First off, you need to know that there are various types of consoles out there for you to use.

Atari
NES
SNES
Sega Genesis
32-X
Jaguar
Sega CD
Dreamcast
Playstation (PS
Playstation 2 (PS2)
X-Box
Gamecube
N-64
Gameboy
Color Gameboy
Advanced Gameboy


I know I missed some more, so please guys, post them.

Also, you need to know that each console as of late tends to have a certain style of games associated with it.

Gamecube tends to have more kid-friendly games. X-Box has the more serious games(I think), and PS2 has the inbetween.


Now then, I'd like to point out some more stuff, especially capital related.

As it stands, the N-64, predecessor to the Gamecube, has had the most expensive video games in gaming history (70 bucks for old ones!), and so the Gamecube might follow in the same fashion.

X-Box has around 40-50 dollar games, when it pertains to new ones.

PS2 has 40-50 dollar games for new ones.

PS2 has the best controller of the three, with X-Box having the second nicest.

I highly recommend that if you get any game, make sure you talk to someone who has played these games, especially if you're purchasing one for a child. Getting Silent Hill 2 for a child would NOT be a good idea, since it's filled with graphically disturbing things, mainly because it lacks anything else. Final Fantasy X will probably bore your child to death, since it tends to do that often.

In fact, for PS2, don't expect much yummy crap, except for the few and far between actually good child oriented games (hahaha).

Will add more, others can add in some stuff too

Thank you for your help, now then, for anyone who knows diddly shizney about consoles, let me point out that only X-Box, PS2, and the Gamecube are actually brand spanking new.. Dreamcast came out in... 98? 99? And has since died off because of a lack of capital from purchasers.

One more thing for the beginner gamer, before I head off away from the games board for tonight..

When someone calls themself a "hardcore" player, laugh... laugh loudly.. laugh as loudly as you can.. "hardcore" players tend to be complete morons who waste fifty thousand hours memorizing every line of text in just the instruction book to a game.

Hey! I am a hardcore player, but i don't read no fucking manuals

Anyway, going back to the subject... You missed Sega Saturn...

And now... THE BIGGEST TIP FOR BEGINNER GAMERS!!!

Skip the damn consoles! Best gaming system is PC. It has the best selection of games, unless you prefer fighting games or japanese RPGs. Otherwise, buying a console is just a waste of money...

I`m hardcore, I`m hardcore!
I do read manuals but I`m not ruled by the opinion of the games charts or review scores or think that anything not in 3D is automaticaly shit.
Here`s another tip: Skip the PC! It`ll crash on you every day and cost you a grand to get a decent set up.Then you have to worry about hardware conflicts.This is unless you want to play emulators. If you want to play western PC style games get a X Box.
Popular opinion in games magazines is that the X Box controler is the worst of the three.
Always take what games mags say with a pinch of salt, especially when it comes to games reviews.
If you clamly point out a few failings within a game or system and are met by a agressive reaction followed by a list of pointing out its qualities then you have just met a fanboy.

PC costs a lot for starting indeed, but...

1. The costs to upgrade it later will be lower then a cost to buy a completely new console every year or two. And I even don't talk about the cost of lots of additional accessories that consoles have...
2. The costs on games for PC are lower, but the games are much better. The selection is MUCH bigger, with exception of fighting and japanese RPGs - for those you need a console indeed. To counteract the last thing, PC has much better selection among normal RPGs, strategy games (especially wargames), simulators, tactical games.
3. You won't have hardware conflicts, if you PC was set-up by a specialist or if you are wise at choosing the parts yourself. At least I never had those.
4. PC games has better options at online gaming.
5. PC games often come with construction tools, that can be used to create additional levels / scenarios / models / etc. Even if you don't want to use them yourself, you will find a lot made by otheres on Internet, those game won't die as soon as you've completed the official part. PC games replayability is much higher as a result.
6. You can play your older games on new hardware. Something you can't do on consoles, especially if your previous console was from a different company.
7. The cause for more bugs in PC games is the earlier release and that they are generally more complex then console games. If you want to buy a game that functions normally, just wait a month after release and download a patch.
8. If you want a stable system, that is suitable for gaming, use Windows XP, not Windows 9x or ME. I run it for weeks without restarting.
9. PC can be used for millions of other things. You will be thankful to yourself that you added some memory to your PC instead of buying a console, when you will later have to work with some graphical software or something else...
10. You may use emulators to run console games...

I'm sure I forgot a few things...

And concerning the game magazines. Read them, but always form your own opinion. Try to find a magazine where are less emotions, more facts. Previews are usually enough for me to know if I will like the game or not, so reviews are generally unneeded.

1) Since when? 3 years to upgrade at £200 for me with both.The only additions I had to buy for my consoles were memory cards.
2)The games better? Well if you like RTS,FPS and D&D maybe.
There are PC games I have d/l`d now that dont run on this PC or any other. I think I`d need a specalist rather than just plug and play.
4)Online gaming is next to worthless without broadband and broadband costs about half a game a month here.
5)That is good..if the game interests you then extra levels would always be a help.
6)Yeah you can as long as you have the right set up and tools.Currently I cant play many old abandonware games because of my monitors odd contrast levels.
7)That isnt a good thing.If someone paid for a car, expected it to work but was told they would have to take it in for repairs they wouldnt be happy.Same should be the case with games.
8)You mean I have to pay £40-80 more for a stable OS other than the inbuilt one I trusted would work?
9)Thats true and is good but its not a boon for its gaming capablities, more for its addons.
10)That I may.:p The newbies would just have to find good ROM downloading sites.I`m still praying for the PSX emu scene to really take off.
I think you missed 11) Too
11) Hentai games!

1) I guess prizes here and there are very different then...
2) I am still holding to this. There are better games in almost any genre or at least equal to the best what consoles offer, with the exception of the ones I mentioned before. RTS never been my favourite (though there are brilliant games even here, like Starcraft, Dungeon Keeper, etc), but there's plenty of good non-realtime strategies that come to mind (Heroes of Might & Magic, X-Com, Jagged Alliance, etc. and countless wargames). There is plenty of great RPGs besides D&D (Fallout, Wizardry, Ultima, Elder Scrolls series, Arcanum, Wizards & Warriors, etc) and D&D games are great too (Planescape: Torment still holds the title of the best CRPG in existence for me). Some genres are near to non-existent on consoles like simulators, adventure, tactical games, strategy (especially wargames).
There are cases like this indeed. Often standard configuration of PCs that companies sell are very shitty for gaming. That's why you should wisely choose the components (especially video card and CPU) yourself or consult somebody who knows on the subject. The only problems I ever have are because my computer is quite old allready.
4) I think it's better to have an option then don't have it at all. $25 for cable modem/month is not cheap, but I would spend it even if I wouldn't play games at all.
6) Yes, some old games are difficult to run on new systems, but still, there are much less problems then with consoles.
7) I agree that games should be released without a need for a patch. PC games developers care less about a game having no errors, because they know they can fix it with patch later. But that also gives us more complex games and earlier game releases.
8) Yes
9) The point is that you don't have to spend extra money on another system and by spending money on a PC for games, you also improve your PC for working. If we would speak only about gaming capabilities, then we should be talking only about game selection and hardware capabilities.
11) Oh, well, you've beaten me here

Remember, guys, this isn't a PC arguement/debate thread, if you want to talk about the upsides and downsides to the PC then do it elsewhere, since you've already pointed out all that needs to be pointed out pertaining to the PC.

*That means don't move those posts from this thread you dirty moderator who sees this*

I'd like to point out something, with the sudden increase in online gaming, the consoles have taken to using adaptors and built-in modems to allow players the ability of hooking up using their console and beating on their friends. As it stands, numerous games are slotted for the PS2 that will work with the PS2 Internet Adaptor (Which also comes with Frequency, and if you send in some paper you get Twisted Metal Black: Online).

Games I recommend you play if you have a PS2?
Timesplitters 2
Dark Cloud
Hot Shots Golf 3
Project Eden (It's frustrating, but if you play with a friend it can be fun as all heck)
Need for Speed: Hot Pursuits 2
Grand Theft Auto 3 (Everyone says it's great)


Anyone else who wishes to submit a listing for other consoles may do so, or quote my listing and add in any games you think should be on there... that way we have one large consistent listing. you know.. quote it, remove the quote coding, and then put in your games where ever.

GBA-
Advance Wars, Breath of Fire 2, Super Mario World, Mario Kart Advance, Tactics Ogre, FFT (praying that those two are released here).

(Red- don't GBA games work the same everywhere?)


I think the rule you need to know is- make up your own mind rather than listen to someone else's rules.

Especially someone who recommends a golf game :p

Hey..yeah they do, no lock out codes but still high import prices if its not released here.

Guess, it's my time to recommend some games...

So, games for PC, that i like, by genres (not all genres included, only those i like most):

RPG:

Planescape: Torment
Neverwinter Nights
Fallout 1, 2
Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura
Wizardry 8 (previous parts are also great, but not a lot of people will be playing them because they are VERY old)
Baldur's Gate 1, 2
Anachronox (this one is more of adventure then RPG, but still...)

Intelligent Action:

Deus Ex
Thief: The Dark Project
Thief 2: The Metal Age
Hitman: Codename 47

Tactical Action:

Operation: Flashpoint

FPS:

Quake 1, 2, 3
Half-Life
Aliens vs. Predator 2
No One Lives Forever
Soldier of Fortune 2 (bloody thing)
Unreal
Unreal Tournament (only good for multiplayer)

Strategy:

X-Com: UFO Defense
X-Com: Terror from the Deep
X-Com: Apocalypse (those 3 are very old, but still are great!)
Jagged Alliance 2
Heroes of Might & Magic 4
Homeworld

Wargames

Steep Panthers 1, 2, 3

Tip: Don't EVER trust buying components for your consoles (controllers, memory units) that were not either approved or made by the console company itself. i ended up sending my playstation to PS repairs for a month for $70, not worth it.

Patience always pays off, if you're not patient you're screwed for cash. Seriously, it's common sense. Wait a few months to buy it, game or console, or at least rent it (or download a demo) before you go wasting your cash because you thought the commercial was cool or before the price drops 50%.