Rate the passing gen's systems (1999-2006)

Best System: PS2

why:

The import scene is unrivaled. A shame that SCEA sucked so bad. There were some great shmups that'll never see the light of day here and I also enjoyed SNKP's newest games (not SNK quality, but still pleasant). Besides that, some of the best 3D games were also on this system, not to mention the PS2 also had the biggest variety of games on the console. Nearly every genre was covered.

Biggest Surprise: Xbox

why:

It really helped Microsoft solidify itself in the biz. The Xbox might not have been the best system of last generation, but it set them up for the 360 which I think is shaping up to be a good system this generation.

Worst: GameCube

why:

It had some AAA titles, but really nothing in between. It's just too uneven. I guess I just expected more from Nintendo. I enjoyed the system more than the Xbox, but after the franchise games, Silicon Knght's Eternal Darkness, and RE4, there wasn't much else to hold my interest.

Biggest Letdown: Sega leaving the console business

If it weren't for the last couple of years, I would have crowned the Dreamcast as the best system. I don't mind that Sega went 3rd party, but they haven't even given us 1/8 of what they used to deliver back in the day. It's a shame the Playstation kiddies decided their fate, because the Naomi arcade hardware (which a lot of DC games were based off) might have been the last stand of the Arcade era.

Best: PS2, because it had by far the most games. Import, domestic, all genres.

2. Dreamcast
3. Xbox
4. Gamecube

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Originally Posted by jro

Best: PS2, because it had by far the most games. Import, domestic, all genres.

2. Dreamcast
3. Xbox
4. Gamecube

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If I put them in numerical order it'd be like that

well

more like:

1. PS2
2. DC
3. GC and Xbox tied

RE4 and Eternal Darkness are hella good

1. Dreamcast
2. PS2
3. Gamecube
4. Xbox

I actually enjoyed them all though. This generation was really one of the highest points in video game history and I don't think it will be repeated.

Dreamcast is on top simply because I have owned/played the most games for it so I'm somewhat biased. At one point I owned about 110 dreamcast titles. (around 40 now)

PS2 is next because although I loved the variety, I just never found a game on it other than Gran Turismo 4 that could keep my attention for hours at a time.

Gamecube was third because of 1st party support. What can I say, I'm still a sucker for nintendo's constant sequels.

Xbox was last simply because I only liked 5-6 games enough to play them regularly. Xbox live was revolutionary though.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by roker

If I put them in numerical order it'd be like that

well

more like:

1. PS2
2. DC
3. GC and Xbox tied

RE4 and Eternal Darkness are hella good

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Yeah, that's debatable on those two spots. Just comes down to the XB having far, far more games, even though not too many were overly memorable.

winner - PS2 - just because of the sheer amount, quality and variety of titles. Mind you there was a lot of crap.

biggest surprise - Dreamcast - I have never been so impressed with a next generation machine until then and even since then. The xbox 360 and PS3 had no where near the "WOW" factor the DC had.

worst - xbox/gamecube - both systems had some games you could pick up and play but I'd be hard pressed to choose more than a handful of titles on either system that I would say were amazing.

I agree with everything, except this -

Quote:

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Originally Posted by roker

... because the Naomi arcade hardware (which a lot of DC games were based off) might have been the last stand of the Arcade era.

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The Naomi hardware is what started to kill the arcade era. Why? Naomi started the whole arcade-hardware-based-off-consumer-hardware-but-only-with-more-RAM trend. Before that, we had Model2, Model3, and many other arcade boards that were amazingly more powerful than the home systems -- we couldn't even get proper MVS/CPS2 ports on the previous console generation.

This is what made the arcades interesting -- they offered an un-paralleled experience in terms of hardware performance.

Nowadays, performance between arcade hardware and consoles is practically the same, and the only thing arcades have left is to offer something unique in terms of gameplay and input, or extremely competitive games.

1) PS2
2) Dreamcast
3) Gamecube
4) Xbox

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Originally Posted by Mushiki

I agree with everything, except this -



The Naomi hardware is what started to kill the arcade era. Why? Naomi started the whole arcade-hardware-based-off-consumer-hardware-but-only-with-more-RAM trend. Before that, we had Model2, Model3, and many other arcade boards that were amazingly more powerful than the home systems -- we couldn't even get proper MVS/CPS2 ports on the previous console generation.

This is what made the arcades interesting -- they offered an un-paralleled experience in terms of hardware performance.

Nowadays, performance between arcade hardware and consoles is practically the same, and the only thing arcades have left is to offer something unique in terms of gameplay and input, or extremely competitive games.

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You speak the truth. When I was little, I always loved going to the arcades because they could do so much more than my *lousy* snes or playstation.

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Originally Posted by Mushiki

I agree with everything, except this -



The Naomi hardware is what started to kill the arcade era. Why? Naomi started the whole arcade-hardware-based-off-consumer-hardware-but-only-with-more-RAM trend. Before that, we had Model2, Model3, and many other arcade boards that were amazingly more powerful than the home systems -- we couldn't even get proper MVS/CPS2 ports on the previous console generation.

This is what made the arcades interesting -- they offered an un-paralleled experience in terms of hardware performance.

Nowadays, performance between arcade hardware and consoles is practically the same, and the only thing arcades have left is to offer something unique in terms of gameplay and input, or extremely competitive games.

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Developers had to figure a way to hedge rising development costs somehow and easy arcade to home ports is one way of doing so, rather than allocating additional funds and resources to "emulate" the game on the newest console.

I know what you mean, but with the arcade market shrinking, this became a necessity.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mushiki

The Naomi hardware is what started to kill the arcade era. Why? Naomi started the whole arcade-hardware-based-off-consumer-hardware-but-only-with-more-RAM trend. Before that, we had Model2, Model3, and many other arcade boards that were amazingly more powerful than the home systems -- we couldn't even get proper MVS/CPS2 ports on the previous console generation.

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Arcades were well on their way out before Naomi arrived.
If the money was still to be made, then killer arcade hardware would have continued to be developed...but it wasn't, so the hardware had to eat it. Sega's demise is a prime example of it, but most people forget SFII temporarily pulled arcades out of their death spiral that was gonna come regardless of the existence of Naomi/DC seven years later. The writing was on the wall.

Best: Gamecube

The only games I'd play on the other systems were pretty Ports and Compilations.

This isn't really an opinion based on games, rather legacy of the companies in the market:

Winner
XBox: Microsoft threw money away, taking losses on initial units, to get a beachhead in the video game world. It worked and it got a respectable 2nd.

Loser
Gamecube: Nintendo was already a little mussed up by the N64's average effort against the PS. This time the GC did the whole "cute system" thing roughly one generation too early. I remember the e3 stuff that was clearly aiming to make the GC the VW Bug/iMac of the video game world. Non-gamers just weren't quite ready for the games, despite enjoying games like Super Monkey Ball, and it couldn't really compete with the others for the hardcore market. Now... The DS added gimmicks to the cutesy and finally started hitting the outside-gamer demographic. The Wii seems to be take that momentum to the bank right now.

Push
PS2: Sony already had their amazing hit with the PS. The PS2 just competently kept the momentum going and gained additional ground.

Honorable Mention:
DC: So much right, so much wrong. Sega was already in a lot of trouble because of the Saturn, so they bet the farm and lost with the DC.

personally, the PC will always be #1 for me. although since you did say "systems"...

1. PS2
2. Dreamcast
3. XBox
4. GameCube

i've mainly used consoles for fighting/shooters(not FPS though, can't stand an FPS with a gamepad.. blah!) and since i'm a really big fan of the Tekken series i used the PS2 the most, followed by kick arse shooters & such on the DC like Ikaruga, Cannon Spike, etc.... 3rd came Xbox because of DOA.. and GameCube, well.. i no longer care for Mario & Zelda stuff so i really only had it for RE4.

Best : tie between XBox and Gamecube.

GC had several to die for exclusives.

XBOX had the online going, yet few exclusives.

I still don't care for the PS2. None of it's exclusives appeal to me.

After initial seething harted pointed in its direction, now I thinnk the Xbox is one of the most solid systems they made........the graphics still look superb, to me at least.

DC>XB>GC>PS2

but they've all got bucketfuls of decent games so BLEH.

You know, the one problem I see with people putting the DC first is the fact that the DC never had a true must have title. It's not to say the games were bad, but it was missing that Final Fantasy/Gears of War/Zelda system seller.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by roker

I know what you mean, but with the arcade market shrinking, this became a necessity.

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Exactly.

This is sad, since Sega gave us some great arcade games like Virtua Fighter 2, Lost World, Scud Race, and the best arcade game ever conceived... Daytona USA :buttrock:

GOLD - PlayStation 2

• Huge library of games, many good (some not), hardware not that great. Online component somewhat lacking.

SILVER - Dreamcast

• A personal favorite with some great games, but it had such a short (real) lifespan. Awesome online experience for its time.

BRONZE - GameCube

• Not that many games, but enough good first-party and exclusive titles to make up for it. Could have benefited greatly from more online support.

ALUMINIUM - Xbox (not counting mod-chip possibilities)

• Powerful hardware for the time, but it didn't have too many of the sort of games I like. Xbox Live set the standard for online console gaming.

Am I the only one that feels that dreamcast wasn't really from "last gen"? It seems like a bastard child that was released during a transitional phase.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SamuraiShodownSensei

Am I the only one that feels that dreamcast wasn't really from "last gen"? It seems like a bastard child that was released during a transitional phase.

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Sega's always been half a generation ahead.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Neon_Sonic

GOLD - PlayStation 2

• Huge library of games, many good (some not), hardware not that great. Online component somewhat lacking.

SILVER - Dreamcast

• A personal favorite with some great games, but it had such a short (real) lifespan. Awesome online experience for its time.

BRONZE - GameCube

• Not that many games, but enough good first-party and exclusive titles to make up for it. Could have benefited greatly from more online support.

ALUMINIUM - Xbox (not counting mod-chip possibilities)

• Powerful hardware for the time, but it didn't have too many of the sort of games I like. Xbox Live set the standard for online console gaming.

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QFT

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Originally Posted by SpamYouToDeath

Sega's always been half a generation ahead.

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or behind.

PS2 wins, the amount of quality games that range from all genres is staggering. Definitely up there with the Genesis and SNES as one of the best consoles of all time. Also, if you hate Sony, that's cool with me. But if you hate the PS2 because it's a Sony product, you're a fucking idiot.

GameCube was an all-around horrible system where nearly every worthwhile game was either first-party or had the word Resident in the title. The only Nintendo system so far to not get a proper Mario -- and if you people get pissy over that, change the word 'proper' to 'good'. N64>Cube

I got the Xbox for Christmas in 2002, told my parents to take it back and just give me the money. I don't regret it, and I don't give two shits about online games. If it makes any of you feel better, I don't remember getting the money back.

I didn't like the GBA until a certain Circuit City $5 sale opened up my eyes to a world of amazing games -- Mega Man & Bass is near the top. Also, Astro Boy: Omega Factor is one of the greatest games of all time.

The DS has lived for only two years, it wouldn't be fair for me to judge it yet. But so far? Not impressed.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mushiki

the best arcade game ever conceived... Daytona USA :buttrock:

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that's really hot

I'm considering going gay for you now

1. Dreamcast - I just loved the Dreamcast. It burned very brightly for far too short a time, and continued to throw out a surprise game here and there for years after.
2. XBox - I love racing games, and the XBox had the best of them. It also had the best FPS titles, which I also enjoy (though I suck), MechAssault kicked ass, as did Crimson Skies. Not to mention XBox Live redefined how console games are played.
3. PS2 - For RR5, GT3, GT4
4. GC - Barely worth mentioning. Nintendo lost me when they went 3D, and I sold my GC shortly after launch. There haven't been any games on it that made me want one again (no, I don't enjoy the RE series).

1. PS2 - So many quality arcade ports, retro collections, retro remakes, BEST versions of Winning Eleven, almost every genre you can think of including games like BUZZ, Singstar & Guitar Hero. Sure the hardware was lacking, but the 3rd party support, especially in Japan gave us shedloads of quality software.

2. DC + GC - Never really a fan of either. Had both, sold both almost immediately.

4. XBOX - Last place simply because I hate this fucking system.

PS2
1. MGS2
2. MGS3
3. FFX
4. Silent Hill 2
5. Guitar Hero

GC
1. Resident Evil 4
2. Metroid Prime
3. Eternal Darkness
4. Wind Waker
5. MGS: Twin Snakes

Xbox
1. Star Wars: KOTOR
2. Halo
3. Street Fighter AC (I count this for online play)
4. Halo 2 (online was great, single player not so much)
5. Ninja Gaiden Black maybe?

There were some great games this gen, but I didn't play very many of them. I was struggling to think of five games on each system I really played.

Also, Twilight Princess isn't on the GC list because I haven't finished it yet.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by genjiglove

PS2
1. MGS2
2. MGS3
3. FFX
4. Silent Hill 2
5. Guitar Hero

GC
1. Resident Evil 4
2. Metroid Prime
3. Eternal Darkness
4. Wind Waker
5. MGS: Twin Snakes

Xbox
1. Star Wars: KOTOR
2. Halo
3. Street Fighter AC (I count this for online play)
4. Halo 2 (online was great, single player not so much)
5. Ninja Gaiden Black maybe?

There were some great games this gen, but I didn't play very many of them. I was struggling to think of five games on each system I really played.

Also, Twilight Princess isn't on the GC list because I haven't finished it yet.

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wrong thread, dipshit

I agree with whoever said they feel like Dreamcast came out in a transitional time... But if we're counting it in the last gen, I'd say it was probably my favorite. Otherwise:

1. Gamecube - Home to most of my favorite last gen titles. Wind Waker, Metroid Prime, Twin Snakes... :drool: Few titles, but the ones that they did have... Right in the grill.

2. PS2 - Had a lot of fun with this... But, I don't know what it is, I just can't hold on to one. MGS2, Gradius V and possibly the biggest hyped up let down for me, Shinobi. It got pushed back one day, as I recall and I was livid! :lolz:

3. Xbox - Pretty laughable to me. I always thought this console was a spectacle. I had two of 'em though, for whatever reason. I think this had probably the highest concentration of crappy games... Gun Valkyrie was kind of a cool game... Ninja Gaiden proved to be the ninja game I was hoping for with Shinobi, and the reason why I bought my 2nd one.

It was a good time to play video games, I think. Lots of new ideas were brought out.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by roker

wrong thread, dipshit

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Yikes, my bad.

PS2 wins for me simply because of MGS and Timesplitters. DC comes in second for all the great and innovative games on it, with the XBox and Gamecube following in a tie for third. The XBox was great for softmodding and Linux, and the Gamecube was awesome for parties.

#1) XBox

I played this more than the rest last gen. SFAC & Halo 1 and 2 really made up the bulk of my console gaming time. Live is friggin amazing and it made the system for me.

#2) PS2

I put a lot of time into this too, mainly for the RPG's as most of the Fighters Migrated over to XBox.

#3) GC

I played Mario Sunshine, Zelda, Paper Mario, Mario Tennis/Golf/Kart, and um yeah. Hated Prime, Eternal Darkness, and RE4.

Know why I like the GC some still? I'm getting Zelda Twilight Princess for it, which means I don't have to buy a Wii.

1. PlayStation 2
Pros: Great library of games, all genres and great imports. Literally, the sequel of the PlayStation
Cons: Shitty hardware

2. XBOX
Pros: Good amount of games, and the mod possibilities
Cons: Lacks in certain genres. Too many FPS.

3. Gamecube & Dreamcast
As much I like the DC, I can't rate it had. It just lacks some games in many departments it hurts. Gamecube has 2 premium titles (REmake and RE4, 3 if you count Twilight Princess) but that's all.

GC Pros: Resident Evils
GC Cons: Shitty overall library. Shitty 3rd Party support

DC Pros: Great niche games
DC Cons: Shitty 3rd party support

how can anyone say the gc has a shitty library?

lol

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kernow

how can anyone say the gc has a shitty library?

lol

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Mario
Zelda
Resident Evil
Metroids
End

Quote:

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Originally Posted by recon_zero

Mario
Zelda
Resident Evil
Metroids
End

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uhm

So wind waker, metroid prime 1 + 2, fzero gx , were all really bad titles?

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Originally Posted by DangerousK

You know, the one problem I see with people putting the DC first is the fact that the DC never had a true must have title. It's not to say the games were bad, but it was missing that Final Fantasy/Gears of War/Zelda system seller.

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there were a few games that pushed sales. every sega game to me was a big release.

sa, pso, jgr, etc.

plus you had mvsc2 way before the other guys.

quake 3 and ut were pretty big too.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kernow

uhm

So wind waker, metroid prime 1 + 2, fzero gx , were all really bad titles?

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F-Zero is based on the fact that the game becomes near impossible. ;)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by not sonic

there were a few games that pushed sales. every sega game to me was a big release.

sa, pso, jgr, etc.

plus you had mvsc2 way before the other guys.

quake 3 and ut were pretty big too.

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lol @ quake 3 on dc

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kernow

how can anyone say the gc has a shitty library?

lol

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http://www.vgcats.com/comics/images/061218.jpg

:lol:

DC--Arcade goodness, great 2K Sports games, bootlegged games (both a positive and negative), and could've stayed in the fight a little longer imo, but last gaps of air came through imports.

GC--Some damn good games if you can sift through the 3rd Party mess. Made for the kids while giving adults something to get into (I suppose).

PS2--Extendsive library, but only a handful of games that made me go the distance in overall fun factor. I'd definitely say this was the system for RPG fans.

XBox--Outside of teh romz and some games here and there, I just couldn't get into it w/all the FPS and EA Sports whoring.

The only two systems I still play are the Dreamcast and the Gamecube.

I have owned an xbox for years, but never owned an xbox game. It's simply a rom box for me. Hence loser.

The PS2 had initial appeal to me, but I realized after a while that I just wanted to play PSX games on it. The PS2 games were not that great. Other than the Onimushas and MGS2 (not 3), the rest of the games were lost to me.

I have my Dreamcast with me here in NY, and in it is Kof 2002. Other than that I play SFIII3rd, SSFIIX, VC, TSS, KoF 98, and Ikaruga. That's all.

1. Dreamcast - best exclusive games (and the few that eventually got ported over to ps2/gc/xbox were crap in comparisson)
2. Xbox - Yeah I know a lot of people hated it, but it had the best versions of the multiplatform games, and Burnout 3 + Outrun 2 were my gaming life for a while, add to this that it had good ports of popular PC titles and could run mame really well.
3. PS2 - For the unconventional games and different control options, ie guitar, dancemats, microphones, eyetoy, and shadow of the collossus, ico, parappa 2, katamari... The real thing that pushes this above the GC for me is VF4 Evo.
4. GC :( I feel hella guilty putting a Nintendo console last, and for the record I like the GC pad better than any of the above system's pads, but I really only found a few titles on the GC I held onto, most got played and sold on - I didn't really fall in-love with Zelda, Mario and Mario Kart on the GC like I did on N64. Only favourite game of mine was Monkeyball, but deluxe on xbox when it eventually was released was better...

Yeuch, I feel dirty for placing a Nintendo console below Sony & Microsoft, but I'll take comfort in the fact that I'll buy a Wii and DS before I'd consider a PS3, 360 or PSP (except possibly an old second hand one for emus)

[edit] - Oh and fuck Yeah Arcade Daytona USA twin cab ftw above any of the above!

#1 Microsoft - this generation's PSX? Microsoft came out of nowhere with this and was able to play ball with the big boys. Microsoft had the most to lose and while they didn't come out on top they delivered a solid system which led the way for the stellar Xbox 360 (I really think they got everything right with the 360). While the Xbox doesnt have the sheer quantity of games as PS2 it does have some very awesome titles. I'm glad I purchased my Xbox even if originally I only did to play Panzer Dragoon Orta.

#2 Playstation 2 - So many titles. So many titles. Yet I don't get that feeling playing my PS2 that I did when i first played the PSX. Sure Sony stayed on top, but with the release of the PS3 how long can they hold out?

#3 Gamecube - A good system with quality titles. I felt this was a better system than the N64 but as Bobak mentioned I think the Wii is what they were really going for all along (with regard to changing demographics).

#4 Dreamcast - Realistically Sega bet everything on this and lost. Support was cut early and I don't think we ever got to see the full potential of this system. There were some amazing titles, but were there any system selling titles? Where were the games that were recognized as killer apps by all gamers? Still this system was amazing and will always be a personal favorite. Jet Set Radio will always remain as one of the most unique, original, and flat out fun titles ever produced. Not to mention it set off the whole cel shading craze.

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Originally Posted by Lagduf

#4 Dreamcast - Realistically Sega bet everything on this and lost. Support was cut early and I don't think we ever got to see the full potential of this system. There were some amazing titles, but were there any system selling titles? Where were the games that were recognized as killer apps by all gamers? Still this system was amazing and will always be a personal favorite.

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That's what I said on the first page but people seem to ignore the fact that there wasn't a true system selling title.

Third Strike doesn't count because outside of 2D fanboys who wanted it?

No one.

The 2k Sports stuff is a close as you can come to a system seller, but it still wasn't enough.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DangerousK

That's what I said on the first page but people seem to ignore the fact that there wasn't a true system selling title.

Third Strike doesn't count because outside of 2D fanboys who wanted it?

No one.

The 2k Sports stuff is a close as you can come to a system seller, but it still wasn't enough.

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Yeah and I agree.

If anything I think there were too many Naomi/arcade to DC conversions. Those titles have their appeal, but only to a small audience. So while Dreamcast was lauded as the revival of arcade gameplay it really failed to deliver anything substantial to the gamers who weren't interested in arcade gameplay.

1. Dreamcast - Too many fond memories with this system; it died too quickly.
2. Xbox - Because of emulation and a handfull of quality titles.
3. PS2 - Left the system after GTA:VC, missed alot...yet didn't miss much.
4. GC - Left after Animal Crossing. What did I miss again? RE4? Meh.