Does the "Average Gamer" really know what's going on??

**Highlite23** · 05-23-2002

After the recent price war, and mud slinging, I noticed something interesting.

On a few occasions while at my favorite gameing spot, I have overheard some interesting conversations.

Basically customers comming in and really not knowing whats going on in the industry.

My personal favorite:
"Oh, XBOX is $199.00 too?"
This from a store that has PS2's in the window with "New Lower Price" but no XBOX.

Along with:

"You need extra stuff to play on-line?" about PS2.

And of course the one question i would never ask:
"Which one is better"

It got me thinking, WE are always trying to be informed, but are the masses?? One of my wifes friends has a 13 year old son, now i thought for sure he would know a little of whats going on, he's a gamer, but to what degree i'm not sure. He was led to believe that PS2's played ALL platforms, & that Sony was going to sell a HD/BB combo for $19.99, this from his PS2 friends. Now he's been playing my XBOX and can't talk his mom into making the switch. How much of THIS is going on? "You wanted this because it was supposed to be the best thing out, and it cost $300.00" The funny part is that right before launch she asked my opinion, and i gave it, and she went with the information her son gave her anyway.

All in all, I do believe the XBOX will become stronger with time...but thats what it's gonna take, time. To work around misperseption, rumors, and basic missinformation. All of that will come as more units are sold and the games keep comming, quality games.

So i'm guessing maybe 30% of the gamming community is REALLY in the know...leaving alot of lemmings, i mean others.(LOL)

What do YOU think??

**MOrgE** · 05-23-2002

I personally think that if everybody knew the truth about consoles ( no hype.. no gossip....), then the PS2 would be no more...

ok... seriously.... i agree with you.... my little cousins (one being 10 and the other being 15) are constantly arguing with me that PS2 is getting this and getting that while the XBOX is no where close... yes, i do argue with them... but its no use... once someone has an idea of something in their head, it's impossible to try to change it...

**Ninja Scroll** · 05-23-2002

Originally posted by MOrgE
I personally think that if everybody knew the truth about consoles ( no hype.. no gossip....), then the PS2 would be no more...

I couldnt agree with you any more Morge. That's all it is is hype!
Let give credit where it is due, Sony is a genius at making a suck ass system as the PS2 a monster is console sales.

But I feel all casual gamers will go along with the PS2 cause they fall for whatever gets the most attention. And PS2 is all over the TV and anywhere else you can name.

And dudes right about PS2 signs on the front of stores by itself saying it's $199.99 NOW! And what about Xbox?
No respect if you ask me. True, PS2 dropped first but that means nothing as far as ads in-store goes.

**SkoalMint** · 05-23-2002

To be honest, I think 30% may be a high estimate. I have been in similar situations. Last December I did a demo of the XBox at our local computer club meeting. I attempted to make it unbiased, covering the specs of the XBox, PS2, and GC. However, I could only demo the XBox as it is the only one of the three I own. I demoed Halo, PGR, Amped, Munch, Fever, and Fuzion Frenzy. After all of that, one guy who claims to be a gamer came up and said that he felt his PS (not PS2) looked better than the XBox. I just couldn't respond to that one. One of the fathers in attendance came up with his two sons and asked me which console I would recommend. Again, I covered all of the pros and cons for each system. I talked to him a few days later. They went with the PS2. We were talking about the online plans for both consoles recently and he is now planning on trading in the PS2 for an XBox.

I think it is our job as Addicts and ultimately members of the entire XBox community to bring that percenatge up by educating the masses.

**Dre** · 05-23-2002

Originally posted by highlite23
After the recent price war, and mud slinging, I noticed something interesting.

On a few occasions while at my favorite gameing spot, I have overheard some interesting conversations.

Basically customers comming in and really not knowing whats going on in the industry.

My personal favorite:
"Oh, XBOX is $199.00 too?"
This from a store that has PS2's in the window with "New Lower Price" but no XBOX.

Along with:

"You need extra stuff to play on-line?" about PS2.

And of course the one question i would never ask:
"Which one is better"

It got me thinking, WE are always trying to be informed, but are the masses?? One of my wifes friends has a 13 year old son, now i thought for sure he would know a little of whats going on, he's a gamer, but to what degree i'm not sure. He was led to believe that PS2's played ALL platforms, & that Sony was going to sell a HD/BB combo for $19.99, this from his PS2 friends. Now he's been playing my XBOX and can't talk his mom into making the switch. How much of THIS is going on? "You wanted this because it was supposed to be the best thing out, and it cost $300.00" The funny part is that right before launch she asked my opinion, and i gave it, and she went with the information her son gave her anyway.

All in all, I do believe the XBOX will become stronger with time...but thats what it's gonna take, time. To work around misperseption, rumors, and basic missinformation. All of that will come as more units are sold and the games keep comming, quality games.

So i'm guessing maybe 30% of the gamming community is REALLY in the know...leaving alot of lemmings, i mean others.(LOL)

What do YOU think??

I agree wholeheartedly. A vast majority of the current gaming population is no longer the NES generation (such as myself) but more the Playstation I generation. Having known little else than that, they more than likely will stick to their brand and are unwilling to listen to much else. If back in the day you were an NES owner and bought an SNES, I'm guessing most of you thought that the Sega systems were crap even though they were good consoles. Its the same mentality.

But it comes down to something a bit more complicated than all I have just stated. When people spend alot of money on something such as the purchase of a console, they want to feel that they bought the best. That is what feeds those wordy debates we see on these forums from time to time. We are almost all guilty of this to some extent, some more than others. Dismissing games simply because they come from the competition is a great example. I for one wish I had the money for all 3 consoles, but I don't so I had to make a decision. I researched the specs; processor speeds, video card and sound chips used. However, I can understand all this information because I come from a technical background. The average console gamer doesn't have this technical know-how and thats where the problem stems from. Without the ability to comprehend the technical differences between the consoles, they listen to "the word on the street". This is where my first argument comes into play. The word on the street is that PS2 is awesome. Why? Because, Sony has such a large user-base from the PS1, and the majority's voice is usually heard first.

So what can the Xbox do? Well, it should do exactly what MS is doing. Having those 3rd generation games that demonstrate the full potential of the Xbox like Project Ego and Ninja Gaiden will help. Having an unparalled online gaming experience will definitely help as well. In one year from now, say next year's E3, the PS2 is going to be old. With the imminent release of the 3rd generation games for Xbox, PS2 owners will not be able to NOT notice these titles. These titles will sell consoles. Plain and simple. And they will sell to those "uneducated" folk discussed herein.

**cracchus** · 05-23-2002

Unless you get on the internet and read about this stuff, you can't possibly be an educated consumer. It's only because I'm on the internet daily, reading about the games and the consoles, that I know what I'm talking about. A year ago, I'll admit, I had no idea. I was a casual gamer, a PS1 owner. I had to make the decision regarding which next-gen console to buy, and so I did some homework. Most people don't, though. Most people buy what their friends have, or buy what the one with the most name-brand recognition. They aren't educated about the games, the hardware, the internet plans, etc. I'd say that goes for 90%, not 70%. Caveat emptor, though -- it's their own fault. It's the same with most things in life -- people just take what is passed down to them, without investigating the matter themselves. Oh well, what ya gonna do. Me, I'm going to enjoy my Xbox. Occasionally I'll try to persuade or educate someone, but mostly I just let them be and smile inside.

**l Maximus l** · 05-23-2002

To be quite candid, I would say that XBox owners are the most intelligent of console gamers versus gamers that don't own XBoxes. Well, atleast the vast majority. Seriously! A person has to know what the value truly is of the XBox in comparison to the PoS2 and the GameCube.

Personally, I think the GameCube is leaps and bounds better than the PoS2 because is focusses on a younger audience of gamers, primarily. GameCube games, while not the most interesting to me for the most part, are well received by younger gamers...far more than mature titles on the XBox.

With that said, I can see why people would buy a GameCube. But, I have no idea why a person would purchase a PoS2 at this time if they don't have either the PoS2 or an XBox. The XBox has so much more value to it....I know I don't need to go through the specs and other details to prove why. I will if someone asks

**DZNUTZ** · 05-23-2002

when videogames and consoles are brought up in a convo....i basically carjack the convo...jump in the convo seat...and spit the knowledge.

i've converted, or at least educated many-a-folks on the xbox and its supreme power.

**Hugh_Jass** · 05-23-2002

Originally posted by highlite23

So i'm guessing maybe 30% of the gamming community is REALLY in the know...leaving alot of lemmings, i mean others.(LOL)

What do YOU think??

I heard an anecdote today that perfectly illustrates your point. A co-worker was telling me about his cousin who just bought four XBOXes on Ebay. He thought he was getting a super great deal and could sell them for a tidy profit. He didn't know the price had dropped to $199 everywhere and he spent more than retail on something he couldn't return. Doh!

RadRider · 05-23-2002

If everyone knew even the basic fundamental differences between the consoles, then the Xbox would be in the number 1 spot by now. Heck, even the Japanese don't know the fundamental differences. They simply hear "Playstation", so they buy it.

--edit--
Just thought I'd bring this up. I have a friend who wants to buy a PS2. This is funny, because I've told him the differences between all the consoles several times. He said he wanted a PS2 for GT3 and GTA3. Well, that's all good and fine, but he's got a somewhat decent PC that could run GTA3 no problem, and it's not worth laying out $300 (canadian) on a PS2 for one game. And back when he first mentioned he wanted these, GTA3 was still coming out for Xbox in the near future, so I told him that even though it doesn't have GT3, it's got every other game he wants - only with better graphics and other bonuses, plus two of the best racing games ever made; project gotham and Rallisport. So what does he say? I want a PS2.
So this time he says it's because he doesn't want to sit at a keyboard and mouse all day. So then I tell him "PC's play every single console through emulation, except the Xbox GameCube and PS2. In those cases, most of the games on those systems come to PC anyway. So, if you want to stop sitting in front of the keyboard and mouse, buy a gamepad and TV out. Hook the pc up to your tv , then play the games off your tv. It's an identical experience to playing on the consoles, except it's technically from the PC" So he says "You're not getting it... I want a PS2"

I swear, some people just never learn..

**DZNUTZ** · 05-23-2002

LMFAO@ hughass's story

**Hickboy** · 05-23-2002

In FutureShops latest flyer they only hype the Xbox price cut and no mention of the PS2 one LOL

They also give some info on it to inform the not knowing

.

The Next Generation Game System!

.Broadband Ready! Play fast action online games via a high speed connection. Coming Soon!

.Built-in Hard Drive improves game load times, allows for custom soundtracks and saving game information.

.Play DVD Movies! (Requires DVD Playback Kit sold seperately).

.Four Gam Controller Ports For Multiplayer Gaming!.

And not one blurb on the PS2 lol, I love it.

**Xtopia** · 05-23-2002

Originally posted by Hugh_Jass

I heard an anecdote today that perfectly illustrates your point. A co-worker was telling me about his cousin who just bought four XBOXes on Ebay. He thought he was getting a super great deal and could sell them for a tidy profit. He didn't know the price had dropped to $199 everywhere and he spent more than retail on something he couldn't return. Doh!

Ohhh....that has to suck!!

But anyway, I agree with you guys all the way! The only class I have were there are "gamers" is my Biology class. And I am the only one that owns an XBox! Everybody else has a PoS2 or GC. I have challenged every one of them to go rent an XBox and Halo over the weekend and come back to me and tell me what console they want. They ALL refuse! I wonder why...

I have also given them all the facts! I have told the PoS2 owners that they won't be able to play online without buying extra equipment. I have told them that they can't burn their own soundtracks. I have told them that the XBoxe's graphics are superior! I have told them that they have to buy extra equipment if they want to save their work. I have told them that without a hardrive, developers are limited in how "big" and "vast" the enviorments can be. I have explained that when their online network launches, it will be ruined buy 56kers, lagging the experience. I have told them that they have to buy a exspensive multitap if they want to play multiplayer games. I have told them that the XBox is getting many of the "PoS2 exclusives" and that the XBox has its own superior exslusives. I have told them that XBox supports HDTV. I have told them that XBox supports 5.1 DD. THEY JUST DON'T LISTEN!

RadRider · 05-23-2002

There's also the problem that once a PS2 owner owns a PS2, they often realize it is an inferior machine, and so they have to start defending it. It's as much an act of defense as it is the owner trying to convince themselves that their machine is atualy OK. I think it's something that ever PS2 owner struggles with for the duration that they own the console.

**SkoalMint** · 05-23-2002

Originally posted by Maximus
To be quite candid, I would say that XBox owners are the most intelligent of console gamers versus gamers that don't own XBoxes. Well, atleast the vast majority. Seriously! A person has to know what the value truly is of the XBox in comparison to the PoS2 and the GameCube.

Personally, I think the GameCube is leaps and bounds better than the PoS2 because is focusses on a younger audience of gamers, primarily. GameCube games, while not the most interesting to me for the most part, are well received by younger gamers...far more than mature titles on the XBox.

With that said, I can see why people would buy a GameCube. But, I have no idea why a person would purchase a PoS2 at this time if they don't have either the PoS2 or an XBox. The XBox has so much more value to it....I know I don't need to go through the specs and other details to prove why. I will if someone asks

I couldn't agree more. When I see someone purchasing an XBox over one of the onther consoles, I think to myself that there is a person who hasn't given in to hype and has made a conscious decision in order to get the biggest bang for their hard earned money. I may eventually purchase a GC, but ultimately that will be for the kids. At this point, I can't imagine why anyone would by a PS2. The XBox is a better value at 299 than the PS2 is at 199.

**X-Ray** · 05-23-2002

Beleive it or not, I decided I would get an X-Box when I held the controller. I had a PSo but never enjoyed it because I hated the controller--everything about it espescially the D-Pad and joysticks.

Then I did some research and confirmed my choice but my decision was already made once I held the controller!

**mercsix** · 05-23-2002

I have to say I have had all the systems starting with pong and have never had trouble going with the best system. I had the NES then switched to the Sega then added the SEGACD and 32X (got screwed on that deal) than the PSO and Dreamcast then went and put my money down on the PS2 months ahead of time (mainly due to the backard compatability issue I had hundreds of PSO games) but when bill announced the BOX I read everything I could about it went down and took my money off of the PS2 and on the XBOX (a year in advance). I never had a doubt that I made the right choice and have since bought 3 more Xboxes as Xmas presents last year and converted several of my friends over to the Box. I think we just need to spread the word. The word of Bill. LOL

**Ninja Scroll** · 05-23-2002

Originally posted by Dre

I agree wholeheartedly. A vast majority of the current gaming population is no longer the NES generation (such as myself) but more the Playstation I generation. Having known little else than that, they more than likely will stick to their brand and are unwilling to listen to much else. If back in the day you were an NES owner and bought an SNES, I'm guessing most of you thought that the Sega systems were crap even though they were good consoles. Its the same mentality.

But it comes down to something a bit more complicated than all I have just stated. When people spend alot of money on something such as the purchase of a console, they want to feel that they bought the best. That is what feeds those wordy debates we see on these forums from time to time. We are almost all guilty of this to some extent, some more than others. Dismissing games simply because they come from the competition is a great example. I for one wish I had the money for all 3 consoles, but I don't so I had to make a decision. I researched the specs; processor speeds, video card and sound chips used. However, I can understand all this information because I come from a technical background. The average console gamer doesn't have this technical know-how and thats where the problem stems from. Without the ability to comprehend the technical differences between the consoles, they listen to "the word on the street". This is where my first argument comes into play. The word on the street is that PS2 is awesome. Why? Because, Sony has such a large user-base from the PS1, and the majority's voice is usually heard first.

So what can the Xbox do? Well, it should do exactly what MS is doing. Having those 3rd generation games that demonstrate the full potential of the Xbox like Project Ego and Ninja Gaiden will help. Having an unparalled online gaming experience will definitely help as well. In one year from now, say next year's E3, the PS2 is going to be old. With the imminent release of the 3rd generation games for Xbox, PS2 owners will not be able to NOT notice these titles. These titles will sell consoles. Plain and simple. And they will sell to those "uneducated" folk discussed herein.

Dre, that was very well said and educated post. I must admit, page one of this thread is very informative with members views on the whole gaming undustry.
Much props to the poster on this thread.
A good read indeed.

Oh btw, Sega Genesis owned SNES's candy asses!! DIE SNES DIE!!!

**Xtopia** · 05-23-2002

Oh btw, Sega Genesis owned SNES's candy asses!! DIE SNES DIE!!!

I agree! I never had a SNES, but I had a Genesis, and I would say it is one of the best systems ever!

**LynxFX** · 05-23-2002

Originally posted by RadRider
There's also the problem that once a PS2 owner owns a PS2, they often realize it is an inferior machine, and so they have to start defending it. It's as much an act of defense as it is the owner trying to convince themselves that their machine is atualy OK. I think it's something that ever PS2 owner struggles with for the duration that they own the console.

I think this is true of all consoles or anything else you buy. People hate being told they made the wrong decision so they will defend it to the end. They have to justify their purchase. I do the same with the Xbox, but at least I know that the Xbox itself justifies the purchase.