I Survived the Console Wars

One could argue that this war wages today between the current heavy hitters Sony and

Microsoft...Sorry Nintendo I don’t think you count anymore...

Anyway, the console wars (also known as the bit wars) took place in the early years of the 90s. It was fought between Nintendo’s Italian Stallion, and Sega’s spiky haired fast talking (he didn’t actually talk did he?) rebel Sonic.

Ok so they didn’t actually fight, but oh boy the company’s sure did.

 For the most part Nintendo played a clean game akin to a politician that wants to win with honour, VS Sega’s aggressive mud-slinging with the “Genesis does, what Ninten-don’t” campaign.

Now back then video games were still highly thought of as “a kid’s toys” and as such if you were lucky enough to have a console at all, it was one or the other at the discretion of your parents.

What this did was turn lunch room discussions over which system was better into all out guerrilla warfare!

I wish I was kidding, I remember getting punched over a heated argument as to why Mario would win in a fight against Sonic...An argument I later proved correct 20 years later with a battle in Super SmashBros Brawl...

Ok I’m off topic sorry!

My point was you had one or the other, and people passionately defended whichever system they had. Games very rarely went multi platform either back then, so by having one limited your ability to play games so your choice mattered a lot more. Not like today when damn near everything gets released on everything...does it sound bad that I kinda hate that? I think it just takes away the whole experience.

Speaking of mascots does anyone remember what Sony’s used to be? ;) No Google, That’s cheating!

For more information about the console wars check here.

RIP Nintendo Power

Hey Guys,

I was going to post about something else today, but then I discovered something heart breaking.

Nintendo Power has gone the way of the dinosaur and is no longer in print.

What? What’s Nintendo Power you say?

Take a seat and let me regale you in the history of the Rosetta stone for video games.

OK I’ll stop with the melodramatics.

Nintendo Power was a monthly magazine, which would contain a plethora of information about all things Nintendo. This would be upcoming games, cheats, tips and walkthroughs.
Often the magazine would have contests you could enter for free Nintendo gear. I remember once winning a MagaMan poster, which my brother later stole...

Its first issue was in July/August of 1988, and its final issue was December 2012.

I know I’m a little late reporting on this, but Nintendo and I haven’t gotten along to well since the 64 days.  What can I say, Sony dug her digital nails in me and hasn’t let go since.

This upsets me on many different levels though. It’s an end of an era for one, but it’s another shut door on fond memories. I know I’m lame, but as a kid coming home from school and seeing the latest issue sitting in my room used to be the highest point of each month.

I know you can read all this stuff online but I’m a collector I like to actually have real copies of things in my hand. I know I’m not the only one out there!

In closing I'd like to leave you with this commercial that...you know what, just watch it, it says it all.

Enjoy!

Physical VS. Digital, The Final Battle

So I touched a little on this whole digital movement in my last post.

It doesn’t just stop at manuals, oh no my friends.

In the futuristic utopia that is the future games will be available over vast wireless networks. No longer will we need to use polish quartz mediums to store data and... wait... what? It’s already going digital...DAMMIT!

Ok, so as you can tell from my last post I lean more towards physically holding something in my hands. This whole idea of paying real money for something that only exists so long as my hard drive is alive seems ridiculous to me.

Don’t get me wrong I do see some pros to it, never having to worry about a scratched disc, or misplacing it...no wait I’ve never had those problems because that’s why I own a shelf.

I think my biggest issue with the digital medium is that it costs the EXACT same amount as the physical, and I just don’t understand why. In essence you’re getting less. No great box art, no manual (grumble), not even a collectable. (Collector’s editions are my addiction...)

Though in all fairness both digital and physical copies have benefits, and an article I found here does a great job explaining them in a fair and unbiased way... Me...I can’t do that I’m afraid I’m far too passionate on this subject....and ill tempered.

 Ok fine digital isn’t all bad, rare games are usually pretty easy to find...and companies like Sony allow “classic” game downloads, which is an amazing idea.

Speaking of which it’s time to play Metal Gear Solid for PSone (Sony beat you to that name Microsoft!)