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Post by Sarge on Sept 25, 2020 21:41:01 GMT -5
This is probably a good time to talk about systems and launches, given the PS5/Series X coming out soon. Over the years, have you ever bought a system day one? Or within the launch window? (Let's give that like a month or a holiday season to account for shortages or waiting for Christmas or whatnot.)
Surprisingly, I think I've only bought three systems myself at launch, and gotten one in its launch year as a gift that Christmas.
Bought for myself: GBA, Wii, Switch Christmas: Nintendo DS (OG model, baby!)
What about y'all? Did you buy into the hype of particular systems? What was your favorite launch system/lineup? Even if you didn't buy in at launch, what system do you think had the best game lineup?
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Post by toei on Sept 25, 2020 21:50:52 GMT -5
I used to pay attention to them, but I don't think I've ever bought a system at launch, no. I've rarely even bought games at launch (one I remember doing so was Dragon Quest VIII - I bought it at launch even though I didn't own a PS2 yet).
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Post by Ex on Sept 25, 2020 22:27:35 GMT -5
The only systems I had during the same year they launched: Game Boy, SEGA Genesis Both of those were bought by parents obviously, as I was a kid at the time.
As an adult paying for things with my own money? Ha ha, nope. Never bought a system at launch, and not because I didn't have the money to do so.
These are my reasons why:
I already have a large library of (new to me) games vying for my attention. Adding brand new games, at brand new game prices, to that existing pile is perhaps less than prudent.
I don't get nearly as excited about new graphics technology as most people do.
I don't get nearly as excited to play sequels to sequels as most people do.
Since the sixth gen, history has shown that waiting to buy a console (or handheld), means you end up buying the best revision of it, at a lower price.
The best time to buy a console is at the end of its lifespan. The same goes for buying its games. By then you get the GOTY editions, with all the DLC and patches included. You get the best prices on the console and its games, just as said console is exiting the limelight.
This particular upcoming generation, looks to be very digital-centric and anti-consumer. Meaning, buying the physical games is basically like buying installation disk 1 of X. You have to download the rest of X. Can't see myself paying full (or nearly full) prices for such a scenario. Also the majority of new games I've seen coming for XSX and PS5 have not intrigued me (I don't care about the Switch at all either). My tastes are perhaps becoming outmoded in the zeitgeist lexicon of modern gamer desires.
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All that said, I don't begrudge people who feel the urge to buy a brand new console at launch. Some people feel strongly compelled by a desire to play the "latest and greatest". They like to feel as if they are participating in a mutually occurring NOW experience. I also understand for some gamers, buying a brand new console is a very exciting life event. And hey, somebody's gotta keep these new platforms afloat in their early years, right?
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Post by EasyHard on Sept 26, 2020 8:30:32 GMT -5
The only system I got at launch was the Gamecube, which was also the first system I bought myself. Bought the system with one game: Rogue Leader, and I rented Luigi's Mansion and Wave Race: Blue Storm in the following weeks. My mom took me to a Target at like 5 am so we could get in line. I remember it was chilly and still very much "nighttime" when we arrived in the parking lot. I brought my physics notebook to work/study on while I waited against the wall by the entrance. There were only a couple people there when I arrived, which would eventually became about a dozen/two dozen people at most. However many it was I gather it was not too big compared to some other launches. It was a friendly atmosphere and there was no real rush or hectic-ness once we were let in and made our way over the electronics section.
Going backwards in time from Gamecube, I don't really know when I acquired my other systems. I did get the SNES and N64 very early in their lifespans (perhaps even at launch), but I don't think I really "knew" the launch date and all of this feels less distinct. Maybe I knew the N64 launch date, because of Nintendo Power? Anyway, it doesn't feel like an answer to the question when you are simply asking your parents for something and can't make plans yourself around a specific date. I was playing Mario 64 and Pilotwings 64 with my new N64, Shadows of the Empire not long after, and Turok was a very early game in my library. This would suggest it was a launch system.
Best launch library? If the launch library includes a launch window that extends for a few months, then the SNES mops the floor with everyone in my book since I generally love those games the most. If we are talking about more like "launch day/launch week", then I think in most cases the comparison between systems comes down to someone's 1 or 2 favorite games for each. It's hard for me to judge personally. It does seem though that a few systems have one launch game that is a very huge, outsized cultural deal, whereas most systems don't garner anything like that even if their games are perfectly good. The Switch, original Xbox, and N64 qualify for having that unique impact, I think.
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Post by anayo on Sept 26, 2020 9:09:24 GMT -5
The only system I ever bought within the launch window was my Nintendo Switch. I think I got it in June 2017. It's out of character for me to buy gaming hardware so early, so what compelled me to do it was that someone listed their Switch along with Mario Kart and Zelda BOTW for $300 on craigslist. That was a $350 value at the time. When I met the guy I got the impression his wife was making him get rid of it.
I felt guilty for buying it so early and expected it to be a short-lived novelty I would tire of and then sell off to recoup my money. But in the long run, I'm glad I bought it cause Nintendo Switch hardware has spiked in value a few times, perhaps similar to how affordable GPUs were hard to find during the crypto currency mining craze. Plus I've gotten so much use out of mine. It's really proven to be an indispensable part of my gaming library.
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Post by Sarge on Sept 26, 2020 13:47:53 GMT -5
Interesting. So most of us are CAGs as well (Cheap Ass Gamers). I guess I didn't expect I'd be one of the ones that bought the most systems at launch, haha! I think if I had to give it to a console's initial launch lineup, there isn't much that beats out the Dreamcast. The delay from the Japanese to US release made for quite the set of games: Aero Wings Air Force Delta Blue Stringer Expendable Flag to Flag House of the Dead 2 Hydro Thunder Monaco Grand Prix 2 Mortal Kombat Gold NFL 2K NFL Blitz 2000 Pen Pen Tricelon Power Stone Ready 2 Rumble Boxing Sonic Adventure Soul Calibur Tokyo Extreme Racer Trickstyle TNN Motorsports Hardcore Heat In particular, you get some great fighters ( Soul Calibur and arena-fighter Power Stone), Sonic Adventure, the survival horror Blue Stinger, a shockingly good football game in NFL2K, and even Expendable is a pretty cool top-down shooter. If we talk launch window, as EasyHard says, I do think that changes a bit for me. SNES is pretty stout in that regard, as by the end of the year, you had F-Zero, ActRaiser, Super Mario World, Super Castlevania IV, U.N. Squadron, Final Fantasy II, and Super Ghouls 'N Ghosts. That's one heck of a lineup for my tastes.
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Post by paulofthewest on Sept 26, 2020 15:01:31 GMT -5
I bought the N64 at launch (as well as Mario and Star wars) I really liked both those games and was happy with my purchase. Although, I eventually decided it was too expensive and I should have waited.
That said, I interviewed people (just for fun) when the 360 came out. The two things I remember: 1) A nice mom was fully camped out in front of Best Buy. She had the tent, little portable grill, everything. I asked her why, she said she had 3 boys. 2) While at said Best buy at around 1am, a car drove by the people waiting and someone rolled down the window (passenger side) and decided to moon everyone while driving by. Just at that time his cell phone dropped out and someone from the crowd picked it up. Ya, it was great watching them come back and ask for their phone! ;P
Ya, it is too expensive to buy on launch and I'm skeptical of the digital future like Ex. Although, both the Switch and the Wii I got within a year of launch.
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Post by Xeogred on Sept 26, 2020 16:01:29 GMT -5
N64 was September 1996? I must have gotten that for my birthday in October or Christmas shortly after that year, since it was all still pretty new and hype. I think launch games peaked at Super Mario 64 and will never be topped.
I think the only system I got at launch personally was the Wii. A cold nasty night waiting outside at Best Buy... later on that Wii was stolen online from a scam. I bought two Wii's and the U later though, but yeah. Kind of a weak system all around to me so it's humorous in retrospect, I got the Wii of all things.
I'm just going to post my whole history here:
NES - Grandparents had one and then I was gifted one when I was 3 or 4 when SMB3 came out I think. SNES - Birthday or Christmas. Genesis - Gifted a "defective JVC" from my aunt who was a Blockbuster manager back in the day. System worked completely fine.
N64 - Birthday or Christmas. Gamecube - Birthday or Christmas. PS2 - Dad got one "for the family" and had to stay in the living room. I bought my own slim years later. Xbox - Saved up a summer allowance to get this one, my first hard earned system. 360 - High school graduation gift. PS3 - Birthday or Christmas.
My grandparents were the ones who bought most of them, so they spoiled me. The PS3 was a surprise for sure, I'm not sure I even wanted or asked for one when I got it and I had to have been in my early 20's by that point, maybe. So I wasn't expecting to still get expensive gifts at that point.
Into the 360/PS3 era though I was well into the working world of an adult and bought anything else myself beyond that, but pretty sure I haven't gotten anything at launch outside of the Wii surprisingly. And I definitely won't be getting a PS5 or XboxX5-1080-Something anytime soon.
Had to replace my 360 as well since the original red ringed. Got a nice slim after that... which seems a bit finicky as of lately. It's been my DDPYoga DVD player for a few years now.
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Post by Ex on Jul 20, 2021 13:18:23 GMT -5
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Post by Xeogred on Jul 20, 2021 13:43:26 GMT -5
Still kind of funny how excited you are for this. I guess portability (+power) supersedes DRM for you?
Nintendo != power
This thing sounds more powerful than the PS4/XboxOne, so... 4x more powerful than a Switch? lol
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