Well, I don’t know about you but I wouldn’t call any system that had graphics a a small, incremental improvement over the DC “crude”. The DC itself is far from crude. As a matter of a fact I consider the DC one of the best gaming systems currently on the market. But as you even mentioned, I would be willing to bet though that games 1-2 years from now on the PS2 will take as much of a leap (if not larger) than the 1st to 3rd generation games did on the PS1. At its best, it will be a large improvement over the DC, but its simply not at its best yet in the first place.
Handy…
Maybe YOU’D like to explain it, Handy. For once in your life, provide some follow-up to your uninformed comments. Or do you actually think that 65,000 people all worked on a single program, or that the same people who work on Windows will work on the Gamecube?
Microsoft has other products, you know. Flight Simulator. Mechwarrior 3. Worms Armageddon.
Inform yourself, Handy.
Do you have any idea how much computers cost? 'Cuz I guarantee that a 733-mhz computer with 64 megs of RAM, 8 GB hard drive, broadband access, SBLive-level sound quality and a graphics processor that puts the GeForce-3 to shame will cost much more than $299.
Big deal. They’ve been saying that since the days of Atari.
Rjung…
Wow. That’s fighting Ignorance for ya. Why, pray tell, do you feel justified in making such assumptions?
Slortar…
That’s because, in commercials, they often show more from the cinematics in a game that pieces from the actual game itself (granted, this has been happening a lot less). Even when they do show in-game shots, they’re most likely from the “better-looking” parts of the game.
Also, as I’ve said before, the PS2 still hasn’t had all of its full potential utilized yet. Some of the first waves of PS2 games had been in development for five years (it’s difficult to program for, remember?), and as such, the TRUE power of the PS2 should be coming soon.
Because the name of the board is “In My Humble Opinion,” that’s why. 
Granted, it’s not very humble, but none of my opinions are.
And speaking as a professional software developer who’s been working for over 10 years writing code on several dozen platforms and operating systems, it is my opinion 
that the only people who believe Microsoft programmers develop great software are Microsoft programmers. Most everyone else realizes they are simply coasting by monopoly power.
Hmmm. I don’t use any other OS’s so I can’t compare with those but I am happy with 98 and XP.
I am very happy with their games such as FlightSim2000 and Trainsim (even though that one was farmed out).
I hear they make pretty decent office software too.
No need to get your back up…
I went with the Playstation 2 for three reasons.
#1. Nintendo burned me in the past. I bought the N64 when it was still a pretty new system. There weren’t all that many games out for it but I knew the library would grow given time. Well that didn’t happen and I ended up with a system that had very few games I actually liked.
#2. Playstation had a wide variety of games available. Sure, some of them sucked but they also had a whole bunch of good ones. I already own 4 Playstation 2 games I’ve bought since March compared to the 5 N64 games I bought since it came out.
#3. Playstation 2 was available, now. Well, for me because my wife had connections and it made a wonderful birthday present.
Marc
PS: To be fair N64 did have some excellent titles. Zelda 64, Mario 64, Golden Eye, Mario Kart, Maddel 2000, and Pokemon Snap were all good games.
I’m just going to wait and see how it all pans out after Christmas like I always do. (Santa never brings me what I want.)
I’m with M.Gibson, I got burned when I bought a N64 first, thinking there would be lots more titles. I’ve bought 3.
Then I bought a PS, I don’t know exactly how many games I have.
I’ll wait until after the Xmas rush, sort out the titles I want, and look at the prices and decide from there. I think I’ll end up getting the PS2 first, then I don’t know.
I think with the GC coming out at $199, it isn’t going to take long before we see the PS2 at $249. I don’t know about the X-box.
Or the first Crash Bandicoot game will come out for the PS2 and I’ll have to just go out and buy it.
To judge the GameCube based on what happened to the N64 is unfair. Many programmers have said that the N64 was a nightmare to program for, which is probably why there were very few “complex” games for the system (only a few mediocre RPGs and no standout strategy games). I’ve heard the GameCube is a joy to program for. Because of this, we should see more RPGs. I’m holding out for the GameCube, and only after they come out with a worthy game; something like Secret of Mana or ChronoTrigger.
The only reason that the N-64 didn’t have as many games is that it used cartridges. Developers wanted disc-based media. Nintendo has solved that this generation and will not have that problem. The Gamecube has actually been hailed as the anti-n64. It is a developer friendly system all the way through. Developers have been raving about the Cube.
It’s funny, I have an n64 and I love it. I rented a PSone a couple of times to check it out and I could not stand it. I hated wating 15 minutes to start a damn game and the jaggies were just brutal! No thanks. I’m sticking with Nintendo. The only time I got burned on systems in the past was when I went with something other than Nintendo: Sega CD, Sega 32x, Turbo Graphx 16, Game gear. I have never had a Nintendo system that I haven’t been happy with. That’s why I’m sticking with the big N.
People are comparing the hardware of the systems to see which system is better? Has anyone learned from the N64 vs. PSX comparisons that it’s the games that make the system.
I agree with Louie. N64 was more powerful than the PS1, but it only had about a dozen games that I enjoyed in it’s 3 (?) years of life. The PS1, on the other hand, stayed strong for a very long time with plenty of good games. Unless the Gamecube shows me something different than gearing the system towards a younger audience (which, from what I can tell now, it won’t. Just look at Nintendo going out of their way having different colors of the system. Who do you think will give a shit, other than kiddies?), then I’ll just rent the system or borrow it to play the next gen versions of Wave Race, Zelda, Mario, and Metroid.
XBOX = HALO
and anyone in the vacinity of E3 can vouch for me
though Metal Gear 2 will be the reason I buy a PS2
I have heard on good authority that the PS2 was actually designed from captured alien technology.
The Gamecube is actually looking like it has a decent lineup for all ages.
I don’t think it is unfair to judge any company by their past products. Nintendo dropped the ball when it came to the N64 platform. Those of us who were loyal to Nintendo waited and waited for good titles to be released. With the exception of a few they just never came. That’s why I bought a Playstation 2 instead of waiting for the Game Cube. But if it is a really good system I might just buy it and supplament my PS2.
As far as Dreamcast went I didn’t buy one because I was burned by Sega. The Sega CD was no good and I’m so happy I didn’t buy the Sega Saturn. Although I’m happy Sega is still around because they did make some pretty good games.
Marc
I’ve seen pictures of the controllers for all systems, and if they’re accurate, PS2 and GameCube will be my systems of choice. I have very small hands and the X-Box controllers look bulky and hard to hold. I’ve heard they were based on the Jaguar controllers, which reinforces my opinion. If it’s true that PS2 games will feature a lot of anime, then I’m going to be a GameCube girl. I hate anime.
Mr Cazzle has been following this subject more closely than I, and he is excited about the GameCube. We have the PS1, the N64 and the Dreamcast in the loungeroom, and of them all, the Dreamcast gets the most use. Personally, I prefer the N64, but only because it has the same sort of idea about games as the Super Nintendo. I like fun games on my game machines, strategy games on my computer. I like platform games - when are game designers going to get sick of nauseating 3D games, and give us some high quality platform games again? Yoshi’s Story was the last one I remember seeing.
I’ve read to the contrary (sorry, no link-Gamespot.com maybe?) that there was a projected release of the GC DVD player late 2002/early2003.
Anther BIG advantage to the XBOX is the built in hard drive, which neither GC or PS2 have built in. The PS2 will have one soon, but how many developers are going to develop a game for a feature that many if not most PS2 owners don’t have?
It’ll be amazing to see what developers actually do with this device, knowing full well, that every XBOX will be equiped
Though, my main reason for buying an XBOX? Unreal Championship online via my 32 inch TV and surround sound to boot. Of course UC won’t be coming out till early 2002, but I can wait. Meanwhile, there’s always Halo.
The UC guys already have said the PS2 wouldn’t be able to handle this game. (Though the PS2 does have a watered down version of UT running, it suppsedly will pale in comparison)
I too am a N64 owner that just got tired of the lack of games and the inevitable delays (lets see if GC makes their launch!)
Of course Nintendo has made some of the best games, just they don’t make very many of them. One amazing game can only hold you so long.
XBOX = best sound (Dolby 5.1?), built in hard drive, built in broadband, quality DVD player, 4 controller capability. Lots of potential.
GC= Best in-house game developers
PS2= Most games
I’m rooting for the underdog here. MS, the Underdog. Who’d ever think I’d see the day?
For me, XBox wins.
And oddly enough, I’m a hardcore Mac guy . Go figure.
Rjung…
Except that you’re comparing the programming of Windows to games. There is no comparison. An OS is far more complicated and sensitive, hence the large number of glitches in the software. A game, by contrast, has larger individual files - models, textures, sounds, etc. - and thusly are easier.
And I do not mean to slight your career as a software developer… I’m just more likely to take the word of people who have actually done work with the architecture of the system in question. And, to date, every report I’ve seen (if you know of any that say otherwise, feel free to alert me of their existence) says that the X-box is easier to program for than PS2.
MGibson…
Yet you’re forgetting the two previous systems…
The biggest flaw with the N64 was the fact that it was cartridge-based… which isn’t necessarily a bad thing (faster loading times, “tried-and-true”, that sort of thing). However, it just resulted in less “game” being able to be placed on each disk.
With the Gamecube, they’ve fixed this flaw. And you have to admit… Nintendo did a LOT with the limited game space they had (heck, Mario 64 was on about 20 megabytes of space… Zelda 64 took up about 60 or so).
Bababooey…
And you don’t see the same thing happening to PS2? Their game supply is much more limited than it was for the PS1… I think you’re going to spot a much smaller supply of games than you’re going to be hoping for. Because the PS2 is suffering from programming difficulties, you’re going to see the same thing happen to PS2 that happened to N64.
I plan on eventually getting both a Gamecube and X-Box… the former because of Metroid Prime (I loved the Metroid series), and the latter because of Silent Hill 2 (it’s being released on both X-Box and PS2).
Don’t know about that SPOOFE. Just look at the 64’s launch. The system’s actual launch was delayed several times, and when it came out it still had only 2 games available. The PS2, on the other hand, came out when expected, yet still had around 15 games out immediately or within weeks of launch. Through gamesite and magazine previews, it looks like the PS2 has a respectable number of games coming out, and I keep seeing more and more new ones that look very good. Hell, I just found about a game called ICO a few days ago, and it looks incredible.
I would be interested in cites, if you’ve got time.
As for your experience with C++, I’m sorry, but until you’ve spent 9 days chasing Microsoft tech support because the documented API calls don’t work, only to eventually be told “Oh yes, this is a known issue” after they’d previously denied any such problem, you really haven’t had experience of just how irritating MS can be. Which is something you should be thankful for…