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When you think of a particular console, you instantly think of some of the greater games that you'll have the oppurtunity to play on it. To many people, a console is a machine for playing games only, while consuming a large percentage of their lives during the same process. To others, it's just a bit of fun, something small to 'kill a bit of time' when you're stuck, bored, at home, with nothing else to do.
There are many people with many different views as to what a console really is. What have Nintendo, Sega, Sony and co. really been trying to create over the years; a games console, or a machine???
Here are a few definitions that I feel may help to settle this argument:
A 'Games' Console:
Simply enough, many people see that every console known is/has been created for one purpose only, and with that being for playing games. Nintendo and Sega have been doing it for the last decade or so, and some of the ealrier machines like the Atari and Commodore were also popular choice amongst games fans who wanted to play games a home.
But if these machines are designed to play games, and play games ONLY, then why do the PS2 and X-box consoles come equipped with the facillities for watching DVD movies and even listening to music CD's???
The GameCube aswell as the other 2 may also appear to have everything in the right place to go on-line, but that makes sense as it's all linked to playing games over the internet against millions of people worldwide.
So that makes sense, but how does the need for CD's and DVD's fit into the requirements of a Games Console???
So it appears that unlike the early days, not all console machines are being designed for solely for the use of games and game-playing. There now appear to be other features and uses added-on too.
An 'Entertainment' System:
Well, Nintendo's first console the NES had it in the name - Nintendo 'Entertainent' System, so you could be correct in saying that all consoles are designed to entertain and satisfy their users in several different ways. But over the last 10 years or more, we've only been able to play games on these machines, and maybe also CD's if we've been lucky. So does this mean that consoles are changing?? And that all machines of the future will include the likes of DVD Playback facillities, and even more.
But if this is true, then surely Nintendo are stuck in the past with their next-generation GameCube, with games as it's only real form of entertainment. How can this be true?? How can one of the biggest names of the last 10 years (to say the least) become lost in a Time Warp, only giving us what we could've only dreamed of a decade ago? There must be another expanation! After all, their first of 2 'Entertainment Systems' only entertained us with games, and helped Nintendo's profits and reputation to grow.
But if you're gunna say that a 'console' is now a machine for playing games mainly, with also one or two extra capabillities, then surely the PC should also be considered as a console!
But we all know how Personal Computers are different to consoles, but aswell as being top contenders for playing games, they also give us gamers a lot of other things to do with them, such as typing and databases, all a somewhat 'bigger' price.
As the PS2 and X-box are now 2 consoles that allow us to do more than just 'play games', should they be sent away into their own 'Console War' with the latest PC to see which is the best???
Ok, i'm confused, I feel I am begining to forget what a console really is now, with all these possibly definitions, and the possibillity then very few of them are actually true! I always thought a console was for games only, but that seems to have changed now.
What is a console!!???? Can anybody help me???
I know one thing though; "The times are a-changin'!"
There are many people with many different views as to what a console really is. What have Nintendo, Sega, Sony and co. really been trying to create over the years; a games console, or a machine???
Here are a few definitions that I feel may help to settle this argument:
A 'Games' Console:
Simply enough, many people see that every console known is/has been created for one purpose only, and with that being for playing games. Nintendo and Sega have been doing it for the last decade or so, and some of the ealrier machines like the Atari and Commodore were also popular choice amongst games fans who wanted to play games a home.
But if these machines are designed to play games, and play games ONLY, then why do the PS2 and X-box consoles come equipped with the facillities for watching DVD movies and even listening to music CD's???
The GameCube aswell as the other 2 may also appear to have everything in the right place to go on-line, but that makes sense as it's all linked to playing games over the internet against millions of people worldwide.
So that makes sense, but how does the need for CD's and DVD's fit into the requirements of a Games Console???
So it appears that unlike the early days, not all console machines are being designed for solely for the use of games and game-playing. There now appear to be other features and uses added-on too.
An 'Entertainment' System:
Well, Nintendo's first console the NES had it in the name - Nintendo 'Entertainent' System, so you could be correct in saying that all consoles are designed to entertain and satisfy their users in several different ways. But over the last 10 years or more, we've only been able to play games on these machines, and maybe also CD's if we've been lucky. So does this mean that consoles are changing?? And that all machines of the future will include the likes of DVD Playback facillities, and even more.
But if this is true, then surely Nintendo are stuck in the past with their next-generation GameCube, with games as it's only real form of entertainment. How can this be true?? How can one of the biggest names of the last 10 years (to say the least) become lost in a Time Warp, only giving us what we could've only dreamed of a decade ago? There must be another expanation! After all, their first of 2 'Entertainment Systems' only entertained us with games, and helped Nintendo's profits and reputation to grow.
But if you're gunna say that a 'console' is now a machine for playing games mainly, with also one or two extra capabillities, then surely the PC should also be considered as a console!
But we all know how Personal Computers are different to consoles, but aswell as being top contenders for playing games, they also give us gamers a lot of other things to do with them, such as typing and databases, all a somewhat 'bigger' price.
As the PS2 and X-box are now 2 consoles that allow us to do more than just 'play games', should they be sent away into their own 'Console War' with the latest PC to see which is the best???
Ok, i'm confused, I feel I am begining to forget what a console really is now, with all these possibly definitions, and the possibillity then very few of them are actually true! I always thought a console was for games only, but that seems to have changed now.
What is a console!!???? Can anybody help me???
I know one thing though; "The times are a-changin'!"
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I also didn't like the idea of paying another £30 for an extra 4mb that you didn't reallty need! Especially when the games it was compatible with were at least £50 at the time!!
I remember going out to spend £50 on Perfect Dark 2 summers ago, and then realising that I needed another £30 just so I could play all the modes!
And what did it really do except allow you to have slightly better graphics than before - which you probably could've gotten from a £10 Scart Lead!!
They must have run out of ideas to try and 'upgrade' the failing console, after the 64DD thing just blew-up before take-off!
But we all now know that the answer would've been to lower the price of the games and get more titles from more 3rd Party Developers then just Rare and Acclaim! And a Mario 64 sequel would've also kicked some more life into it!
Anyway, that's enough about the N64.
I remember going out to spend £50 on Perfect Dark 2 summers ago, and then realising that I needed another £30 just so I could play all the modes!
And what did it really do except allow you to have slightly better graphics than before - which you probably could've gotten from a £10 Scart Lead!!
They must have run out of ideas to try and 'upgrade' the failing console, after the 64DD thing just blew-up before take-off!
But we all now know that the answer would've been to lower the price of the games and get more titles from more 3rd Party Developers then just Rare and Acclaim! And a Mario 64 sequel would've also kicked some more life into it!
Anyway, that's enough about the N64.
So what's the difference between upgrading and expanding?
Surely when you "upgrade your PC" you are simply "expanding its capabilities".
And yes, Ninty did cheat. All console games should be able to be played on any one of the consoles it was designed for... you shouldn't need to buy an upgrade to allow it...
sonic
Surely when you "upgrade your PC" you are simply "expanding its capabilities".
And yes, Ninty did cheat. All console games should be able to be played on any one of the consoles it was designed for... you shouldn't need to buy an upgrade to allow it...
sonic
Stop being anal. What I mean is, they don't run an interactive OS like Windows/MacOS/Linux, aside from a small front end to manage some memory cards etc...
Also, you're not upgrading the N64 as such, you're just expanding it. I'm of the opinion that Nintendo is cheating with that anyway.
Also, you're not upgrading the N64 as such, you're just expanding it. I'm of the opinion that Nintendo is cheating with that anyway.
Turbo, if consoles don't need an OS, then what's your take on the Windows CE on the DC? ;)
If they can't be upgraded, the what's you take on the N64 expansion pack?
As for the original topic, I think anyone with a brain could tell you that XY and Z are consoles... but couldn't define one due to the way they've evolved. Simply put the PS2, GC and Xbox are console, and the GBA is a handheld console.
Sonic
If they can't be upgraded, the what's you take on the N64 expansion pack?
As for the original topic, I think anyone with a brain could tell you that XY and Z are consoles... but couldn't define one due to the way they've evolved. Simply put the PS2, GC and Xbox are console, and the GBA is a handheld console.
Sonic
Heh, sorry, angry because my PHP coding was dying.
Still, I don't count the PS2 as an ES, just a games console that logically plays DVDs. ESs, for me, are usually complete DVD-CD-Surround-sound-Sky-Monkey jobbies that play a few crap games. Sure, the PS2 does most of those things, but Surround Sound isn't out of the box, and it wasn't really designed for doing any of that apart from play games (good ones!)
Still, I don't count the PS2 as an ES, just a games console that logically plays DVDs. ESs, for me, are usually complete DVD-CD-Surround-sound-Sky-Monkey jobbies that play a few crap games. Sure, the PS2 does most of those things, but Surround Sound isn't out of the box, and it wasn't really designed for doing any of that apart from play games (good ones!)
Turbonutter wrote:
> There's blatently a difference between a PC and a console. For a
> start, consoles don't need operating systems, can't be upgraded and
> their primary purpose is to play games. PCs are the exact opposite of
> this.
But what I meant was that they are becoming similar now!
They are both becoming popular gaming machines, and they both also have extra and different features, aswell as being able to play games!
It's as simple as that.
> As for the old "Entertainment system/Console" argument, it
> was only invented by momo-neurone bemittened Nintys who couldn't face
> up to the fact that the PS2 really was quite a good console, so they
> decided it wasn't one. According to their absent minds, the GameCube
> wins the "console war" by default. How pathetic.
Entertainment system, doesn't mean the same as a 'games console' to me!
A 'system' could consist of several forms of 'entertainment', like how the X-box and PS2 can also play CD's and DVD movies.
See what a mean???
Are they really such 'crap points' now, you 'Nutter'! :)
> There's blatently a difference between a PC and a console. For a
> start, consoles don't need operating systems, can't be upgraded and
> their primary purpose is to play games. PCs are the exact opposite of
> this.
But what I meant was that they are becoming similar now!
They are both becoming popular gaming machines, and they both also have extra and different features, aswell as being able to play games!
It's as simple as that.
> As for the old "Entertainment system/Console" argument, it
> was only invented by momo-neurone bemittened Nintys who couldn't face
> up to the fact that the PS2 really was quite a good console, so they
> decided it wasn't one. According to their absent minds, the GameCube
> wins the "console war" by default. How pathetic.
Entertainment system, doesn't mean the same as a 'games console' to me!
A 'system' could consist of several forms of 'entertainment', like how the X-box and PS2 can also play CD's and DVD movies.
See what a mean???
Are they really such 'crap points' now, you 'Nutter'! :)
Turbonutter wrote:
> You make a crap point.
LOL!
> You make a crap point.
LOL!
You make a crap point.
There's blatently a difference between a PC and a console. For a start, consoles don't need operating systems, can't be upgraded and their primary purpose is to play games. PCs are the exact opposite of this.
As for the old "Entertainment system/Console" argument, it was only invented by momo-neurone bemittened Nintys who couldn't face up to the fact that the PS2 really was quite a good console, so they decided it wasn't one. According to their absent minds, the GameCube wins the "console war" by default. How pathetic.
There's blatently a difference between a PC and a console. For a start, consoles don't need operating systems, can't be upgraded and their primary purpose is to play games. PCs are the exact opposite of this.
As for the old "Entertainment system/Console" argument, it was only invented by momo-neurone bemittened Nintys who couldn't face up to the fact that the PS2 really was quite a good console, so they decided it wasn't one. According to their absent minds, the GameCube wins the "console war" by default. How pathetic.
Does anyone else have a definition of what a console is, and can you back it up???? Or do you have anything else to say, regarding this topic??
One good thing about the extra DVD facillities is that it'll save you a bit of space and money if you also prefer DVD's to Videos, but with all these new features coming, I have a bad feeling that some companies may neglect the fact that consoles were designed for 'games only' in the first place - and that's how they should be!
Nintendo are doing the right thing with the GameCube. But due to the extras of the PS2 and X-box, people have come to critisise Ninty even more for including nothing extra than the abillity to play good games.
That's something Sony, Microsoft and the rest have to consider for the future! And Sega also had it going the right way.
Nintendo are doing the right thing with the GameCube. But due to the extras of the PS2 and X-box, people have come to critisise Ninty even more for including nothing extra than the abillity to play good games.
That's something Sony, Microsoft and the rest have to consider for the future! And Sega also had it going the right way.
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