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Poll
Best Console
NES 7%
SNES 21%
GameCube 28%
GameBoy 1%
Virtual Boy 4%
Neo-Geo 2%
Turbo-Graphix 16 3%
Atari Jaguar 4%
Wonder Swan 3%
N64 and GoldenEye 20%

Votes: 104

 The Console Wars, the Dust Has Settled.

 Author:  Topic:  Posted:
Aug 01, 2002
 Comments:
You would have to be under a rock in the last year not to be blasted with the over-hyped accounts of the new groundbreaking videogame consoles available for purchase. The three main players, Nintendo, Microsoft, Sony, came out fighting with the Game Cube, the Xbox, and the Play Station 2 respectively. Now that the shiny veneer liberally applied by the billion-dollar hype machines has tarnished to stark reality, Adequacy is here to help you make the crucial choice you have been putting off for too long.
technology

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faustus

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We will start with the Xbox, the machine with the least change of being a long-term player. The problems that have plagued the Xbox from the beginning have ranged from, unexpected reboots due to missing fans, Microsoft's infamous "Blue Screen of Death" crashes, and poor tech support, outsourced to East-Indian companies of all places. Naturally this got the Xbox off to a poor start, leaving them behind in this billion-dollar business. The problem for Microsoft is that their hardware costs exorbitant amounts of money to produce, making it not only the most expensive console on the market by a huge $200, but also a money losing venture for Microsoft.

The 400Mhz AMD processor is vastly over priced and constantly under performs, suffering from the same infamous AMD "Division Bug" that surfaced in way back in 1995! Stupidly, the 32megs of RAM is in adequate to take advantage of the 5gig hard drive that comes with the Xbox. Just because you have massive amounts of data space for your games, it all comes down to RAM; and swapping from hard drive to RAM in this day and age, with massive amounts of lens-flare and ray casting, is impossible. Frame-rates suffer and people stop buying games; and buying games is central to Microsoft's profit margins. Since they lose money on each sale of the console, Microsoft has to sell 15 games PER UNIT, to even break even. I'm not sure who was in charge of this model, but they need to go back to the DeVry Institute to refresh their MBA's.

Next up to bat is the Sony Playstation 2, named after the decent Playstation 1 that came out in 1993 as an add-on for the Super Nintendo. The curse of the PS2 is the horrible lack of anni-aliasing support. Computer scientist, Anni Schroder in 1997, created anni-aliasing, to help smooth out the jagged edges that occurred when you typed anything in large, 72-point font. With video games in the 21st century, this is a necessary requirement if you want your gourad-shading and tri-linear bump-mapping abilities of the PS2 to look good, at least provide some support for anni-aliasing casted lines! The result is that games look like hell. Jagged lines, and sharp contrasts between different colors, makes playing Halo look like someone's AOL homepage about cats and the <blink> tag.

However not all of the PS2 is bad, the beneficial side of this story is the amazing backwards compatibility between the Sega Dreamcast and PS2. You can play all your old Sega Dreamcast games on the PS2 with no extra charge. You can even play some PS1 games with an illegal modchip installed, but that is expensive and voids your 90-day warranty. Along the spec front the PS2 is surprisingly powerful, out performing the XBOX in the MHz department by 30 Mhz, and 20 Megs of Ram. This is crucial power that will hopefully allow the amazing Sony R&D shops enough space to find a software solution to the anni-aliasing problem. As for games the PS2 is amazing, with branded mascots like Crash Bandicoot, Laura Croff, and Grand Turismo series, they have a series change of moving to the #1 position of the console business.

Coming off an amazing run with the N64 and Golden Eye, Nintendo has skipped a processor generation and gone with a 256-bit machine called the Game Cube. Nintendo loves doing this, starting with a 4-bit machine, then a 12 bit, 64bit and now the 256-bit monster that we see today. Owned by IBM, Nintendo had tons of cash on hand to produce a high quality low cost machine, which still makes them money on every console they sell.

Since, they don't need to move as much software units as the Xbox does, they can focus on quality blockbusters, rather than a plethora of B grade titles that suffer from frame rate drops, and obvious fog-in effects. The problems with the Game Cube are few and far between, but there are some cracks in this IBM-Nintendo goliath. Some critics have considered the lack of DVD support as a negative for Game Cubes success. This may be true, as the DVD has become the defacto format for the North American market. However, overseas in Europe and Asia, the DVD format has taken off very slowly, opting to remain with the apt VCR or Laserdisc formats instead. This is a smart move on Nintendo's part, why would the German's and Japanese want to pay extra for a DVD option they can't really use?

With a powerful 900Mhz and 40 Megs of RAM, the Nintendo GC can only be considered over powered. The hardware department has thrown the gauntlet down for Hal, Rareware, and Nintendo's own software house, to use all the power possible, as the sky is the limit. Lastly, Nintendo has the best branding in the business. With Mario, the Princess, Metroid, Sonic, Toe Jam and Earl, Donkey Kong, and all the racing, RPG, and fighting games that can be spawned from these characters, Nintendo is in an enviable position to dominate the business for 10 more years. People love seeing the same thing over and over, that's why they run to Adam Sandler movies and Austin Powers 3. Nintendo is just doing the same thing with videogames.

In conclusion the Nintendo Game Cube emerged as the winner. Not run by Microsoft's billion dollar advertising campaign, the GC has been maligned by journalists on Microsoft's trip machine. However, as the problems of the Xbox and PS2 continue to explode, you can't hide your flaws with smoke indefinitely, for eventually the winds of truth come rushing in to make everything crystal clear.

       
Tweet

You forgot to mention Buffy. (2.00 / 1) (#2)
by MessiahWWKD on Thu Aug 1st, 2002 at 12:59:25 PM PST
Although your article was clearly well-researched and well-written, you failed to mention the X-Box title that experts predict will give Microsoft the victory in the console wars: Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Based on the immensely popular television series, Microsoft has spent millions to ensure that the game will be "the greatest game ever to exist." Due to Sony's refusal to license products made by American companies and Nintendo's refusal to license games that have an ESRB rating above E, only Buffy the Vampire Slayer will only appear on the X Box. Once again, Microsoft will be victorious not through unethical business practices, but through the incompetence of its competitors.
Guardian angel, heavenly friend, walk with me 'til the journey's end.

 
Oh. (5.00 / 3) (#3)
by tkatchev on Thu Aug 1st, 2002 at 01:57:21 PM PST
You know, reading your opus makes my brain hurt. Could you possibly add more misspellings and grammatical deficiencies in the future?

Anyways. From someone who is involved a little bit in the console business -- the console world is sharply divided between architectures "before" the PSX and architectures "after" the PSX; in fact, the PSX is so successful and revolutionary that consoles can be divided between two unequal classes: the PSX, (with the largest marketshare, by far) and everything else. (Mostly for people with too much loose money that they don't know where to spend.)

The big question, in fact, is whether other consoles after the PSX have a chance of survival; quite possibly, we might get stuck with the PSX till the end of time. (Despite it having some serious shortcomings, most notably lack of decent support for digital movies and music.)


--
Peace and much love...




A small question... (none / 0) (#30)
by Anonymous Reader on Fri Aug 2nd, 2002 at 06:33:13 AM PST
if you don't mind me asking. How are you involved in the console biz?

Just curious.


Eh. (none / 0) (#36)
by tkatchev on Fri Aug 2nd, 2002 at 11:33:33 AM PST
Writing games and applications.


--
Peace and much love...




That will be warez then (nt) (none / 0) (#39)
by walwyn on Fri Aug 2nd, 2002 at 03:48:16 PM PST



Actually, no. (none / 0) (#48)
by tkatchev on Sat Aug 3rd, 2002 at 12:50:06 AM PST
You might be surprised, but we're doing original, licensed software.


--
Peace and much love...




Congratulations (none / 0) (#52)
by walwyn on Sat Aug 3rd, 2002 at 05:20:08 PM PST
We have a number of Russian programmers working for us both in the UK and in Russia. Very nice and helpful they are too. Only the other week I had to integrate some work and the resulting issues were solved with a couple of hours.


 
Is this some kind of joke? (5.00 / 1) (#4)
by Anonymous Reader on Thu Aug 1st, 2002 at 02:05:51 PM PST
I seriously hope the "author" of this so-called article is not receiving any money for this drivel. There are so many factual errors in this POS I can hardly belive it. I can only pray that this is supposed to be some kind of joke and if so, then it isn't nearly obvious enough.


 
uhhh (3.00 / 1) (#5)
by Anonymous Reader on Thu Aug 1st, 2002 at 02:14:15 PM PST
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE tell me you were joking when you wrote this. The amount of errors in your article is hilarious. If you aren't joking you're obviously a GameCube fanboy. It's getting KILLED by the PS2. =D Anyone who isn't blind could see that.

But it looks to me like this *was* a joke, so I'll treat it like one and laugh :o)


Give Nintendo some time! (none / 0) (#8)
by MessiahWWKD on Thu Aug 1st, 2002 at 02:35:25 PM PST
The Playstation has been out for years, while the Gamecube has only recently been released. Give it at least a couple more months, when Nintendo will release highly anticipated games such as Metroid.
Guardian angel, heavenly friend, walk with me 'til the journey's end.

 
Which is it? You be the judge! (5.00 / 1) (#6)
by Anonymous Reader on Thu Aug 1st, 2002 at 02:26:44 PM PST
I can't tell if the author of this article is a person with a bad sense of humor trying to be funny, or an idiot trying to be serious.


whatever games boxes or something (none / 0) (#21)
by Anonymous Reader on Thu Aug 1st, 2002 at 10:59:10 PM PST
The author got to be an idiot trying to be serious. Perhaps maybe though he/she is someone intelligent trying to be stupid. Either way he/she misses the mark with overkill and the article is neither humorous nor informative.


 
one important point (3.66 / 3) (#7)
by foon on Thu Aug 1st, 2002 at 02:26:55 PM PST
Overall, I'm very impressed with this highly detailed, rigorous, and objective review of the video-gaming console situation. Its about time someone left out the ignorant fanboy ranting and "stuck to the facts" in order to "say it like it is". However, you left out one important detail which I believe has a great bearing on the final conclusion.

Sony, which as we know is not American, has for some time been encouraging computer hackers to perform dangerous and potentially illegal modifications to their Play Station 2 game systems in order to run the Lunix computer operating system. And the processor in the Nintendo Gaming Cube is designed by IBM, who have spent billions promoting and distributing the same Lunix operating system in a misguided effort to challenge the quality, reliable products of Microsoft. Nintendo is also not American. So when you purchase either of these systems, you are effectively leaving yourself open to all of the known security loopholes which plague Lunix systems. The Microsoft Xbox, despite the obvious shortcomings you mentioned, does not come with any of the baggage of poorly written Open Sores software. Microsoft has always had a commitment to high-quality commercial software, and the piece of mind you get knowing that your Xbox is secure is well worth the price.


Re: (none / 0) (#11)
by The Mad Scientist on Thu Aug 1st, 2002 at 04:04:09 PM PST
...dangerous and potentially illegal modifications...

Legal or illegal, who cares? Works or doesn't work, *that* is what I call important!

So when you purchase either of these systems, you are effectively leaving yourself open to all of the known security loopholes which plague Lunix systems.

Sorry to wipe off your smile. A Linux port is under development, reportedly sponsored by $200,000 from an unknown donor.

Also, with the cost of some $200 for a quite decent computer, it can make a great cluster node. If you are into ie. quantum chemistry or computer graphics, a 16-node Beowulf made from X-boxes is exactly what you dream about.


oops (none / 0) (#20)
by detikon on Thu Aug 1st, 2002 at 10:00:51 PM PST
Legal or illegal, who cares? Works or doesn't work, *that* is what I call important!

Actually it's perfectly legal. Sony itself sells a Playstation2 Linux Kit (originally offered only in Japan Sony now makes it available to most countries). The Kit (which can be purchased with or without a PS2) includes a 15" LCD flat screen, USB keyboard and mouse, HDD and Ethernet adapter, and a linux distro which can be used for development of software (such as games to be played using the PS2).

The distro included Kit is geared toward developers rather than sysadmins. Such functions and tools are not available. Although I can't confirm it at this time I believe the ditribution is prepackaged and runs direct from the CD. You are unable to add packages to increase functionality and sysadmin tools. Remember Sony also sells VAIO computers so imagine the losts profits.

Sorry to wipe off your smile. A Linux port is under development, reportedly sponsored by $200,000 from an unknown donor.

Actually it's been paid out already. The first Linux sofgtware has appeared on the XBox. Although limited it does sow potential of porting Linux to an unmodified Xbox using none of the tools from the XBox SDK (labeled as the XDK). You can read just one of the stories about it here.

Also, with the cost of some $200 for a quite decent computer, it can make a great cluster node. If you are into ie. quantum chemistry or computer graphics, a 16-node Beowulf made from X-boxes is exactly what you dream about.

As I mentioned above and you did before a Linux port to the XBox is planned as well as a port of Apache. Originally it was planned to run using the W2K kernel (information provided by Ms sometime back) or a Linux port. Xpache has been written about for sometime. One word of advise...modify the Xbox before using it as a server. No I don't mean ripping into the cuts and soldering in chips. Unfortunately the interface for the HDD and DVD-ROM are IDE and use a single IDE channel. So modify what? Some idiot at MS decided to use an ATA-33 cable. You can get a nice "little" performance boost by switching it out for an Ultra ATA-66/100/133 IDE cable. Might I also suggest using a round dual channel IDE cable to improve airflow and reduce heat inside the machine as well?

Read more about the guts of the Xbox here, here and here.




Go away or I will replace you with a very small shell script.

 
Are you an emperor? (none / 0) (#38)
by Anonymous Reader on Fri Aug 2nd, 2002 at 02:54:37 PM PST
Your user-name on my computer monitor is listed as "Foon-On-Thu Augustus I". I hope that goddamned praetorian guard hasn't murdered Tiberius.

That aside, I appreciate your comments about the PlaStation. I have an N-64 myself, and I enjoy the many games targeted to my peter-pan-complex repressed-child-molester lifestyle. From "Mario's Birthday Party 64" to "Blinky the Dragon's Fighter Pilot Race 64", each game goes down smooth and easy as a raspberry wine cooler. Try it out! I think you'll be pleasently surprised.


 
The comments about Xbox. (1.00 / 1) (#9)
by Anonymous Reader on Thu Aug 1st, 2002 at 02:53:57 PM PST
What was said was anti-microsoft proganda crap that no life anime geeks dish out. I have a xbox and so do alot of other people I know. There is no problem with them, they are graphically better then all systems its a proven fact. Not to mention has better collection games rated. Only reason that xbox's sells are down is cause that people hate microsoft for the only cause its cool to hate microsoft. Really grow up.


Microsoft needs all the propaganda it can get. (none / 0) (#10)
by because it isnt on Thu Aug 1st, 2002 at 03:37:33 PM PST
It can start with getting in some propoganda that the X-Box isn't just a PC, because apart from Jet Set Radio Future, all the X-Box games are of the sad, nerdy sort that PC "gamers" like to play when they're not rolling 300 sided die.

The X-Box sales are down because everyone is buying PS2s and GameCubes. While Microsoft have already won over their heartlands (i.e. deeply antisocial people) with Solitaire, Flight Sim, Train Sim and Age of Empires, they have yet to win over exciting people. Perhaps they should stick to writing word processors.
adequacy.org -- because it isn't

computer nerds (none / 0) (#12)
by foon on Thu Aug 1st, 2002 at 04:29:58 PM PST
Are probably using obsolete, discontinued Sega Dreamcast systems. Not to play games, of course, but to run illegal hacker operating systems to compromise corporate networks. Some of them who actually have an income may be running similarly nefarious programs on modified Play Station 2 consoles. Microsoft, on the contrary, targets the average home user who wants a "no-nonsense" easy to use video game system, with superior hardware and the reliability and security which have made Microsoft #1 in computer software already.


Hardly. (none / 0) (#13)
by because it isnt on Thu Aug 1st, 2002 at 04:59:59 PM PST
By making a butt-ugly console that is absolutely huge yet completely useless for the purpose it is marketed as, Microsoft is clearly targetting American SUV owners.

As for the rest of your recycled Microsoft press release masquerading as comment, pshaw. I'll let you in on a little secret. The single most important attribute of a video game console is THE GAMES. Run back to your daddy Microsoft and tell him that, otherwise the X-Box will go down in history as the world's largest draft-excluder.
adequacy.org -- because it isn't

The game in my opinion are fine (none / 0) (#14)
by Anonymous Reader on Thu Aug 1st, 2002 at 07:05:58 PM PST
You forgot halo which was the first console game to use realtime Reflections. Not to mention boasts team play while most ps2 game wants people to destory each other in their multiplayer games. Also alot of other games of their DOA3, hunter: the reckoning, and not to mention xbox live with head sets. It seems ps2 and game cube wants little anime dbz freaks playing all by their lone some while xbox games want to have you and your buddies blowing away aliens, the undead, and zombies away togather ahh team work. SO uhhhhh how do my peers put it best... shut the fuck up.

P.S. I like xbox size, I think its sleek but thats MY opinion and what I think.


you're forgetting something (none / 0) (#23)
by detikon on Fri Aug 2nd, 2002 at 01:39:23 AM PST
PS2 and Gamecube both have the ability to go online or offer multiplayer through FireWire and USB networks.. The online networks aren't up and running fully yet.

Not to mention that most online multiplayer games for the XBox only work using a VPN so Internet play is out. Well unless you want to use software from a bunch of hackers running central server systems they put together themselves to make the XBox THINK it's still on a VPN rather than playing over the Internet.

Amazingly all those hackers operating systems set up for game play have gotten Microsoft's blessing to stay up and running until they finally get their shit together.

Funny how that hacker OS has aloud XBox gamers to do most of the things MS has promised but still can't fucking do.




Go away or I will replace you with a very small shell script.

 
Sleek as a brick. A really huge, ugly brick. (none / 0) (#26)
by Anonymous Reader on Fri Aug 2nd, 2002 at 03:45:18 AM PST
You forget that Halo is yet another first-person perspective shooting game. All FPS games are, by definition, spectacularly dull, and only of interest to nerds who have "ramped" their graphics cards and CPUs.

Most Playstation 2 games have a 2-player option (hence the name "Playstation 2"). This is intended for two people to play a game by actually sitting in the same room, i.e. honest human socialising. It is only the sweaty, nerdy PC owning geeks who crave faceless hivethinking, i.e. "internet team play".
adequacy.org -- because it isn't


Newsflash (none / 0) (#27)
by Anonymous Reader on Fri Aug 2nd, 2002 at 05:13:44 AM PST
All computer games are only of interest to nerds, never mind FPS games. Computer games are pure escapism, by which nerds are able to forget about their hopeless and defeated lives. They are obsessed with developing "skillz" that are of no use in the real world, and aren't even all that impressive. As a social activity, computer games are an utter joke. A bunch of fat guys in a room drinking jumbo cokes and staring at over-muscled supermen blowing each other up on a flickering TV screen isn't a social event. It's a vaguely homoerotic act of failure. Go see a movie, for God's sake, before your entire body sinks into your mammoth ass.


This is the culture gap, folks! (none / 0) (#28)
by Anonymous Reader on Fri Aug 2nd, 2002 at 05:31:59 AM PST
I have yet to see the 'bunch of fat guys in a room drinking jumbo cokes' you mention. Perhaps this is another American-only thing, which also explains the enormity of the X-Box.

I'm afraid European games arcades are chiefly patronised by hyperactive thin people. People play games as part of their lifestyle (e.g. at the weekend in the afternoon, before going out in the evening, and on evenings when they're at home) rather than have a gaming obsession like the lonely, fat Americans. Admit it - who else would make games where the only purpose is to wander about with guns and shoot each other?
adequacy.org -- because it isn't


Fine (none / 0) (#29)
by Anonymous Reader on Fri Aug 2nd, 2002 at 05:46:16 AM PST
Nerds can be puny as well as monstrous. We live and learn.


 
Wandering with guns... (none / 0) (#37)
by The Mad Scientist on Fri Aug 2nd, 2002 at 02:03:01 PM PST
...can be a nice thing to clear a developer's mind.

A walkthrough in god mode through the hell of Doom 2; jump to more or less random level through IDCLEV##, IDKFA, IDDQD, and go forward, guns ablaze. Couple minutes or tens of minutes later, quit the game, and return back to the problem I solved before, with clear mind and usually a solution or two to try out.

Same with a flight simulator, though it was a bit less trivial to get it to such arcade-like mode. A crack for unlimited cannon ammo and all the allowed primary and secondary targets clutched as close as possible, with as heavy air defense as possible, done the trick. A mission or two, then back to work.

Games can be a great productivity tool.


 
fuck it, its a stupid subject anyways (none / 0) (#35)
by Anonymous Reader on Fri Aug 2nd, 2002 at 10:01:57 AM PST
Really I like the xbox I like playing my xbox games and well nothing you can say will change that. You like playing ps2 or whatever and your ps2 games, good for you have fun. Why are people so intolerant of others? This is video games, not really important if you ask me sure their fun but come on their not that important and hold little power over anyone unless you let them. Sheesh...


You cost me time and money (none / 0) (#40)
by Anonymous Reader on Fri Aug 2nd, 2002 at 03:49:45 PM PST
The thing we object to is the incredibly wasteful duplication of effort that results from producing three console systems. Every game that comes out on PS2 represents hundreds of thousands of man-hours that should have been used writing games for me. The result: added expense, fewer releases and inferior products. Your "freedom to choose" directly interferes with my quality of life.


Really shut the fuck up n/t (none / 0) (#42)
by Anonymous Reader on Fri Aug 2nd, 2002 at 06:31:55 PM PST



 
big gaming flops (none / 0) (#24)
by detikon on Fri Aug 2nd, 2002 at 01:45:20 AM PST
Remember the MSX only to be followed up by another flop, the MSX II?

Funny that while the XBox sits on shelves MS is planning development of the XBox2. Again Microsoft is considering between AMD and Intel.

Last time Intel underbid AMD but failed to provide what they promised. They promised Pentium 3s and delivered Celerons.

So could MS be buying chips from southeast asian sweatshops? Well some AMD technology is already used in the XBox. Remember nForce (result of a partnership between nVidia and AMD)?




Go away or I will replace you with a very small shell script.

 
Thats because microsoft is EVIL (none / 0) (#68)
by Anonymous Reader on Wed Aug 7th, 2002 at 11:00:14 PM PST
Microsoft is evil, do you know there is a way to actually make an XBox display comments by bill gates. It actually sucks out your soul too (Joking). Sure it has the fastest hardware. But what good does that do when you dont have tons of good games. Thats why th XBOX wont win. In what way is the term anime geek insulting. Im an Anime Geek and im proud! Oh eah not to mention Miscrosoft is loosing money with every console they make. Whoa, when they dropped it down to $200 just to compete you just have to know how much money bill gates has.

Not only that but did i mention Intel is money hogging as well. Not to mention hacker UN-friendly. I mean AMD lets us have fun with unlocking the CPU multiplier. You Intel people have to increase the FSB to overclock.

Anyway. If you want a good console go with Nintendo or Sony. If you like Square Soft go with nintendo or sony. Since Finally Square and Nintendos arguements are over. We may see a FFXI on the Game Cube! Yipee!


Actully, the XBOX is evil. (none / 0) (#69)
by tkatchev on Fri Aug 9th, 2002 at 02:08:16 PM PST
Microsoft is dumping the console market. Personally, I believe that they should be proactively demolished for trying to trample over the fledging home console business.


--
Peace and much love...




 
My research.. (5.00 / 1) (#15)
by m on Thu Aug 1st, 2002 at 08:34:35 PM PST
I've recently bought a Nintendo GameCube after a few weeks of examining the various console offerings. The GC won out because of a number of factors:
  • It's the cheapest - in Australia the prices are A$315 for the GC (you can find them on special for under A$300 occasionally), A$390 for the XBOX and A$398 for the PS2.
  • The PS2 is eliminated because while it's an established console it is now 2 years or so old, and I don't like getting into cool technology late.
  • The XBOX is eliminated because it is the size of my VCR, has a hard drive that is likely to break down sometime and just generally reeks of evil.
So that leaves the GC, and that's why i've got one. Also most games these days are coming out for all 3 consoles, and even if it's not exactly the same you're likely to find something good in the same genre for the GC too.

So there you go, there's no reason to buy anything but the GC.
M.

It's not cheaper in the end. (none / 0) (#16)
by MessiahWWKD on Thu Aug 1st, 2002 at 09:09:29 PM PST
GC games are ten dollars more expensive though. Nintendo sure does know how to give customers the shaft.
Guardian angel, heavenly friend, walk with me 'til the journey's end.

Not in Australia.. (none / 0) (#18)
by m on Thu Aug 1st, 2002 at 09:21:53 PM PST
That's interesting, because here in Australia all new console games are (at your "average" store) A$99.95 - whether it's XBOX, PS2 or GC. You can find them for A$90 - A$98 at some other stores. Also, when I got my GC the store had a 15% off all sofrware sale, so the games were A$85 each.

A$100 is roughly US$55 at the moment. Note also that A$100 is the "standard" price for a new PC release (although you can find them cheaper online - about A$80 from most online games stores).
M.

 
I like this joke (5.00 / 1) (#17)
by detikon on Thu Aug 1st, 2002 at 09:10:47 PM PST
Unfortunately there might be some poor idiot that believes it. So I will clear up some items so they can make an informed decision when choosing a console.

XBOX (Note removed revised specs at xbox.com
  • CPU: 733MHz from Intel (Intel underbid AMD and promised Pentium 3 processor which were later revealed to be Celeron processors (L2 cache size).
  • Graphics Processor: 233 MHz custom-designed chip, developed by Microsoft and nVidia. Not the 350Mhz origianlly promised.
  • Total Memory: 64MB shared
  • Built in HDD: Yes (8GB or 10GB depending on manufacturer (Seagate or Western Digital)
  • I/O: Game controller (x4), Ethernet (10/100Mbps)

    PS2
    The Playstation 2 includes bacwards compatibility with most PS1 games and also includes various features for improving graphics (limited) and load times of these games. Currently the PS2 (unmodified.modified) cannot read the Sega Dreamcast proprietary GD-ROM (game disc read only memeory). In computer graphics, antialiasing is a software technique for diminishing jaggies - stairstep-like lines that should be smooth. Jaggies occur because the output device, the monitor or printer, doesn't have a high enough resolution to represent a smooth line. Antialiasing reduces the prominence of jaggies by surrounding the stairsteps with intermediate shades of gray (for gray-scaling devices) or color (for color devices). Although this reduces the jagged appearance of the lines, it also makes them fuzzier.

    Another method for reducing jaggies is called smoothing, in which the printer changes the size and horizontal alignment of dots to make curves smoother. Antialiasing is sometimes called oversampling. The PS2 includes a 300Mhz processor called the Emotion Engine. The PS2 also includes 38MB of RAM which includes base RAM plus 4MB of dedicated video RAM and additional RAM for PS1 games.

    Crash Bandicoot and Laura Croft are owned by third parties Universal (which purchase the rights to CB from Naughty Dog) and Eidos. Both titles are currently available or planned for all three consoles and CB appears on Nintendo's GameBoy Advance. Grand Turismo (the game) is a registered Sony trademark.

    Gamecube
    All 3 consoles are 128bit. It uses a 485MHz Power PC (same as those in Apple Macs as IBM along with Motorola manufacture the chips). Nintendo's flagship console was the 8bit NES (Famicom is Japan), 16bit SNES (Super Famicom), 64bit (orignally planned as a 32bit machine) N64. The Gamecube does feature mini-DVD (3 1/2") support however it does not offer support for 5 1/4" DVD-ROM and DVD-Video. Popularity of DVD-Video is very healthy in Asia and Europe. Most titles sold when the PS2 launched were movies rather than games.

    The Gamecube does include 40MB of RAM and a 485MHZ processor.




    Go away or I will replace you with a very small shell script.

  • Where are your sources? (none / 0) (#19)
    by MessiahWWKD on Thu Aug 1st, 2002 at 09:48:32 PM PST
    Judging from your lack of sources, it is clear that you made your entire post up.
    Guardian angel, heavenly friend, walk with me 'til the journey's end.

    the sources... (none / 0) (#22)
    by detikon on Fri Aug 2nd, 2002 at 01:28:46 AM PST
    ...are actually in the article itself. All of those hypertext links at the in the first paragragraph. Others include Sony Computer Entertainment America, Inc. (www.scea.com). there are 2 links on the far right that might interest you. Playstation Information and Playstation Features and Specs.

    Another source would be Gamcube.com (maintain by Nintendo of America, Inc. Simply click "the system" link at the top of the page and you'll see all the information you want with cute little animations.

    Then there's always Xbox.com which is maintained by Microsoft Corp. Much of the information regarding the specs has been removed. Microsoft made public anouncements about the spec changes as well as the hard drive manufacturers. Originally the CPU was to top out at 1GHz and the graphics processor was to be 500MHz, and the total memory was to be 128MB rather than 64 (just looking will reveal that). MS later changed the specs to 733MHz Intel Pentium 3 CPU and 350MHz GPU and 64MB shared memory. Examination of the actual CPU reveals that it is actually a 733 MHz BGA Mobile Celeron with a 133MHz FSB on the Xbox and 128K of L2 cache.

    If you want to take a look at the guts of the Xbox to reveal even more I suggest taking a look at another one of my posts (http://www.adequacy.org/?op=comments;sid=2002/7/25/19735/3946;cid=20#20) for links at the very end.

    One last item before I hit "submit. Do you enjoy responding to posts only to have the person write back proving that you have accomplished nothing more than making a complete ass out of yourself?




    Go away or I will replace you with a very small shell script.

    If it weren't for people like you, detikon, (2.50 / 2) (#25)
    by Anonymous Reader on Fri Aug 2nd, 2002 at 03:37:11 AM PST
    he'd get no attention at all. He'll die under his bridge shrivelled and unloved. Noone will care.


    I think you mean "no one" (none / 0) (#43)
    by zikzak on Fri Aug 2nd, 2002 at 06:58:55 PM PST
    "Noone" is a man with Hermits, and whether or not he cares isn't relevant to the topic at hand.


    Jorn cares. (none / 0) (#44)
    by because it isnt on Fri Aug 2nd, 2002 at 08:36:43 PM PST
    I checked on USENET. He cares. Whether it's relevant, I don't know.
    adequacy.org -- because it isn't

    He still cares? (none / 0) (#51)
    by RobotSlave on Sat Aug 3rd, 2002 at 03:20:49 PM PST
    That freak has no idea what he's gotten into. Wisdom, indeed.


    © 2002, RobotSlave. You may not reproduce this material, in whole or in part, without written permission of the owner.

     
    Typical Commie Laziness (none / 0) (#45)
    by MessiahWWKD on Fri Aug 2nd, 2002 at 08:52:13 PM PST
    Let's see. The only links you provided were to Sony's corporate home page, a Gamecube page and a post you posted, and I'm the ass? If you actually did your research, you would had links to the exact information you want us to believe. Of course, that means you have to actually do work and not just give us bullshit links.
    Guardian angel, heavenly friend, walk with me 'til the journey's end.

    yes you're the ass (none / 0) (#53)
    by detikon on Sat Aug 3rd, 2002 at 06:41:32 PM PST
    It's apparent that you didn't actually bother to visit any of the links. If you visit Sony's Playstation sight you'll find it's currently being redeesigned and you click the link which takes you to SCEA.COM where you can easily find the information you are looking for. If you're still having difficaulty then here you go.

    The gamecube page is the official page for news and information about the GC from Nintendo (it's owned and operated by them dipshit). Would you prefer a full spec sheet direct from Nintendo.com?

    Now for the XBox. The official Xbox site (according to a search done at Microsoft.com) is xbox.com. Unfortunately the specs sheet is rather lacking (scroll to the bottom retard). However, it does prove that the Xbox using an Intel processor (but no longer specifies it as a Pentium3) which makes the author look like an idiot. Don't worry, you're already an idiot.




    Go away or I will replace you with a very small shell script.

     
    Does anybody have non-biased sales figures here? (5.00 / 1) (#31)
    by Illiterate Bum on Fri Aug 2nd, 2002 at 07:02:57 AM PST
    Preferably with links. I'm don't keep up with this kind of stuff (I'm very happy with my NES and copies of Super Dodge Ball, Castlevania, and SMB 3). However, an astonishing number of people I know, who has either never played video games or just had a passing interest in them (the "average joe," I guess) have purchased an X-Box. I think they bought into the "more power" thing. As such, I'm a bit curious as to what the actual sales figures are.
    -----

    "...normal, balanced people do not waste time posting to weblogs." --tkatchev

    Maybe they will sell a couple of hundred units (none / 0) (#32)
    by Juan Fernandez on Fri Aug 2nd, 2002 at 09:20:03 AM PST
    For adults it is mainly true that after some time fooling around with videogames people tend to forget them and keep on doing what adults do.

    Don't be fooled by the great number of posts that this videoconsole crap is going to get, almost all of them come from script kiddies and the rest from poorly mentally developed adults who keep on playing videogames, obviously very well informed but with no money to spend on technology, just enough for magazines so at least they can talk (or post to slashdot, adequacy, etc) about this topic.

    Anyway, with those guys out there at www.retrosystem.com and the international economical crisis, it seems hard times are coming for anyone trying to sell these utterly expensive toys.


     
    I'm dissappointed (5.00 / 1) (#33)
    by Fon2d2 on Fri Aug 2nd, 2002 at 09:28:37 AM PST
    I've always enjoyed Adequacy for its unique sense of humor, the antics that take place here, for how well spoken the editors and other members of this site are, and for how well they accomplish their craft. That's why it hurts to see articles like this. This article is awful. Now that the shiny veneer liberally applied by the billion-dollar hype machines has tarnished to stark reality... Come on. It sounds like some machine wrote that using a thesaurus. It jars the mind. The spelling and grammatical mistakes just make this article all the worse. I don't have to look long to be able to tell there was barely any foresight and absolutely no proofreading put into this article. I'm surprised the editors let it slip through.


    Maybe this site has changed (none / 0) (#34)
    by Juan Fernandez on Fri Aug 2nd, 2002 at 09:43:06 AM PST
    Just consider the fact that the previous article about the Youth Day (pretty good, by the way) got just 16 comments in several days, and this one about silly videoconsoles doubled this figure in a few hours. Interesting, isn't it?


    The key difference (none / 0) (#46)
    by Anonymous Reader on Fri Aug 2nd, 2002 at 09:36:23 PM PST
    Nobody actually understood why they should care about the youth day thing, mostly because it was about Canada. Nobody wants to read about Canada, so nobody did.

    This article, on the other hand, is perfect adequacy fodder. You only need to read the title to know what your opinion will be. At that point, there's no reason to read the article, so everyone just chimes in with their comments, thus the grammatical errors aren't really an issue.

    Think of it as being a bit like the pornography industry. Every guy I've ever spoken to about pornographic movies has complained about the constant screen presence of erect penises. Indeed, if you track the amount of time each body part spends on the screen in most high-selling pornos, you'll find that the hard, throbbing male organ receives almost twice the exposure as the enormous breasts of the porno starlets. This figure holds true regardless of the ratio of male-to-female porno actors.

    This is a demonstration of what economists call "revealed preference". Most people aren't capable of being objective about their own desires. If you ask a man what car he'd most like to buy, he'll probably start talking about Pontiacs and Corvettes. In reality, he is far more likely to buy a Camry. The same forces are at work when men decry the constant penis display in pornography. While men claim to be sick of the sight of other men's penises, the truth is that they won't buy porno that doesn't contain plenty of cock. The output of the porno industry reflects this. The porno industry has no artistic delusions. Pornography is pure unapologetic capitalism. They only offer what people will buy, and the products that they produce in the largest quantities are those which people buy most readily. The logic is clear: Men who want porn like to look at penises.

    A similar rule can be applied to articles on the adequacy. While most people claim to desire more articles of both artistic and intellectual merit, in reality, they want easy to digest controversial opinions on well-understood subjects. This is what adequacy provides.


    Yes! (5.00 / 1) (#49)
    by Anonymous Reader on Sat Aug 3rd, 2002 at 03:06:09 AM PST
    Nothing is sweeter than the sight of large, punishing, purple headed love pythons choking the life out of slutty cheerleaders. They laughed at me when I was captain of the Dungeons and Dragons club. Who's laughing now, bitches? Who tamed the polygon universe, eh? Ha ha, I have NO sympathy for the cock-smoking whores. If the stupid gashes wanted to make a better life for themselves they would have paid attention in math class like I did.


     
    A Post Mortem (none / 0) (#41)
    by faustus on Fri Aug 2nd, 2002 at 05:50:35 PM PST
    While the quote above did require a refreshing comma, I cannot seem to locate these hideous gramatical errors and spelling mistakes of which you speak.

    As for the content not being up to scratch, I am truly sorry. I realize that Adequacy charges very high subscription rates, and resorts to aggressive and insidious advertizing methods, and therefore, owes the reader a level of quality that should not go surpassed anywhere on the Internet.

    I realize you will never come back to Adequacy again, so may I suggest k5, a wonderful site, whose articles are totally immune to the ills that plauged this wretched piece or garbage.


    --You seem to be suffering from a liberal-arts education.

     
    My friends and I only buy Xbox (3.00 / 2) (#47)
    by Anonymous Reader on Fri Aug 2nd, 2002 at 11:12:44 PM PST
    Microsoft is the greatest American company and in America's darkest hour I will do what I can to help my fellow citizens. My friends feel the same way.

    I notice that the author complains that illegal mod chips are expensive while completely ignoring the fact that they are illegal. It is a sad for me to see this kind of immoral, anti-American trash printed on this site.




    Yup... (none / 0) (#54)
    by Anonymous Reader on Sun Aug 4th, 2002 at 12:39:11 AM PST
    Because modifying something you legally bought to increase is capabilities is totally wrong and immoral. I guess I better not tell Ford that I put a couple Flowmasters in my Mustang.

    Dumbass.


    We live in the world... (none / 0) (#56)
    by The Mad Scientist on Sun Aug 4th, 2002 at 04:05:32 AM PST
    ...dominated by corporations.

    The corporations buy the laws, the corporations buy the public opinion (up to the degree the masses can be brainwashed by high-profile ad/PR campaigns), the corporations decide what is defined as "right" and "wrong", "moral" and "immoral".

    By definition, everything that can cut into the corporate profits, that can weaken their grip over the end user, is illegal and immoral.

    It is only on us if we will be the docile law-and-order respecting obedient sheep, or if we will seize what we have right to, take our compilers and soldering irons, and spit into the corporate eye.


     
    Dear "riceboy" (none / 0) (#58)
    by Martino Cortez PhD on Sun Aug 4th, 2002 at 12:24:15 PM PST
    Flowmasters are a joke sir - this is a well known fact in the racing community. As a part time stock car racer, I can attest to the fact that your "riceboy" modifications will not help your horsepower, low or high end torque, or anything other then making your car look like a cheap riced out poor persons car. The mere fact that you think your American made junker can out race my Porse 911 is the funniest thing I have read on adequacy in months.

    What else are you going to do with your horrible ford? Are you going to get a "powered by honda" sticker - I hear those increase bottom end acelleration. Merely by adding a V-Tec sticker, you can gain much respect with your "rice boy" community. How about a "ground effects kit" which makes your low class auto-mobile look like something out of a matchbox car set? I hear that will give an additional 50 horsepower (at least). Are you going to install a 5x4x3 foot wing on the back of your car?

    Sir, please dont brag about your riced out auto-mobile. The serious racers who read this site are all laughing at you and your "flowmaster" muffler.


    --
    Dr Martino Cortez, PhD
    CEO - Martin-Cortez Financial Corporation
    Copyright © 2002, Martino Cortez.

    Sure... (none / 0) (#59)
    by Anonymous Reader on Mon Aug 5th, 2002 at 12:41:47 PM PST
    Flowmasters make a great sound. That's why they're there. But how could replacing a component underneath a car affect the "look" of it? Flowmaster is also the official muffler provider for Indy Lights, The Pro-Truck Series, Namars and is used in the Nascar Busche Series. Please show me where on my post I said my mustang could outrace a "Porse" 911. You must have some super mind-reading powers.


    Anonymous Reader (none / 0) (#60)
    by Martino Cortez PhD on Mon Aug 5th, 2002 at 06:45:53 PM PST
    I assume you are refering to those "flowmasters" that make your automobile sound like my gardeners lawn mower? Is this the flowmaster you are refering to? Sir, this is the muffler of the low class rice boy.

    Please, take your cheap, underwhelming body modifications elseware.


    --
    Dr Martino Cortez, PhD
    CEO - Martin-Cortez Financial Corporation
    Copyright © 2002, Martino Cortez.

    Ummm (none / 0) (#61)
    by Anonymous Reader on Tue Aug 6th, 2002 at 12:13:32 AM PST
    How is a muffler replacement a "body" modification?


    Sir, (none / 0) (#62)
    by Martino Cortez PhD on Tue Aug 6th, 2002 at 09:47:23 AM PST
    True 4x4'ers care about the looks both outside and under their vehicles. As a result, they spend great amounts of money to upgrade the aperance of such things as the muffler, the driveline, and the differential.

    You on the other hand insist on getting low cost modifications that do nothing but destroy the low end torque of your auto-mobile (flowmasters were originally designed for desiel engines, which yours is decidedly not). Do to the lack of "back pressure" (a term you ricers have never heard) - you will actually lower your horsepower, and decrease torque. In addition, you get the luxury of sounding like a bumble bee.

    Good day sir,


    --
    Dr Martino Cortez, PhD
    CEO - Martin-Cortez Financial Corporation
    Copyright © 2002, Martino Cortez.

    Sir, (none / 0) (#63)
    by Anonymous Reader on Tue Aug 6th, 2002 at 02:11:56 PM PST
    I don't drive a truck. So tell me again how replacing the mufflers will affect the look of my car.


    Read the fucking post you moron (none / 0) (#64)
    by Anonymous Reader on Tue Aug 6th, 2002 at 03:12:07 PM PST
    The good doctor has already told you how adding a muffler affects the look.


     
    Sir, (none / 0) (#65)
    by Martino Cortez PhD on Tue Aug 6th, 2002 at 03:14:44 PM PST
    As a "riceboy", you care about the looks of your car far more then the average 4x4 driver. Flowmasters are designed to "improve" the look under the vehicle. What most ricers dont realize is their flowmaster will decrease low end torque, and make the vehicle less fuel efficient.


    --
    Dr Martino Cortez, PhD
    CEO - Martin-Cortez Financial Corporation
    Copyright © 2002, Martino Cortez.

    Sir, (none / 0) (#66)
    by Anonymous Reader on Wed Aug 7th, 2002 at 05:33:50 PM PST
    Here you say that 4x4'ers care enough about the appearance of their trucks to spend great amounts of money on cosmetic upgrades.

    Now you say that they don't? Make up your mind. Of course, you did say true and average. I guess that makes all the difference in your world, but you can't even get the name of your company right.

    I guess it's okay that a 4x4'er will spend $500 on a purely cosmetical, chrome differential cover, he's still a 'true' 4x4'er. Whereas if I spend $350 on a pair of mufflers that, for all the test results I've seen, increase performance, and will never be visible, I'm still a ricer.

    Funny, I thought Flowmasters, as well as all other mufflers, were designed to channel the exhaust gases from catalytic convertors to the tailpipes, while reducing the noise of the exhaust.

    Course, I can't remember the last time I yelled "Dude let's go find us a hydraulic lift so you can check out my phat mufflers."


    Sir, you do not understand automobiles (none / 0) (#67)
    by Martino Cortez PhD on Wed Aug 7th, 2002 at 08:55:04 PM PST
    As a grad student, I managed to take several automobile courses. There I was taught by some of the best professors in the automobile industry. These were the people designing the most advanced cars on the market such as the Pontiac Aztek or the Camaro.

    I took two whole quarters on exhuast technology. It is well known amongst the academic circle that these high flow exaust systems you metion actually reduce both low and high end torque by increasing back pressure. Because you probably failed physics you do not know that by having a higher velocity, there is less pressure. "High Flow" exhaust systems move more air, therefore decreasing the velocity that the air flows at. As a result, the pressure increases (low velocity, high pressure). Hence more backpressure, more work for the engine, and less horsepower.

    You sir are a rice boy. You care more about your apperance by purchasing Flowmaster Mufflers then about truely increasing horsepower by replacing exhaust headers with manifolds (that increase air velocity, and thus decrease pressure) or raising the octane in your fuel and retarding your timing - higher octane produces lower pressue, and a higher velocity (hence more power) so you need to adjust the spark to it happens closer to top dead center.

    Your lack of knowledge in automotive technology shows. You care more about the looks of your car then actually doing productive performance modifications. You are a rice boy.


    --
    Dr Martino Cortez, PhD
    CEO - Martin-Cortez Financial Corporation
    Copyright © 2002, Martino Cortez.

     
    That's The Adequacy I miss... (none / 0) (#55)
    by Anonymous Reader on Sun Aug 4th, 2002 at 12:40:32 AM PST
    Blatant lies, ignorance, bad spelling... all brings a tear to my eye.


     
    Best (none / 0) (#57)
    by Anonymous Reader on Sun Aug 4th, 2002 at 12:05:22 PM PST
    This is the best article I have ever read in this website.....unfortunely I own a PS2 and I lack money to buy a CG

    *Goes to cry because lack of money*

    Indy v_v;;



     
    You missed out a console... (none / 0) (#71)
    by fzr on Thu Aug 15th, 2002 at 08:46:38 AM PST
    who could forget Indrema? I still can't believe they couldn't get funding - it seemed like such a great idea!


     

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