mtucker

I've had these thoughts in my mind for a bit and finally decided to start a thread about it. I'll probably rambling as I really don't know what my point is.

When I was growing up, when you thought of video games you thought Nintendo. Even when I tried to be so different from everyone else and own an SMS I had to admit that the Nintendo Entertainment System had all the good games. The NES pretty set all the expectations I would have for a home console. It had great characters and easily accessible gameplay. I pretty much see the NES and SNES-era as the golden age of videogaming.

But lately, I noticed there's a whole new generation of gamers whose expectations were shaped by the Playstation. They've always known things such as CD-based media, FMV, and controllers with 10+ buttons. They see the NES and SNES in pretty much the same light as we see past presidents such as Lincoln and Jefferson, important perhaps but relics relegated to a bygone era. I suppose I see these attitudes arise a lot of times from those who wish to see Nintendo go software-only and other discussions.

I'm not sure what my point is other than to ask, is the Playstation this generation's NES?

...and don't get me started on this whole internet business. Nowadays kids can get together with pretty much the entire world to discuss their videogame topics while when I was kid I was lucky to have 5 or so friends that were interested in those topics and all my information had to come from Nintendo Power.

darkside

I think so. I grew up on the Atari 2600 first and then the NES and the only console that compares to just how important those two were is the original Playstation. It was a major change in home gaming the same way the Atari and NES were.

The PS2 is just like the SNES, just an extension and improvement graphically of what the Playstation started.

The 3DO and Saturn tried to do what the Playstation did, but Sony was the company that started the 3D gaming revolution. The only negative in my mind was the fact they tried to completely kill off 2D which still has a place in gaming as anyone that has played a 3D Castlevania could tell you.

Maxflier

No doubt.

Josh H

Yes. No question. And like Nintendo the Playstation will remain on top until they make some incredibly stupid business decision. Like when nintendo broke of the partnership with sony and then when with carts on the N64.

Breakfast with Girls

Nintendo broke the deal with Sony after they discovered that Sony was developing the PlayStation in secret to be compatible with the CD format they and Nintendo had created.

Chris_D

I guess so, particularly for those who started out with a ps1 as their first console. For me, I was playing SMS instead of NES, Genesis instead of SNES, Lynx instead of GB. I even owned an N64 before I purchased a PS1.

According to wiki, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Console_wars, the Genesis actually outsold the SNES in the US, so I imagine there are many fans out there with fond memories of Sega (pity about the 32x, saturn etc.).

Josh H

Really? I'd never heard that before. I was under the impression they decided they just didn't want to go with CDs as they wanted to keep using their proprietary carts and charging huge licensing fees.

Anyway, just remove that part and leave their big mistake as keeping the N64 cart based with high licensing fees thus driving all decent third party developers to the PSX.

DrunkLastKnight

It was because of the deal with Phillips that Nintendo broke from Sony, it wasnt until after that deal break that PS came to light. Nintendo was wary to do addon due to the uneventful launch of Sega CD and 32x

Sony makes the same mistake by not including a HD with the system or even embracing the HD

kvrdave

I would say it is. I don't play it much anymore (actually play the NES and SNES a lot more), but it has a great lineup of games that are true classics. And they sold the hell out of them. I finally upgraded to one of the tiny ones.

Drexl

I'm not sure what the OP is asking, but if it has to do with market share, Sony's systems have been nowhere near as dominant as the NES was.

Ralph Wiggum

Just think: there's a whole generation of gamers who suck at everything other than racing, FPS and Madden. It cracks me up that the first version of Ninja Gaiden on Xbox and Contra: SS are/were considered difficult.

mtucker

Well, I don't really know what I was asking either other than to say "Kids today ".

Josh H

Well, it's this generation's NES in the since that when I was a kid everyone said "lets go play Nintendo" and now you hear the kids say "lets go play Playstation."

Actual market share isn't as dominant, but the brand name impact is nearly the same.

RyoHazuki

I don't really buy that.

Draven

Hey! I grew up playing Atari, NES and SNES. I've beaten Battletoads.

And I thought Ninja Gaiden was hard on the Xbox

PixyJunket

Is the Playstation this generation's NES? Yes and no.

Is the Playstation a household name like the NES was? Yes, hell yes it was and still is.

Will the Playstation age like the NES? Fuck no. Generally, people who grew up with the Playstation did so because of the technology while people who grew up with the NES did so because of the games. 20 years from the release of the NES, the system and games are still loved and collected and cherished. 10 years from now, the Playstation kids will be playing the Playstation 5 and probably not even remember the Playstation 1.

spainlinx0

Everyone always says how hard Contra was, but I don't remember it that way. I remember beating that game without dying once. Other games I found a lot harder, but the first Contra doesn't strike me that way. I should play it today, and see how I would do.

PixyJunket

The original Contra isn't that hard.. the problem is that people used the 30 life code as a crutch, relied on that to beat the game and based their opinions on that fact. Because there was no need to build a skill to proceed through the game with the 30 life code when they try it without it they fall apart.

orangecrush

Not dying once? I could only beat it without contiuing once. (with 30 lives of course)

DrunkLastKnight

I did that with some of the mega man games, I can almost beat Mega Man X without getting hit, Ive only done it without dying

wageslave

I think the legacy of the NES is and will continue to be hampered by the fact that the damn thing stopped working so easily (the blinking problem). When I was a kid I didn't know how to "repair" my nintendo and there was no internet to order a 72 pin connector from. The last NES game I owned was Dragon Warrior IV and I couldn't enjoy it because my NES was hosed. The first good home system Nintendo put out was the SNES. By the time they had released it I already had a Genesis and so did lots of other folks. Nintendo is my favorite company of this generation but because of their mistakes they are third place in the console wars.

cleaver

Without reading a single post yes.
Final Fantasy 7-9, Tekken 1-3, Super Puzzle Fighter, Metal Gear Solid and about a 5 year period where it was the shiznit.

Ralph Wiggum

This man speaks the truth. Contra takes skill to finish the right way, but is not in the same league, difficulty-wise, as a Metal Slug 3.

lamphorn

I still like Nintendo best for the Zelda games, but they did have an issue with the cartridge machines. I skipped the SNES, but my N64 developed that dreaded problem starting up that the NES had. There's a whole generation of us who have honed a masterful technique for blowing into the cartridge without spitting.

Chris_D

Never really 'got' the NES at the time, crappy graphics, and sound, compared to the SMS which was more popular over here. Also I think we missed out on many big NES titles that never came over. A friend of mine did get lots of cool quirky nes games direct from japan including some fun anime style shooters (didn't even know what that was at the time). I remember there was a version of TMNT, 2 player scrolling fighter, which was a blast.