Are you there, God? It’s me, Confused Consumer.July 20th, 2008 by Mercedes
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Looming over your head within the menacing dark clouds of marketing, the decision of which console to purchase taunts you. “Playstation 3!” the sky roars. “Xbox 360!” “Wiiiiiiii!” You look up, hoping maybe some light will shine through the gloomy amassment of advertisements and point you in the right direction. Instead, lightning strikes, singeing you as well as that money already burning a hole in your pocket. Well, at least that made your decision a little bit easier.
All right, all right, it’s a little morbid to believe that death is your only escape from the console wars that the gaming industry wages daily. It’s nothing new. There’s been competition in the market for video game consoles since we first picked up our controllers, and these current generation consoles have been out for years now. But every piece of gaming equipment is more expensive than ever, and I’m trying to look at prospective purchases a lot more cautiously than I used to. The most glaring reason to buy a system these days is simple: exclusives.
Back when the PS2 came out, I thought $200 was a lot for a console. And $300 for the massive Xbox… I was in shock, to say the least. Consoles were never “cheap”, but when something passed the $200 mark, I couldn’t understand for the life of me why. I was a kid, and I knew nothing about the value of a dollar, but I knew that wasn’t chump change. Add the memory cards and the controllers and um, well, the games, and you’ve got a veritable money sink. Not that that’s ever stopped us consumers before. Even then, though, titles for each would catch my eye. Final Fantasy, Halo, Metal Gear Solid, Dead or Alive. There were always games available for all the consoles, but what made the difference were the titles you’d only be able to play (or the titles you’d be completely shut-out from) if you only had a certain system.
Now we’ve got our Wii’s and 360’s and PS3’s. They’re a bit more customizable, with the different hard drive sizes and price options. (Sorry, no Xbox 360 Elite for me.) But I’m not here to talk about prices. We know what these consoles cost. What’s on my mind are the options.
Sony recently boasted its oodles of PS3 exclusives at E3. Yet Final Fantasy XIII, one of the most widely expected exclusive releases for the PS3, has become a cross-platform title, and more games than ever are coming out for at least two of the three major systems this and next year. Nothing to complain about if I’m looking to save money, really, but why the need for variation and competition? I guess what baffles me is why the companies continue to contend. It makes money, sure, but I have yet to give in and purchase both a PS3 and a 360. I’m no businesswoman, marketer, or anything else fancy like that, so I can’t really conceive of how the companies would ever merge or work together for a common goal. I know there are of course global differences in the markets as well. But if the exclusives continue to dwindle down to a list of one or two, what’s the division worth?
The only console that’s almost completely exclusive is the Wii, if only because of its advancements in technology. All its games which heavily rely upon the motion-sensitive controls probably wouldn’t be nearly as fun or engaging without them on any other console, let alone possible. The only qualm I have with Wii games is how they seem to shirk intensive gameplay and plot development, concentrating instead on how to wiggle the controller just right. Perhaps I haven’t given enough of its games a shot, though.
With Microsoft supposedly creating a motion-sensitive 360 controller similar to the Wiimote, I digress back into complete confusion as to why these companies continue to compete. Why can’t they accept their differences and each simply create the best possible console of their preferred type? Or if they all want to copy and rip off each other, why not just conglomerate all their systems to make one super-console that engulfs you and ports you straight into a video game for the rest of your fucking life? How much does it cost, you ask? Oh, not much, only your soul.
Maybe it’s just a matter of economics. Without competition, there’d be no pressure in the market for either producers or consumers. One company will always need another company to one-up; otherwise, what could they boast about? And a gamer will always need variation or else we’d just play the same game all day forever and ever. …Wait. We already do. I think it’s called World of Warcraft.
So where does your allegiance lie? Why did you invest in the console(s) you own? And how would it make you feel if the sole reason why you bought a console turned out not to be so exclusive after all?
July 20th, 2008 at 4:36 pm
I have to own every console. It’s a compulsion. I have no specific alliance with systems because I want to be able to play any and every game out there no matter what. Unfortunately, I’m not made of money. XD It’s like an obsession, really. Every one of them has something different to offer, so I don’t regard any of them any higher over another. It irritates me when people do that, too. I can’t understand how someone could choose one console to stick with it through thick and thin. It’s shutting them out from so many great games. Then, of course, you have people who refuse to play with anything but a PC. I love the PC, I love my PS2, I love my 360, and even my Game Gear. It takes time to get all of them, but I think it’s worth it.
I do agree, why don’t they just work together to make a SuperAmazingConsoleStation 720? XD I’ve always wondered that. Ah, well. In a perfect world.
July 20th, 2008 at 6:58 pm
Oh, I definitely know what you mean, Brittany. I at least have to have access to every console. I myself have a Wii and a 360 and my sister has a PS3 I can use during the summers, so I’m fortunately able to at least sample games on all of them. And I love PC gaming, too, but it’s much harder for me to upgrade these days, traveling for school and having a laptop and no money to buy a new one, etc. Consoles are easier to me because they come all in one package, usually. I don’t have to worry about upgrading my hardware unless it just means buying a new $300 system every 5 years or so. I usually space out my purchases enough to get most of the current ones, anyway. Wii for one Christmas, 360 for the next… you know.
July 20th, 2008 at 8:27 pm
I’m glad the the console market is split the way it is. If it weren’t, the PC would have no chance.
July 20th, 2008 at 11:12 pm
@ MrAnderson - The PC would still be as useful, maybe even more. Computers are more than just for games.
July 21st, 2008 at 5:00 am
My choice of console/games machine has always been based on what games I wanted to play.
I have never bought a console first, and then gone looking for games.
For example, I bought all the following because of the games I wanted to play:
Elite - Spectrum 48k
Sonic the Hedgehog - Nintendo..? (don’t remember which version)
Dune2/The Settlers - Amiga
Diablo - PSOne
Golden Axe - Megadrive
HALO - Xbox
PSO - Dreamcast
Mario64 - NIntendo 64
PSO1&2 - Gamecube
WoW - PC
Gameboy - Advance Wars/Harvest Moon
Note no PS2, as there was never a game specifically for it that I really wanted.
I also passed (or failed?) the nerd test, which is ‘have you owned more games machines than you have had girlfriends?’. Not sure if this test is relevant to girls!
July 21st, 2008 at 6:37 am
Vlad- Oh god. I totally pass that nerd test, by such a wide margin my mother is probably crying somewhere. I maintain that this is because I can turn a console off, whereas boyfriends (and girlfriends), not so much.
I have a 360, which I invested in for Rock Band, although I will also play FFWhateverNumberWeAreOnNow on it. The announcement that it would be coming to XBox made my heart smile. I wasn’t planning to get a PS3 for it, but if all the hints they’re making regarding the director’s cut release of Advent Children (i.e. statements like ‘We’re going to make the Mother of all announcements’) mean that they’ve remade FF7 for the PS3, I will buy one. Oh, how I will buy one. Even though they have pissed me RIGHT OFF with abandoning backwards compatibility entirely (to make more money on downloads, I’m sure).
I also have a Wii, because as previously discussed, I am a sucker for Link, and as soon as Nintendo makes a game for whatever console they’re shilling at any given time that features him, I will buy it. It is a sickness.
July 21st, 2008 at 6:55 am
I’m in the undecided boat… very tempted to buy a new console, but haven’t yet. In part, it’s the uber-ness of the new consoles that scare me. These expensive monsters have hard drives, shiny graphics, and internet connections and downloadable content……. coupled with a new frequency of bricking not quite seen before in the console world. And I think, I could have all *that*…. but wait: I already own a gaming PC.
The joy of my old PS2 is I plug a game in and it goes. I don’t have to worry about making sure I’ve got it hooked to the ‘net and whether that latest update is going to make it brick or whatever… I just go and play. That’s what I thought consoles were for. Is there a new console out there that can give me such joy of simplicity (with the complexity merely within the quality of the game offered)?
There’s an oddity also that I’ve considered that for the first time, I’ve realized if I wanted to get the most out of a new console, I’d need a new TV. Mine’s really small and analog and crappy.
Seems like many games are porting over to other platforms… even if not immediately, eventually. Exclusives still exist but they’re getting rarer.
That said, a few of the exclusives I’ve seen that really excite me are on PS3 or Wii. If… well, honestly, when–I am a game addict–I buy a new console it’ll probably be one of those two, both if I’m feeling extravagant. Most of the stuff for 360 I want is also ported to PC, and I’ve seen the effects of the 360’s 33% brick rate too often to my friends (they say the issues are fixed now, but I still see my friends’ machines going back to the shop every now and then). PS3 looks good and has a couple games I’d really like to play; also, hey, blu-ray player; will be nice when I get that new TV. I might wait until the Wii has a few more titles on its roster; I’ve read the reviews and it seems to carry only a few great titles along with a lot of games considered fairly mediocre. May take awhile for devs to get the full feel for what they can do with the Wii’s potential.
July 21st, 2008 at 6:56 am
This is why i play on a PC.
July 22nd, 2008 at 2:25 am
I got an Xbox recently to continue in place of my aging PS2, simply because it has a good variety of different games and all of my favourite series are getting their sequels released on Xbox as well. Wii’s wacky controls and game selection didn’t convince me (never really being a huge nut for Zelda or Pokemon was probably the biggest reason I didn’t get interested) and PS3 is too much for my wallet and *most* of the PS3 games that I care about are coming on other consoles as well, so Xbox it is.
Plus I like the Xbox controller the best for the type of games I play.
July 22nd, 2008 at 2:48 am
I think the PS3’s really hitting it’s stride this year with some exclusives people actually care about but the 360 and Wii seem to be a bit lacking for this holiday season (Gears of War 2 not withstanding). I hate it when people try to justify the console that they’ve bought for anything other than game exclusives, if the Xbox had a Blu-Ray drive in it I still would have bought the PS3 for Metal Gear Solid.
In all honesty though I see games going multiplatform as a definite good thing. It forced console manufacturers to bundle more and more features into their systems to convince people that playing on their console is the best way to experience. Just look at Trophies, would they have ever come about without the 360’s achievements?
Oh and Dale, I envy you. If I had the money I’d definitely be gaming on a PC right now, It’s just the money involved with investing in a PC that can play modern games is a bit of a barrier to entry for me. Someday though…someday…
July 22nd, 2008 at 4:41 pm
*^_^* right….. that comment about actually had words in it, i dunno what happened. Anywho… I prefer the 360 because of the amount of games it has available, its ascetic design, and comfortable controller. I love xboxlive — even though i have to pay for it, and i love spending money on every silly accessory they make for it.
I also own a Wii which is great for when we have people over.
I do not hate the PS3, and could afford to buy one if i wanted, but they are asking too much for it, it’s ugly, and i would have to stop making out with my 360 to play it!
July 22nd, 2008 at 6:04 pm
I think a lot of it has to do with the social interactions.
I know I’m the proud owner of a 360.
most people get this systems because that system makes what they like. maybe? I don’t know.
I do know that they need to lower some prices and allow mulit-platform interaction. like COD4, I can’t play with half my friends because they are on PC
Hi, I’m Ashley and I’m a girl gamer.
July 24th, 2008 at 7:12 pm
I chose a PS3 over a 360 for two reasons: a) because I’m not much of an online gamer and the 360 seems to cater to those who play online more than any other system, and b) because, back when I bought it, I thought most of my favorite game franchises were going to be continuing their series on the PS3 only. The Blu-Ray is a little added bonus that fits nicely with our high-def TV. Maybe someday, if I ever have the money, I’ll get a 360 too just for the heck of it, but right now I’m satisfied with my PS3 (especially since a Bioshock release date has been set for it!). I also have a Wii, which is fun. Can’t wait for Animal Crossing: City Folk!
I truly think the console wars come down to one thing: preference. People are different, and thus the way people play games is different, so there will be certain things about each console that are better for certain people. I agree with you, though; the main reason to buy one console over another is exclusives, and it seems like those are becoming less and less these days.
July 26th, 2008 at 8:24 am
Wii60 ftw
July 26th, 2008 at 8:40 am
FUCKIN GAY!! I just posted a huge paragraph and it just dissapeared!! >=(
Basically I just agreed with Alyssa and I feel the same way about my 360 that Salem (FleshAndLace) does..
I love XBL and I don’t mind having to pay for it because it’s damn well worth it.
I am a Console Whore through and through and I will eventually get a PS3 but I’m having fun with my 360 and Wii.. and oh yeah the whole money thing XP