot...both of which I've heard are coming to GC. Considering that it takes me *months* to finish a game (if I ever do), I can wait until later this year for the new titles. The DVD player function of PS2 weren't even an issue for consideration, since we already had a DVD player, anyway.

Pikmin rocks! Smash Bros. Melee rocks! I like the look of Rogue Leader, but I *suck* at it.

This is probably a re-hash, but it comes down to the games that you want to play. I have no interest in the Nintendo franchise games, but love several of the PS2 titles, so I got a PS2. I love playing GTA3 and once I finish that, I'll probably move on to MGS2. I have to admit that the ads for some of the new Xbox games are looking good to me. There's two that I saw recently besides Halo that made me want an Xbox. I think one is called BloodWake? Fat chance of me shelling out another $300 for a console any time soon. BTW, if I like GTA3 and MGS2, can you PS2ers suggest some other titles? Isn't Max Payne available on PS2?

As someone who made the leap from Genesis to PS2, (Yeah, I know that is a HUGE leap...) I'm extremely happy with my decision except for one thing. I WANT SONIC ON PS2!!!

Sorry to all of you big N fans, but the GC is gonna go the way of the DC... Nintendo will end up having to go the Sega route and become a game developer, not a platform developer.
Why?
For the same reason that Sega did- Sony and Microsoft are both major corporations with resources FAR outstripping videogame-ONLY companies... they have the resources and alternate sources of income to undercut a platform like the DC... or the GC. They can take a loss for an entire year if they have to, in order to remove a competitor. Whereas, if nintendo went without profits, they'd be out of business.
And then there's the fact that PS2 plays DVDs and is backwards compatitible. I haven't heard about X-box in that regard yet, but I doubt it will be an edge that the PS2 holds for long.

PS- DOC, How can you talk about the greatest DC games without mentioning Soul CALIBUR??? (Who will be getting the sequel? PS2 or X-box?)

Add another b, a, and it's the cheat code for the original Nintendo's Gradius sequel. :)

my S.O. is in love with his xbox.

if we were both in a burning building i'm not sure which he'd rescue first.

sad but true.

bobo's SO needs to remember that an Xbox can be insured and replaced, but that bobo is probably very hard to buy at a local electronics store.

Ok,

GM has Rogue Leader.

PS2 has everything else (Crazy Taxi, Kinetica, Metal Gear Solid 2, etc, etc) and it's backwards compatible.

For what it's worth, FF10 is CRAP. Silent Hill 2 is far superior in graphics and story. It's also probably the creepiest game you'll ever play on a console.

Personally, though, I'm happy playing Bushido Blade, GTA2, and X-Men Mutant Academy on my PS1 and WWF: No Mercy on my N64 (a game so good, even if you don't like wrestling, that I bought a used systerm JUST to play it). Hell, I still play a little Double Dragon or Legend of Zelda on the original NES when the mood strikes.

That's my 2 bucks.

whoops! Meant GC, not GM. Guess I'm still a little drunk...

Something Dake would do well to remember is that Nintendo owns the handheld market and isn't taking a loss. They're selling their console for $199 and making money. Microsoft is selling it's PCs for $299 at a significant loss per unit.

Whether or not GC "wins", Nintendo is in no danger of going down with the DreamCast.

PS2 ... no ifs ands or buts about it.

PS2

If being the best system around isn't enough, there'll be a linux kit with 40GB hard drive, ethernet, keyboard and mouse out for it soon. What more can you ask for?

Hmmm... WWDN running on a PS2 ... SEXY.

i own both but i play the game cube more

trinker...thanks!

i should print out this comment list and leave it in place of his xbox.

of course that could get me permanently banned from his place.

*ponders*

personally, the last game system i owned was a sega game gear.

sad, aren't i?

My point was that Gates&Co.(TM) can afford to take a loss... and they have the resources to do so for probably a lot longer than Nintendo does... Also, it's a standard Gates&Co.(TM) trick to wait and see the possibilities from their competitors, and then lie/cheat/steal the features they like so they can place them on their product(see NETSCAPE). I agree that Nintendo will continue to own the handheld market, but I just don't see them moving on in the race for the next "Next-Generation" platform.

GC.

Best... Controller... Ever!

My husband and I got a Playstation2 and an Xbox for our kids.

Oh wait. That's right. We don't have any kids.

dake...you're forgetting that Nintendo's main target market is full of really enthusiastic parents. Parents who don't really like the offerings that MS has for Xbox. And the Xbox already has a growing history of need-for-repair that many people predicted, based on the architecture. And it's not portable. Not a big deal for a lot of 18-26ers, maybe, but a huuuuuge deal for the Nintendo set. My kid brother carts his around to various friends' houses all the time.

We'll see what happens. Remember, not everything Der Bill does goes well. Anyone remember Microsoft Bob?

bobo -- I think you should wait for the day when your SO *really* pisses you off.

Hmm.... sorry Wil, but I have to say that you should try out XBOX titles. Inspired by your work opposite Mr. Stewart, I wrote a couple of trek games myself... sadly I am about as old as you but I missed my TV chance... But seriously developers on XBOX have time and money to spend on AI that others do not... because of the the simple fact that DirectX allows XBOX and Wintel compatibility... as a developer that is good all around.
Hey take it easy man. Boston traffic is just as bad but we have "commuter rail" (read: old Amtrak reject trains that scare the hell out of you) and the oldest subway in the world, which closes before 2am when the bars get out.
Shucks.
And to think I ride Segways because of Levar Burton.
Sigh.

Everyone: Go to Virgin/Bestbuy/Sears/Walmart and try out the XBOX controllers. The GC and the PS2 controllers are sized to fit guassian distribution for small-ass hands (Japanese are statistically smaller than Americans of African or Slavic descent: the fatal error of Sony and Nintendo). XBOX controllers are sized to fit American/European hands (read this however you want, Japenese are smaller people). The REAL killer that XBOX has is that they can have EXTENSIONS on the cables... so that stupid consol doesn't have to be in the middle of the living room floor... and you can sit on the couch... and you don't get carpel-tunnel if you're over the age of 8.
Ask any Industrial Designer.
Really.

Definately Gamecube. PS2 is a good system and all, and it does have GTA3 (Please Rockstar, port this game), but besides GTA3 most of the games I want will be on Gamecube. Mario, Zelda, Star Fox, Resident Evil, Eternal Darkness, Animal Planet(which is gonna include several NES games on it including Punch Out), and that is just the exclusive games. And its cheap, and dont complain about no DVD, because you can get those for under $100 dollars now anyway. And by the way, Gamecube has better specs than the PS2, but in reality pretty much all 3 systems can do about the same things. So basically, Gamecube rules, PS2 is cool too, and XBox sucks. (Die Microsoft, Die) It has Halo...and Halo..thats about it. Oddworld for XBox sucks too!

Yep, GC has controllers that fit into smaller hands, not just the hands of 6'0" white or black boys. Nice to be recognized. I think the Xbox design has basically told me "hey, chica, TFB if you don't have big hands!" Way back in the early days of videogaming, they made joysticks that fit into my hands, too. And then some time in the late 80's or early 90's, they decided that I didn't count, and made all the controllers for large hands. I love the idea of MS forcefeedback joysticks -- guess what? I can't use one!

It's not that the only market is 18-26 y.o. men, it's that the market only caters to them. Kudos to companies like Nintendo and Saitek (who make an *excellent* adaptable-size joystick) that recognize that gamers come in different sizes.

(And the GC doesn't have extension cables? Says who?)

I'm way too late at commenting on a four-day-old story, but I'll add my $0.02 (that's 1.73 minutes worth of mortgage) and reaffirm the all-around asskicking that is Super Smash Brothers Melee. Nothing like using Mr. Game and Watch to beat all those newfangled characters into the ground! Yeah!

Oh, and I'm a dork, but I still like Dance Dance Revolution (PS1) and Para Para Paradise (PS2). Go figure. No, better yet, go play them, even if you're afraid you'll look like an idiot. Because you will. But it's still a heck of a lot of fun, and it'll keep you in shape too!

Game Cube sucks. The games are for younger kids and mo-rons. PS2 is geared for the mature (read: older) gamer, which I am.

I love my PS2 and I wouldn't buy a GC if it was sold for 3 bucks.

I'm going to go play GTA3 now and mow down some padestrians with a tank... What? So I cheat sometimes, like you don't? Don't look at -ME- like that, Mr. man!

Tough call but I will go with PS2. If your thirty, the games are cooler and it loads a little faster than the cube. To me, there are more games available from Sony. There is my two cents...

Y'know, I'm getting kinda sick of this "mature/older means you like games with more violence/gore" meme.

I'm 31, and my life has had quite enough violence and gore that I don't want to subject myself to it for *fun*, thank you very much.

I don't own a console system and never have, but I do work at a fairly large Wizards of the Coast store. What I've seen from sales, PS2 is the way the market is going, regardless of platform capabilities.

We have about 120 PS2 titles for sale at my store. We have about 12 for the GC. Even when you factor in that large difference, we still sell far more PS2 games than GC games.

Xbox? We don't *carry* the Xbox. Here it is, March 1st, months after the release, and we aren't carrying it. No consoles, no games, no controllers. If the bean-counters at the home office thought Xbox was going to be a cash cow, we'd have had it in stock back in December. March 1st, nothing. Sounds to me like the bean-counters expect it to be a dud.

One major problem with all the systems is the lack of a breakout game, something that's must-have. GTA3 is the closest I've seen. Super Monkey Ball is a decent contender for the GC, but again, sales don't seem to support that. Halo for the Xbox? We all oohed and ahhed about it two years ago, when it was a future *computer* game, but technology has passed it by and its just another runner in the pack.

That's my rant. We now return you to your regularly schedule topic.

We have a GC at work (we did the nintendo.com website so they give us stuff free!! heehee!) and although I just bought a PS2 for myself for many of the reasons explained here, I have to say how extremely impressed I am with the GC. I finished Pikmin last week, and without a doubt it was the most fun, playable, polished game I've played in a long time. Seems to me that GC's only problem right now is a shortage of games, but I'm sure in 6 months they'll have it turned around.

I love them both. I do think for playing games with your kids though gamecube is the way to go.. and you can always pick them up a dreamcast amazing system and right now very cheap..
Kim

Il go for the PS2 on this 1. This is why. GAMES.There are so many kwality games(That arent about super monkeys balls)aimed at an above 7 and a alf yr old audience. GTA3, GT3, Dark alliance r all great. Im sure that sh1tty cube with a tacky handle will have some games of merit, but cmon their all cartoonish n for kiddies that r jus out of nappies- and my frend ferg but thats another story

i am ferg the friend of mark and he is an ass cos gamecube is miles better than the ps2. nintendo have always made the best and most succesful games eg. mario, zelda and donkey kong. also 2 of the best shoot em ups have been on nintendo consoles: goldeneye and perfect dark. with a pd game surely to come out on the cube with other bloody games like resi evil and die hard the cube is not just for kids. cube graphics are also better and what does it matter if games are about monkeys and balls its the gameplay and the enjoyment that count.

well ferg.where to start..gameplay.if u think the ps2 lacks in this department then u really need to play it first instead of makin uneducated guesses. cube graphics rnt better actually and if u like games with good playability and enjoyment, there are plenty for the ps2 like jak n daxter - kiddy but fun and u could even go better - dark alliance (playability, fun , gr8 plot in 1).oh yes and the most successful ames made by nintendo.uh hum.final fantasy.also the best shooters r infact for the ps2 - moh frontline and deux ex.face it ferg u don hav a clu.infact uv never touched a cube so wot do u no?

well ferg.where to start..gameplay.if u think the ps2 lacks in this department then u really need to play it first instead of makin uneducated guesses. cube graphics rnt better actually and if u like games with good playability and enjoyment, there are plenty for the ps2 like jak n daxter - kiddy but fun and u could even go better - dark alliance (playability, fun , gr8 plot in 1).oh yes and the most successful ames made by nintendo.uh hum.final fantasy.also the best shooters r infact for the ps2 - moh frontline and deux ex.face it ferg u don hav a clu.infact uv never touched a cube so wot do u no?

well, I have all 3 systems, I like Gamecube the best. Xbox has the best graphic out of all, and PS2 has worst graphic out of all 3. Gamecube has many fun games, a lot of them are extremely addictive, PS2 and Xbox looks like it has fun games but once you play it, it is not really that fun. One of the best graphic on any system has to be RESIDENT EVIL on GAMECUBE.. if you ever seen it it is the best graphic ever. I got it last weekend and can't put it down, who said Gamecube is not mature? go ahead and eat those words after playing Resident evil on Gamecube. I mainly play NBA street on gamecube (PS2 version totally sucks), and 007 agent under fire on gamecube (PS2 version dont have bot option, which I really need when I am not playing 4 player)..I also enjoy Halo and DOA3 on Xbox and FF on PS2

Look @ the reviews in magazines. PS2
On T.V. PS2
@ stores PS2
And the amount sold weekly PS2
How had themost tales ? Ps2
personally I have a ps2 and love it Id rather have Dream cast than Came Cube..Hehehe
All so Look at this and why do you think that game Cube prices have fallen so quickly?

PS2 kicks...... X-Box time will come.

x- box sucks.ps2 is the best and so is the gamecube.devante you suck and so do you ferg.

The gamecube is much better than the playstation poo....i mean 2!!sorry!because nintendo is the founder of everything we have today and everyone else is just copying e.g l+r buttons invented by the snes,stolen by everyone! the rumble funtion invented by ninttendo stolen by sony! carn't they think of anything? nintendo also make there own games unlike sony! you might say you have the final fantasy series but do you remember when the 7th one came out 4 the psone in 98 or sumfin? do you remember where the first 6 came from......? thats right nintendo!!!! and ninten have the rights back off squaresoft and final fantasy is cuming to the gamecube!!!shigru miyatimo is the greatest man ever he's the man behind mario and zelda the two best games series known to man!!!wait till mario kart and zelda cum out on the gamecubes you will all feel the wrath of nintendo once again!!....long story short nintendo gamecube is better than the playstation2.nintendo is dedicated to soley making games and cinsoles so will always e better! you might say ps2 plays dvds? so if u wana watch dvds buy a dvd player.wana cook toast buy a toaster!wats your point? where talking about gameplay here!plus the gamecube's processer is nearly twice as fast of that of the ps2's.settled gamecube is better than the ps2 thanx 4 reading.

the guru kicks ass

i just want to know if pso is coming out for ps2 it is on gamecube and dreamcast i think it should be on ps2. So I think the people that make the games should put pso on ps2

I HAVE XBOX GC AND PS2 SO I THINK XBOX SHOULD BE IN HERE BECAUSE IT PLAYES DVD AND U COULD PUT MUSIC ON IT AND IT PLAYES ALL PS2 AND GC GAMES SO ITS BEST.

The playstation 2 rocks. It has the best graphics and the best games plus the fact that you can play DVD's and Cd's on it. You can't do that on the wimpy GameCube.

PS2: Worst graphics, most games, supports DVD and CD, needs memory card, loads slow
Xbox: Best graphics, loads fast, no memory card, plays CD and DVD
GC: 2nd Best graphics, loads fast, nees memory card(get a good one and can hold like 20-30 games)
Id go with the GC overall, its cheapest, has a lot of great games, portable
no CD or DVD but who cares about that? Gte the real thing instead of having your game system do it.

Nintendo GameCube is the best. Sure the Playstation2 has more games because of their 3rd party game designers (Konami, Square, etc.) they have but take that away and what do they have... Absolutley nothing. If Nintendo had exactly the same 3rd party game designers then the playstation2 would be a load of nothing.

think about nintendo "mario, mario sunshine,mario bros,mario baracus.......MARIO,MMMMAAARRRIIIOOO....this kind of games are for kids and every body knows that "games are for kids and battles are for warriors" just think about playstation2 like "SOLID SNAKE, LEGEND OF DRAGOON, GTA3, DEVIL MAY CRY, AND SO FORTH.....THOSE GAMES MAKE THE DIFERENCE BETWEEN NINTENDO GAME CUBE AND PLAYSTATON2 IF PEOPLE CONTINUE PLAYING GAMES LIKE MARIO AND LUIGI WILL CREATE A GERM OF INGNORANCE IN THEIR MINDS.......THINK ABOUT IT.

Honestly, I enjoy the PS2 more due to the more mature and goary games. But, my friends and I all have had our PS2's break *Disc Error*. This error began right before we completed GTA3 on all of our systems *what are the odds*? haha... Anyway, we also own the gamecube which is good for younger members of the family. I must admit 'mario party kickz azz'. Also, if your looking into a gaming system for the more mature games look into the xbox. They practically have the same games that the PS2 has. They now even have GTA3 and Vice City! You are also able to import music for the games your playing, which is tight. Well, I feel as if Sony needs to improve the Playstation soon and that EVERYONE should buy an xbox until a new, improved PS2 comes out. For those that dont like goar GO WITH THE GAMECUBE. Its cheap, small, and will probably last a lifetime. Aight, lata

I was just reading the information given by guru. Thats a bunch of crap! Well yes the l and r were copied by every system. But was that done with bad intensions? NO! Sony was the first system to run of CD's *most give them credit for that* THEY STARTED A WHOLE NEW INDUSTRY. While Nintendo was still making cartridges Sony was creating the future! Another thing, with the rumble *yes nintendo was the 'founder' of rumble but if u remember the original playstation was the first system to have it ALREADY IN THE CONTROLLER!* While nintendo is working on ONE game the PS2 has already produced 5! Thanks to their involvment with other gaming companies. But what people are saying isn't completely true! I'm looking at my nintendo gamecube games while I'm typing this. I see THREE different companies on these games. EA sports, Akklaim, and Nintendo! So, for everyones information Nintendo isn't the only company that makes their games! Well, thats all. Lata

DREAMCAST and GAMECUBE. dreamcast is dirt cheap,. can burn the games even though i buy most of them. has some of the best originals. crazy taxi, soul calibur, skies of arcadia, shenmue, all great graphics too. gamecube is also only 106 bucks here now. but the games are still expensive. and they are gettin some good games now. im getting a cube soon. also its a more powerful system then the ps2. 485mhz vs ps2's 300. id trust an ibm processor over some weird company called emotion or whatever. gc beats ps2 in most specs. dc an older system even beats ps2 is some areas

oh and those areas are more video memory better soundcard built in modem, better texture rendering, loads faster, more comfortable controller even if its bigger. more advanced memory card(can play mini games on it) i own 16 games for my dc and i never stop playin it. go get one!!

oh and those areas are more video memory better soundcard built in modem, better texture rendering, loads faster, more comfortable controller even if its bigger. more advanced memory card(can play mini games on it) i own 16 games for my dc and i never stop playin it. go get one!!

I have both PS2 and Gamecube but I prefer the gamecube it loads/saves faster then the ps2 and one of the only ways to play games like mario, zelda, even metroid. The only thing it is missing is a DVD player. Course I already have 4 9including the ps2 one)