Should I sell my A1200 and get a PS2?

[Trezzer]

I'm a big console freak.

The only console I have that I dislike is the PS2.

The game selection is crappy (quantity is great, but quality is few and far between).  The graphics are between good and bad (whereas Xbox and Gamecube would be "excellent") and many games have a framerate that's so low it's unbearable.

There are a few gems, such as Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance and Splashdown, but in general I'd say it sucks. And it's really really noisy too.  

As a matter of fact I still prefer my Dreamcast over my PS2. By far even. The game catalogue kicks the PS2 all the way to hell and back and often the games look way nicer on the Dreamcast too.

It's kind of hard to get hold of new games for the Dreamcast now though, and that's really the only reason why I wouldn't recommend it unconditionally.

Instead I'll point towards the Xbox and the Gamecube. The Gamecube has a couple of really good first-party games and a lot of support from SEGA. Obviously it gets the classic Nintendo titles, which is always good. The Xbox is where the action is at if you want awesome graphics, brilliant games (Halo, Jet Set Radio Future, Splinter Cell, Mechassault, Amped, Oddworld, DoA 3, Morrowind, Gunvalkyrie, Rallisport Challenge and besides those (and many more) there are also the titles that are coming for all three platforms. Besides Xbox does have the ultimate ace up its sleeve: Xbox Live. The headset works so well it's unreal. Can't wait for Phantasy Star Online.

Forget who made it - it's the best contemporary console out there that you can buy today. It's all about the games.

[Ni72ous]

@neofree

Been awhile since I looked, but I am pretty sure that PS2 has emulators for Amiga and Commodore 64

There is a 64 emu but no direct port of an amiga emu for the ps2 but as someone said you could run uae using the ps2 linux kit but i doubt it will work very well, from experience, mame is crap on ps2 dog slow, snes station is fairly usable and pgen is a bit glitchy, i think an amiga emu will be too slow, get an x-box if u would like to emulate anything plus the x-box has a port of uae.

[Hooligan_DCS]

As far as the PS2/Gamecube/Xbox argument goes, here's my few cents' worth: I bought a PS2 a while back. There are boatloads of games for it, but I never found any that I liked on it, so I sold it on ebay.

I've tried the Xbox. Everybody raves about it, but the graphics and animation on my Gamecube are just as good. And though there are more games for the Xbox, there weren't any (other than Halo) that appealed to me. Pretty much any game that's worth getting is coming out for the Xbox and GC now, with the PS2 slowly being phased out.

As far as technology goes, an engineer at MicroSoft has stated that they believe that the only competition the Xbox has is the GC, as the PS2 is built on dated hardware. Sony, in fact, is planning to replace their aging technology within 2 years with a PS3. They'd be doing themselves a favor to release it sooner, though.

However, if you're looking for a DVD player, the GC won't do you any good. The PS2 isn't a great DVD player, but it is functional (unlike the Xbox, where you have to buy a separate remote control).

Just my thoughts on my experiences...

Just my thoughts, had to reply as I have quite lot of experience with consoles.
First argument can be bypassed just by mentioning GT3, GTA3, GTA:VC, FF series, Devil May Cry 1&2, MGS2 and a lot of other games. I've got experience of <>200 PS2 games atm, and there are more good games than there is time for one person. If one is for good rpg/adventure games, sadly not all PS2 games are released outside Japan, which is a shame. But for anyone else there should be more than enough selection of games.

About Halo, after the huge hype and waiting, we got a mediocre 3d shooter which is smacked on the floor by pretty much all 3d shooters on PC today. Biggest dissappointments together with Stuntman and State Of Emergency for past years. Halo is NOT a good game.

"with the PS2 slowly being phased out." I can only answer to see and check out current market status. It's not phasing out. And when PS2 has lost its final appeal PS3 will appear (in 2005 presumedly). XBox2 will be against impossible mission once again, and my quess is that Gamecube is no more then.

For DVD-playing one can get a specific dvd-player, which are cheap as hell these days. Dvd-players are for wathing dvd's, consoles are for playing.

One who has been able to play the same games on for example XBox and PS2 can safely say there are no significant differences, not always even graphically. So the only powerpoint has to be the amount and quality of games, in which PS2 wipes floors with XBox for now. I expect things to change in late 2003- early 2004.

ps. Still, nothing beats a deathmach of Worms DC, NOTHING  :-)

[Waccoon]

GameCube is really struggling right now, and XBox has hardly any real market share (serves MS right).  It really buggs me that Sony took over the industry so quickly, since I had so many reliability problems with all my Playstations.

In a war between the consoles, I agree that my Dreamcast barely edges out my PS2.  In a war between an unexpanded A1200 and the PS2, I'd take the PS2.  It depends what you do with it.  I made lots of music and graphics with my Amiga, so for me, giving it up for a game machine is not an action of reason.   ;-)

Just remember that selling your 1200 alone will about cover the PS2.  Unless you rent games, getting new titles will cost you an arm and a leg.  Make the trade only if you know which titles you want to buy.  If you're not burning for a particular game (like I was with Sly Cooper), then wait.  The price on PS2 games will probably collapse soon, anyway.

[Siggy]

But on a PS2, isn't it possible to run linux, and therefore UAE (A1200 emulator) ?

I don't think it's gonna be that simple - Linux can run on a PS-2, yes. UAE runs on Linux - yes.

BUT UAE also has inline assembly IIRC - so if that's that case, (and I think it is - especially with the JIT compiler) then it may not compile on the PS2 architecture, UNLESS someone has done a UAE for PS2 port (which I'm searching for right now).

I know there is a UAE for X-Box, but as the original poster doesn't want one.

Side note: I'm not up on the current sales price of a PS2.. One thing to look at is if selling the 1200 is worthwhile - will it give you enough return enough to make a difference buying whatever console is decided upon?

Cheers
Siggy.

[Trezzer]

GT3, GTA3, GTA:VC, FF series, Devil May Cry 1&2, MGS2

GTA3 and GTA:VC are mediocre games that have a so low framerate that it makes me seasick to watch them. I personally find the FF-series to be as overrated as anything can be. The plot may be extensive, but it is also overdone. Devil May Cry is certainly good, and if you're a big stealth fan you could do worse than get MGS2, but I'm sure the Xbox version is even better.

About Halo, after the huge hype and waiting, we got a mediocre 3d shooter which is smacked on the floor by pretty much all 3d shooters on PC today. Biggest dissappointments together with Stuntman and State Of Emergency for past years. Halo is NOT a good game.

Halo is - bar none - the best FPS on the planet. It wasn't because they liked the hue of the disc that Edge elected it game of the year and gave it several other awards. It hasn't been topped yet. Heck, I don't even like FPSs all that much, but Halo had me playing it all the way through.

I must agree on the stand-alone DVD player issue though. And there are no signs of PS2 slowing down significantly. However since I nearly fall asleep when reading about upcoming games for it I'd be hard pressed to care less. Oh no, wait.. there's that Alien Breed game coming out for it right? I'll probably drag it out by then in that case.  8-)

I've got three consoles attached to my telly right now: CD32, Xbox and Dreamcast. The GameCube was out a couple of days ago when I got my Sonic Mega Collection (brilliant, just brilliant), but Xbox Live just keeps dragging me back.

[AmiNTT]

I understand the hard call - however, the 1200 is a really great machine.  

Of the game consoles, the PS2 is by far the best of the bunch.  The gamecube is for kids, and the Xbox is really just a pc crammed into a box.

I've had a PS2 for a while now, and the games are fantastic.



It is a call that you'll have to think about some.  I can't imagine a day without my trusty 3000.

[Revener]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[jeffimix]

I've always been partial to Dune myself (the first one). It IS real time, just not the same kind of real time as Dune II, it doesn't look like Starcraft or C&C.  I also like Lemmings, I think both of those games are on the Amiga, though I run them on DOS (old DOS games are often findable for Amiga)

[strobe]

[Darth_X]

strobe:


How about Need for Speed?

[jeffimix]

OHOH, I should throw in the little I know about consoles:
I own a Sega Genesis, Atari 2600, Gameboy, Gameboy Advanced, Super Nintendo, (used to own) Jaguar, and I own a  Xbox (thats 'a' but it sounds odd, like it should be an, oh yeah exbox ) The Xbox does have the highest technical capabilities, but whats that matter if all the current 3 living room consoles have graphics as good as my TV.  The Xbox already has M$ extras, try DVD software and Internet. Yes the DVD player needs osftware, I can't just set up my universal to use the Xbox, shame too.  I like the games i have on my Xbox, Oddworld was a big reason I went with what I did (M$ payed the company a lot of money I guess since they're sticking with them for Oddworlds next 3 games) . The xbox may eventually have a version of Linux for it (as soon as a bunch of people hack some code I think). Interestingly the Gameboy Advanced has outsold anyother console (though I think its because their aren't other handhelds, Palms aren't the same market: they're more fragile, not oriented towards games alone; more expensive.)  The PS2 has, of course, the library of all PS1 games, so please don't praise the PS1 then say PS2 is bad, thats silly.  The gamecube sells almost entirely little kids games, with a few exceptions, like Resident Evil. If you intend on doing odd things with it, I'd say don't buy the gamecube, its the least  customizable console.  Oh and yeah, the xbox is a computer, I've read the specs before, it even has a seperate graphics card... its very much the kind of set up found in computers.

[createcoms]

nah neofree buy a PS2 and f*ck off from here.  The existence of the consideration alone puts you in the trash bin.


HARDCORE ONLY!!!!!  :-D  :-D  :-D


-Shane

[Hooligan_DCS]

How about Need for Speed?

Interesting title that is. I have played it a lot on PS2, and then I also have it on  PC. It's one of the slowest games on earth so I was forced to play it on my friends high-spec pc.
Anyway, after a few hours of playing I realised the nfs:hp2 for PC is much WORSE than the PS2 version. The controls in PC version are even more worse than on  Porsche Unleashed, which I find has the most ridiculous controls ever.
Surely HP2 is a looker, in this case it doesnt matter.

And before some people tell me "you just can't drive", I have played countless hours of Gran Turismo, then I played GT2 through twice, and on GT3 I am in percentage of 97%.   :-D

[Kermito]

@ neofree

just go for the PS2, you won't regreat it. I still have my old miggy to keep secure my personal info (no way virus get there) I just finish Kindom Hearts (excellent game) on the PS2 and there are new realeases coming.

You can upgrade later to a linux and online gaming.

PS2 has the most diverse range of games, not just doom clones favorite style of games among pc users, like the xbox.

The GC is going down and soon it will be out of the market.
 

[Damion]

>unexpanded 64 that gives a multitasking GUI and soon
>PPP support

Whoa...that would be pretty crazy. Are you serious?