Systems Really worth having.

[MyNameIsVince]

Why all the N64 hate? The system has a fantastic library including multiple games that show up on best games ever list.

Because Saturn and PS1 (through PS2) are more "really worth having"

I'll submit to the PS1 but I think most would agree the Saturn is fairly niche and expensive to collect. I know I might sound crazy but I would choose my 64 and Cube over my PS1&2 without blinking.

That's not crazy (to me at least). I don't own a PS2 and I really have no interest in buying one for any reason other than to have an affordable version of the Mega Man X Collection to play.

[samsonlonghair]

I'm not a SONY fan at all, but I still have to admit that the PS2 is worth having. Even if you don't (think you) like PS2 games, there exists a wealth of retro compilations from Taito, Namco, SNK, Sega, Capcom, Atari, Activision, Midway, Intellivision, and Pinball. If you only bought retro compilations for your PS2, you'd still have an awesome library of games.

[Pislit]

My NES is still working, amazingly, though the cartridges aren't (cockroaches galore) so that's a must-have . But I believe that Sony consoles should be avoided because of the sheer reason that PlayStation consoles are mostly backwards compatible by virtue of re-releases (much cheaper too). But if you collect everything and don't like digital versions of the game, go ahead. But for me, Sega's and Nintendo's are must haves because they get rarer (and otherworldly expensive) by the second. There are no second chances. Virtual console can be a solution for seemingly extinct Nintendo titles, but good luck with waiting. Sony releases HD releases or ports rather quickly, so there's that.

Though I agree with you where Sega is concerned, there are many, many, Nintendo titles that see and have seen releases on the VC and been re-released for other systems, especially the very popular ones. For example, Ocarina of Time and Mario 64 have seen handheld releases recently, and the VC has the majority of quality SNES/N64 games easily available (most recently Earthbound was released), so I'm not sure what you mean. If you're talking obscure titles, then the PS1 and PS2 have hundreds and hundreds of those as well.

The problem with VC is it is different from each Nintendo console. Though you are on that re-release though, but I find Sony faster in releasing their upped first party games of the previous generation (e.g. God of War collection).

[Tweekers237]

All the systems with games lol

Really just go slow and enjoy the games, before you get to the point of having "to much to play but no motivation".

very true. My girl and I have been playing Mario World and Ocarina of Time and shes dying to get her hands on a Cube. I don't care if she gets one, but ill be sticking to N64 for a minute.

[Omerta]

If I had to start from scratch, I could probably get away with all of my console gaming desires on current gen hardware. They provide the best cross-section of video gaming to date. If you're not worried about a few select titles that haven't resurfaced since their original hardware, it's a very formidable route.

PS3 Backwards Compatible - You get a good selection of everything Sony has had to offer ever on consoles... which is HUGE. Plus PSN will give you a bunch of classics and new stuff.

Wii Soft Modded - You can get emulators (Gen, SNES, NES, etc.) and knock out several consoles at once while the Virtual Console provides a legit path to a set of classics of many stripes and a handful of excellent original games. The Gamecube backwards compatibility gives you access to just about every Zelda made, the whole GC exclusive library, and a bunch of Dreamcast stuff (Sonic Adventures, Crazy Taxi, Skies, etc.)

Xbox 360 - Again, backwards compatibility gives you almost all of the original Xbox's good games and XBLA takes a bunch of my money. It has an amazing selection that covers good ground on Saturn (NiGHTS, Guardian Heroes, Radiant Silvergun, etc.) and quite a few non-Sega classics. You even have some N64 coverage with some Rareware content like Banjo Kazooie/Tooie and Perfect Dark. Another huge plus for me is the fact that the shmups selection is phenomenal IMO.

None of this even starts to address the massive amounts of excellent software meant to take full advantage of the capabilities of these machines in one of the longest on-going generations ever.

And if you still have some holes in your collection after everything I just mentioned, a few bucks will clear up a bunch of Atari, Colecovision, SNK, and other wants by virtue of compilations. Just buying Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection alone on PS3 or 360 provides a great alternative to owning/maintaining a big portion of the Genesis library in original form.

[GirlGamer55]

If I had to start from scratch, I could probably get away with all of my console gaming desires on current gen hardware. They provide the best cross-section of video gaming to date. If you're not worried about a few select titles that haven't resurfaced since their original hardware, it's a very formidable route.

PS3 Backwards Compatible - You get a good selection of everything Sony has had to offer ever on consoles... which is HUGE. Plus PSN will give you a bunch of classics and new stuff.

Wii Soft Modded - You can get emulators (Gen, SNES, NES, etc.) and knock out several consoles at once while the Virtual Console provides a legit path to a set of classics of many stripes and a handful of excellent original games. The Gamecube backwards compatibility gives you access to just about every Zelda made, the whole GC exclusive library, and a bunch of Dreamcast stuff (Sonic Adventures, Crazy Taxi, Skies, etc.)

Xbox 360 - Again, backwards compatibility gives you almost all of the original Xbox's good games and XBLA takes a bunch of my money. It has an amazing selection that covers good ground on Saturn (NiGHTS, Guardian Heroes, Radiant Silvergun, etc.) and quite a few non-Sega classics. You even have some N64 coverage with some Rareware content like Banjo Kazooie/Tooie and Perfect Dark. Another huge plus for me is the fact that the shmups selection is phenomenal IMO.

None of this even starts to address the massive amounts of excellent software meant to take full advantage of the capabilities of these machines in one of the longest on-going generations ever.

And if you still have some holes in your collection after everything I just mentioned, a few bucks will clear up a bunch of Atari, Colecovision, SNK, and other wants by virtue of compilations. Just buying Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection alone on PS3 or 360 provides a great alternative to owning/maintaining a big portion of the Genesis library in original form.

But don't forget the issues the 360 has...and sadly I found out years later the issues the PS3 has as well. Why just this last month I had my PS3 almost die due to overheating. I was taking good care of it too but it shut down while I was playing Red Dead Redemption and started blinking a red light at me, causing me to freak out. It still works but it heats up way to quickly so I don't know what to do, other then opening it up and giving it a good cleaning (which I'm scared of doing).

Anyways these newer gen systems have more issues with them then the old systems. I really have to point out you can beat a NES to hell but try that with a Wii and see what happens. And since this guy all ready lost all his stuff he should keep that in mind. Stick with the old systems I say, easier to clean and repair and if it does break or whatever...go to your local thrift store or flea market and pick one up for 10 bucks lol.

[Omerta]

But don't forget the issues the 360 has...and sadly I found out years later the issues the PS3 has as well. Why just this last month I had my PS3 almost die due to overheating. I was taking good care of it too but it shut down while I was playing Red Dead Redemption and started blinking a red light at me, causing me to freak out. It still works but it heats up way to quickly so I don't know what to do, other then opening it up and giving it a good cleaning (which I'm scared of doing).

Anyways these newer gen systems have more issues with them then the old systems. I really have to point out you can beat a NES to hell but try that with a Wii and see what happens. And since this guy all ready lost all his stuff he should keep that in mind. Stick with the old systems I say, easier to clean and repair and if it does break or whatever...go to your local thrift store or flea market and pick one up for 10 bucks lol.

You're scared to open a PS3 to clean it but you'll do your own repairs on a NES?

I'll give you the 360 point. They've never been reliable except for maybe the slims (which I've never owned). And I've owned a fat PS3 from slightly after it's launch date and haven't had a lick of trouble with it ever, so I can't really sympathize with you there.

I'll also admit that in general the older consoles seem to hold up better in general which IMO is due to the lack of moving parts. But the NES is a horrible example of bullet-proof consoles. How many have you encountered from a Goodwill that will boot up on the first try?

Current gen consoles have been notorious for failure, but the hardware is at the end of it's commercial life cycle, so I can only hope that they have made some improvements over the last decade. I say wait until PS4 and Xbox One hit and then it's prime time for 360, PS3, and Wii procurement and entertainment.

[GirlGamer55]

But don't forget the issues the 360 has...and sadly I found out years later the issues the PS3 has as well. Why just this last month I had my PS3 almost die due to overheating. I was taking good care of it too but it shut down while I was playing Red Dead Redemption and started blinking a red light at me, causing me to freak out. It still works but it heats up way to quickly so I don't know what to do, other then opening it up and giving it a good cleaning (which I'm scared of doing).

Anyways these newer gen systems have more issues with them then the old systems. I really have to point out you can beat a NES to hell but try that with a Wii and see what happens. And since this guy all ready lost all his stuff he should keep that in mind. Stick with the old systems I say, easier to clean and repair and if it does break or whatever...go to your local thrift store or flea market and pick one up for 10 bucks lol.

You're scared to open a PS3 to clean it but you'll do your own repairs on a NES?

I'll give you the 360 point. They've never been reliable except for maybe the slims (which I've never owned). And I've owned a fat PS3 from slightly after it's launch date and haven't had a lick of trouble with it ever, so I can't really sympathize with you there.

I'll also admit that in general the older consoles seem to hold up better in general which IMO is due to the lack of moving parts. But the NES is a horrible example of bullet-proof consoles. How many have you encountered from a Goodwill that will boot up on the first try?

Current gen consoles have been notorious for failure, but the hardware is at the end of it's commercial life cycle, so I can only hope that they have made some improvements over the last decade. I say wait until PS4 and Xbox One hit and then it's prime time for 360, PS3, and Wii procurement and entertainment.

Yes because one it's more expensive to replace should I balls something up, and two I have the stuff to take apart NES's and clean/repair them, while I don't have anything to open up the PS3.

I own a Fat PS3 I think it's a "piano" one? Idk but it was one of the first backwards ones. And it's giving me issues after all this time.

Well...so far every single system (including several NES's) have all just turned on and played games fine. And I mean from NES to Gamecube. Nothing newer because I don't trust the piles of xbox's I see in Goodwill.

The NES is a great example for a "bullet proof" console. I'll find them in Goodwill outlet bins beat to hell and they will play. Or I'll find them baking in the sun at a flea market and they still play. What matters is if the pins are good, if they arn't then of course they won't play anything. I have yet to find a NES with something wrong with it that couldn't be fixed with cleaning the pins or dusting it out.

I mean I can just look at my pile of stuff I have to sell on Ebay and see my stack of NES's to know what I'm talking about.

Maybe you've had issues with them but I think they are one of the simplest consoles on the planet to fix and take care of.

[Omerta]

I'm sorry your PS3 is broken, I'm glad you can play hockey with your NES consoles to your heart's content, and I haven't had many problems with my current gen hardware. But that wasn't the point I was trying to make so I'll rephrase it.

I personally have the potential to achieve a completely satisfactory gaming experience on current generation hardware only and believe that other people may as well for reasons outlined in my first post.