NBrid

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Written by: Hybrid

November will prove to be a landmark month for the gaming industry.
With the launch of both GameCube and XBox, plus some of the most long
awaited PS2 games arriving in this one month, many gamers already have
the winner of the impending war already chosen. Seriously though, the
only of the three competitors we know enough about to make a decent judgment
is PS2 and they haven’t even started their online strategy yet. So why
the countless board threads, chat arguments, and broken friendships occur
as a result of gaming preference? That answer is simple, biased videogame
devotion.



Everyone experiences a biased feeling towards one company at one time.
It usually starts when you get your first console of your own. You go
to school, bragging to the other kids that your Atari 2600 or NES is the
greatest thing since sliced bread. They may or may not agree with you.
Enter the SNES and Genesis era. This would have to be the most competitive
console “war” in the 90’s. I myself used to brag about my Genesis..until
I got a used SNES. Both systems had their stellar titles, but as different
opinions are brought up, a shot at your system is like a shot at you.
You feel compelled to defend your console even if it means to diss the
competing system without merit. Example:

Jimmy: Dude, Snes rules! It’s got awesome graphics.

Timmy: What are you talking about? Genesis has mad visuals! Plus it’s
cooler looking!

Jimmy: Sega sucks! They don’t even have Final Fantasy on it!

Timmy: Nintendo is for babies, what are you 8?

Jimmy: Yes...You suck!

Timmy: No YOU SUCK!

*fist fight ensues*

Sure that was a little dramatized but this simple argument is the predecessor
or modern Videogame Devotion.



By the time N64 came out, I seemed to be devoted to anything with the
Nintendo label on it. However the main reason I stuck with the thing was
because 1. I liked the few games I had and 2. I didn’t have a job and
not nearly enough money for another console. No matter, I was satisfied
with what I had. Satisfaction with a single console, another symptom of
videogame devotion. This isn’t a bad thing..until the next generation
of consoles. Probably the first one to suffer from consumer’s devotion
is the Dreamcast.



Many people were enjoying their PS1’s, and N64’s popularity was falling
as the small number of released games became even smaller. With the Dreamcast
about to be released, many gamers were just learning details about the
next Playstation. The Sega Saturn had been dissapointing...probably because
it failed to have a single Sonic game worthy to be called a sequel. Now
with people claiming PS2 will destroy Dreamcast and other gamers sticking
with N64, its fate seemed sealed already. However, the launch of DC was
impressive and even though some of the marketing made no sense, it helped
attract a decent user base.



One thing you can say about the Dreamcast audience is that it wasn’t as
biased as the PS1 and N64 ones. And yet, with the release of PS2, people
were yet again claiming Dreamcast was doomed to an early retirement. Sadly
they were right, and even worse, some DC owners became resentful. The
hype over PS2 was enough to steer many a gamer away from Dreamcast, even
at $99 and a great library of games. Now the remaining Sega devotees are
prepared to buy the system with the most support from the Sega teams.



There will always be biased gamers in the world. People will claim Nintendo
only makes kiddy games or that Sony doesn’t make any good games themselves.
Another reason for this would have to be in the arguments themselves.
Someone will say that PS2 doesn’t look too impressive...

SonyMan: so i guess you dont like good graphics and mature games right?
What are you a Nintendo fan?

NMan: Im just saying the games are pretty bland, and as for graphics,
they’re the worst out of the 3 new consoles.

SonyMan: what are you talkin about? Xbox looks like a cheap PC and that
toaster cube thing cant push nearly as many polygons as PS2.

NMan: those specs are made up..PS2 will never push that much

This can go on forever. Both sides may state facts, but as the argument
continues, more shots at the other system are made AGAIN without merit.
Hell, a year ago you could probably slap me in that NMan position because
I was getting tired of people that knew nothing about GameCube or “Dolphin”
saying that it would be crap and PS2 will dominate. I had nothing against
PS2 but dealing with these biased Sony fans almost made me hate the thing!
Thankfully now that NBrid has been around for a year, I am surrounded
by (mostly) intelligent gamers, some of whom you can attribute to my less
biased attitude. I know it’s difficult to “win” an argument with a moron,
but there’s a simple solution. Just don’t talk to that person. You won’t
get anything through a thick head.



If you happen to be devoted to a single system, that’s fine; just don’t
eliminate the competition. While most of the world may defend their pick
as being the dominating force in this war, try to think of what it means
to you. What’s more important? Knowing you chose the best system in the
end, or having the last place system with your favorite games?



So what’s my prediction for this November? I’m gonna have some kickass
games to keep me busy for a long time ;)