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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'!"
Page:
I'd say that the entire point of a console is playing games. To be honest I can't think of anything more pointless than a console that plays CDs and (less so) DVDs. Why would anyone want to listen to music through tinny tv speakers? And if you've got your PS hooked up through a stereo then the likelihood is that you'll already have a CD player and that it'll be better at its job than some console add-on. It's the same with DVDs: the whole point of the format is quality, so why use a sub-standard piece of kit to watch your (expensive) movies? A PS2 or XBox might cut it as an additional DVD player, for watching in your bedroom or whatever - otherwise stick to good old VHS until you can afford a standalone DVD player.
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'!"
Page: