Top Consoles of all time?

[JoshTurboTrollX]

http://turbosage.bravehost.com/top10.html


agree?  disagree?


Let me know what you think?




TurboSage

[grahf]

These lists are usually opinion laden, but all things considered its a nice list. I would place the NES a little higher personally, and the Saturn lower if it was my list. But its not, so biggie.

[Seldane]

I definitely disagree. Neo Geo (in particular!), Gamecube, Atari 2600, Dreamcast or Turbo Duo would not be on my list.

Playstation 2 would be number one for me, that's for sure. As for the rest, I'm not sure.

[JoshTurboTrollX]

Playstation2: yeah, It probably could make someones #1 easily.  But I have had some 'bad' experiences with it.  Especially with the shoddy hardware. I'm now moving onto my 3rd PS2.....

What makes a game or a console good or bad?  I often wonder how people judge certain games.  Isn't it weird that some games are rated total crap yet you seem to enjoy them?  I think about stuff like that alot.

To me personally whether I enjoy a game or not usually has alot to do with the surrounding people or situations. Example:  (If I had just been dumped by the love of my life, and my grandmother died.  Then I will probably despise the game that I rented earlier today.) Even if its truly the most well polished game made, I will always asociate it with the current events of my life.  Does anybody else feel this way?

Kasumi Ninja for the Jaguar is the primest of examples.  Its *intercourse*ing terrible I'll admit even that.  But when you get a group of guys playing pass the paddle for a while suddenly its almost like watching an episode of South Park.  The Game is so Stupid that somehow its almost fun.

I find mediocre titles and consoles attractive.(Hense my recent purchase of the Atari Jaguar) Its almost like a challenge to uncover the fun in a game that nobody else has been able to find.

I've also always been a fan of the underdog.  During the 16-bit wars I supported TurboGrafx16, during the 32/64-bit wars I supported the Sega Saturn.  I don't know how I became this way, I just am.  Is that odd?

My opinions are based on experiences that I have with the consoles.

TurboSage

Seldane's Top 10 Game Consoles:
1.  PS2
2.  Genesis
3.  Master System
4.  PS1
5.  Xbox360
6.  SNES
7.  Saturn
8.  Xbox
9.  Intellivision
10. Jaguar

Is that more your speed?  

[Keranu]

Of course the list doesn't exactly fit my tastes perfectly, but it's an ok list to me. I personally would make the top three Duo, NES, and Genesis.

[Seldane]

I share pretty much the same opinions as you, Turbo Sage. I've also always preferred the more "unusual" systems. However, I don't require a system to feature good games, the look of the console itself can be good enough for me to love it.

I used to think the PS2 was crap (when I first got it), but then I got some games that really charmed me, and after that I became a huge PS2 fan. There's so many games that I love on that system.

I played Breath of Fire during a very hard time of my life, and now I hate that game more than anything in this world, so yes - I know what you mean.

Seldane's Top 10 Game Consoles:
1.  PS2
2.  Genesis
3.  Master System
4.  PS1
5.  Xbox360
6.  SNES
7.  Saturn
8.  Xbox
9.  Intellivision
10. Jaguar
Is that more your speed?  

1.  PS2 - Works for me.
2.  Genesis - It would be on my list, but not #2.
3.  Master System - No.
4.  PS1 - Never! I hate the PS1! Almost as much as Breath of Fire!
5.  Xbox360 - This one is almost just as bad...
6.  SNES - Would be somewhere on my list. Somewhere around 2-4.
7.  Saturn - Yeah, this works.
8.  Xbox - Not a chance in the world. Not ever.
9.  Intellivision - No. I consider everything pre-1984 crap.
10. Jaguar - Definitely not. Atari disgusts me.

SNES, Game Boy, PS2, Mega Drive, Saturn and maybe NES would definitely be on my list. Possibly Game Gear (I love portable consoles) and N64 too.

[Tatsujin]

yes. not that bad top 10 list. anyway, just liked to see the Mega Drive on a little higher rank ;)

[Tatsujin]

I personally would make the top three Duo, NES, and Genesis.

agree! just as good as it gets!

(just i would replace the geni by the jap. pendant ;) )

[guyjin]

Crap on a crap cracker.

PS2 does not belong in the top 10. Neo Geo never was '24 bit'. Gamecube should be lower, Dreamcast should be higher, etc.

My top 10:

10:Colecovision
9:Sega 32x
8:Atari 7800
7:Sega Genesis
6:Nintendo Entertainment System
5:Sega Master system
4:Dreamcast
3:Super Nintendo Entertainment system
2:Turbo Duo
1:Sega Saturn

[Keranu]

agree! just as good as it gets!

(just i would replace the geni by the jap. pendant ;) )

Of course, but you know how us big, freedom-whore, truck drivin', heavy metal Americans are .

[esteban]

Not a bad list, by any means. Of course I'd get rid of PS2 entirely (I'd actually put in PS1), bump up Genny and NES to top 5... drop Neo Geo down...

drop GameCube down to #10...

You know, that sort of stuff

[GUTS]

Any list that has Gamecube as top anything other than "total failure in every possible way" is not to be trusted.

[Tatsujin]

SNES, Game Boy, PS2, Mega Drive, Saturn and maybe NES would definitely be on my list. Possibly Game Gear (I love portable consoles) and N64 too.

so why just no PCE in your list? and why you're in this forum? (to mean no harm, just curious)

[Tatsujin]

agree! just as good as it gets!

(just i would replace the geni by the jap. pendant ;) )

Of course, but you know how us big, freedom-whore, truck drivin', heavy metal Americans are .

almost i start to understand

[AlexKidd]

I actually think my list of top 10 systems would be almost the same as turbo sage's as long as we're not including handhelds. The order would be different but it'd be the same systems except i'd probably swap the 2600 for the sms. The 2600 is most definitely a more important system in video game history. However the master system was my first system so it's got some sentimental value for me. Plus, due to my age(20) I find pre-nes games to be a bit too primitive for me. Also i'd probably put ps2 instead of playstation due to the backwards compatibility. My list would be something like:

1. Turbo Duo
2. Snes
3. Genesis
4. Playstation 2
5. Nes
6. Neo Geo
7. Saturn
8. Gamecube
9. Dreamcast
10. Master System

[rolins]

I can't imagine the Genny being outranked by the GC.  

[Joe Redifer]

Wow I didn't know the Neo Geo was 24-bit.  I guess that means the Genesis is 24-bit, too!

I love my 24-bit Genesis.  It rocks.  24-bits of SHEER POWER!  But wait... I also have a Sega CD and a 32X.  If we add up the "bits" like the author of this thread did for the Neo Geo processors, that makes my Genesis setup a 104 bit monster!

[Seldane]

so why just no PCE in your list? and why you're in this forum? (to mean no harm, just curious)

Well, for various reasons. I'd like to put the PCE in my list, but there aren't enough games that interest me on it. Maybe I'd include it in my list, because now that I think about it - I honestly can't come up with 10 consoles that I like more than the PCE.

Why I'm here? Well, that's for various reasons as well, hehe. First of all: I saw some Ys discussion here. Where there's Ys discussion, I will show up. I also like this place in general. Interesting topics, interesting members, etc. And of course - love of the PCE brought me here.

Also: I would never ever put the Neo Geo on this list! A system dedicated entirely to figthers and shooters? Please!

[cavein2000]

Where's X-box?

[PCEngineHell]

Wow I didn't know the Neo Geo was 24-bit.  I guess that means the Genesis is 24-bit, too!

I love my 24-bit Genesis.  It rocks.  24-bits of SHEER POWER!  But wait... I also have a Sega CD and a 32X.  If we add up the "bits" like the author of this thread did for the Neo Geo processors, that makes my Genesis setup a 104 bit monster!

LOL actually the M68000 used in both the Neogeo and Genesis were 32-bit cpus with 16-bit front side bus.  This is a commonplace cpu found in alot of arcade hardware in the 80ies and 90ies. The right 68000s can be overclocked easily with the proper knowhow. You can jump a Genesis model 1 deck from 7 mhz to 13 mhz and get rid of flicker and slow down. If your brave you can push well past 18mhz.

The M68000 was a fantastic compromise. When the M68000 was introduced, 16-bit front side buses were really the most practical size for usage.  The 68000 was designed with 32-bit address spaces and registers .

Even though the 68000 had 24-bit addressing system supporting up to 16 MB of memory and 16-bit ALUs, addresses were always stored as 32-bit quantities, i.e. it had a flat 32-bit address space. This meant that the 68000 is a 32-bit microprocessor.
The Zilog Z80 used in both systems (Neo Geo and Genesis)is for audio co-processing.

The 24-bit marketing tout by SNK was stupid at best,and damaging at worst,because it makes them sound like they didnt even know their own hardware capabilities to extreme gamers in the know how of cpus. There wasnt a 24-bit anything except the 24-bit addressing system. Sega could have just as easily made the same bloated claims,but had the hindsite not to,instead playing the megahertz game with Nintendo later on during the "Blast Processing" phase of Sega's marketing battle. Super Nintendos Ricoh produced 5A22 ran at a measly 3 mhz.

[PCEngineHell]

so why just no PCE in your list? and why you're in this forum? (to mean no harm, just curious)

Also: I would never ever put the Neo Geo on this list! A system dedicated entirely to figthers and shooters? Please!

Also: I would never ever put the PcEngine on this list! A system dedicated entirely to shooters,old arcade ports and RPG's? Please!

[Seldane]

Also: I would never ever put the PcEngine on this list! A system dedicated entirely to shooters,old arcade ports and RPG's? Please!

I disagree. There are plenty of various genres on the PC Engine. This is not the case with the Neo Geo.

[PCEngineHell]

Also: I would never ever put the PcEngine on this list! A system dedicated entirely to shooters,old arcade ports and RPG's? Please!

I disagree. There are plenty of various genres on the PC Engine. This is not the case with the Neo Geo.

I was joking.... But I would rank the Neo in any top 10,because what it did it did the best of about any system 2-d wise. Almost all the titles for the Neo are B-A+ titles with a very tiny few exceptions.

[Keranu]

Where there's Ys discussion, I will show up.

Neo Geo would probably be on my top 10 list because it has fantastic games. That's one machine loaded with action, so if you're more console-ish games like RPGs and standard platformers, I can totally understand not liking the Neo Geo.

True it had tons of fighters, but like Mike said, it did the best with them. And to be honest with you, most of my favorite Neo Geo games aren't even fighters , such as Magician Lord, Metal Slug series, WINDJAMMERS, League Bowling, Top Players Golf, Sengokus, etc... I think the Neo Geo seems to be overlooked sometimes because people think it's a fighters only system, but it's got quite a few other types of games out there as well and I highly recommend those .

[guyjin]

If I ever win the lottery, I'll pick up a Neo Geo, just because of some of the puzzle games it has. Puzzle de pon and magical drop spring immediately to mind  

[Keranu]

You could always get a Neo Geo MVS set up or a Neo Geo CD if you want much cheaper games.

[Joe Redifer]

Neo Turf Masters DESTROYS Top Players Golf.  Top Players Golf is teh suk in comparez lol omg wtf.  But I own them both because I am teh awsum.

[Keranu]

I disagree personally. I just find Top Players Golf to be a more fun and relaxed game. Oh and to top things off, it has better characters ;) .

[CrackTiger]

My rough top 10 by favoriteness-

1: PC Engine/Turbo
2: Sega Master System/MarkIII
3: Intellivision
4: Sega Saturn
5: Sega Dreamcast
6: NES/Famicom
7: Megadrive/Genesis
8: SNES/Super Famicom
9: Gameboy Advance


My rough top 10 "desert island" systems, or games I'd want to play most-

1: PC Engine/Turbo
2: Sega Master System/MarkIII
3: NES/Famicom
4: SNES/Super Famicom
5: Megadrive/Genesis
6: Sega Saturn
7: Sega Dreamcast
8: Gameboy Advance
9: Intellivision

I can't narrow it down very well after number 9.

[Joe Redifer]

Hey man at least Sega Master System ranks high up there on your list.  I agree that there is definitely something about that system that is pure awesomeness on a stick.  Of couse that may be because it was my first console (I bought it myself when I was 14 and personally chose it over the NES due to Sega's arcade games).

[Keranu]

I am glad to see Intellivision was on Justin's top three.

[CrackTiger]

Hey man at least Sega Master System ranks high up there on your list.  I agree that there is definitely something about that system that is pure awesomeness on a stick.  Of couse that may be because it was my first console (I bought it myself when I was 14 and personally chose it over the NES due to Sega's arcade games).

I think that the SMS was the most ahead of it's time of any console. More so than the PC Engine and Neo Geo. Especially the MarkIII hardware-wise(FM sound, modem, 3D glasses, etc...) and if you look at all the the games worldwide(in regions that Nintendo wasn't able to illegally stranglehold the market).

But what I don't get, is how so many real "gamerz" dismiss the SMS altogether because it "only had a few decent games" within North America. I haven't really begun to track down all the amazing Euro and Brazillian exclusive titles yet, but there's still enough great games to make it my favorite console next to the PC Engine(sort of tied'ish, but down half a notch).

The only reason they even discontinued it in Europe was to give the Sega Saturn a better chance when it launched.

But it doesn't matter how good it is technically, it's the games that I love.

[guyjin]

Part of the reason I like the SMS so much is the ratio of good games to crap. Sure, it has a small library compared to the NES, but I think it has just as many good games.

On the other hand, you are insane for putting the INTV on your list, much less at #3. My eldest brother and some of my friends had it, and I was unimpressed. The plethora of sports games (which almost always bore me) and the bizzare controllers turned me off.

[CrackTiger]

Part of the reason I like the SMS so much is the ratio of good games to crap. Sure, it has a small library compared to the NES, but I think it has just as many good games.

On the other hand, you are insane for putting the INTV on your list, much less at #3. My eldest brother and some of my friends had it, and I was unimpressed. The plethora of sports games (which almost always bore me) and the bizzare controllers turned me off.

The Intv was my first console, but there are lots of great games for it.

The D&D games kick ass, particularly Treasure Of Tarmin, which has animated 3D dungeons like Phantasy Star. But unlike PS, you can later get a special book that lets you see through walls and you can spot all the enemies and items as you walk down the hallways.

There are some special games that came out later on, that I only heard about because of the internet, like Commando, but I haven't gotten around to picking them up.

Although I don't play sports games, the Intv had some of the best ever and I still love MLB, which has yet to be topped(seriously).

[PCEngineHell]

Part of the reason I like the SMS so much is the ratio of good games to crap. Sure, it has a small library compared to the NES, but I think it has just as many good games.

On the other hand, you are insane for putting the INTV on your list, much less at #3. My eldest brother and some of my friends had it, and I was unimpressed. The plethora of sports games (which almost always bore me) and the bizzare controllers turned me off.

edit: I was refering to the Intelivision btw. I forgot to say this.

Im kinda half and half with you on this. But that system did have  afew really good titles,and totally blew away the 2600 when standing toe tio toe with it. Personally Id rather just have seen the Colecovision survive the game crash,it was the best of the 3.

[Seldane]

I really like the Sega Master System. My brother used to rent it back when it was new, and I'm still surprised that was actually possible. We lived in a really small town (practically on the country) and the store renting it had absolutely nothing to do with video games or anything (it was a convenience store).

I really loved the system back then and some of my favorite games are on that system (I first played Ys on it, for example). However, I never play it nowadays since there aren't that many games that interest me for it, and I've already played my favorite games way too many times by now.  

[esteban]

I really like the Sega Master System. My brother used to rent it back when it was new, and I'm still surprised that was actually possible. We lived in a really small town (practically on the country) and the store renting it had absolutely nothing to do with video games or anything (it was a convenience store).

Yeah, back in the early- to mid- 80's in the northeast U.S., there seemed to be a lot of convenience stores that tried to do *everything*. We had local stores and supermarkets renting VHS videos, VCR's, video cameras, etc. Imagine going to the store to pick up some bread, cheese and a video camera.

As for the SMS: the only thing I never liked about the console was the incredibly lame direction pad on the controller. Otherwise, SMS is a gem. I would not consider SMS to be "cutting edge" however, except for the 3D glasses. The Atari VCS / 2600 had a modem waaaaayyyyy back in the day.

[Keranu]

I totally agree with CrackTiger about sports games on the Intellivision, they rock! My favorite sport games are for the Atari 2600 and Intellivision because they are so simple to play and are highly addictive. Though to be honest, I've spent more time with Atari sports games than Intellivision...

[Joe Redifer]

The SMS game called "Line of Fire" which, of course, was never released in the US has a hidden 3D mode built in.  If you have yourself some 3D glasses, plug 'em in and hold down buttons 1 and 2 as you boot up the system and voila, the game is now in 3D.  Awesome!

[PCEngineHell]

I totally agree with CrackTiger about sports games on the Intellivision, they rock! My favorite sport games are for the Atari 2600 and Intellivision because they are so simple to play and are highly addictive. Though to be honest, I've spent more time with Atari sports games than Intellivision...

Thats kinda sad considering thats what they used to market the Intelivision. Sports games. They used real sports anouncers,athleats,whomever they could in their commercials for the sports titles to totally downplay the VCS and its games.

[Keranu]

To be honest again, I haven't played as many Intellivision sports games as I have for Atari. When I got a 2600 when I was 11 or 12, I was hooked on the thing and played a lot of sports games for it too. My favorite was Tennis with the paddles.

[PCEngineHell]

I totally hate and despise sports games on systems other then a very select few. As for sports on the 2600...They should have all been called Stick Man games.Well,except for boxing,that could been called Black dots with arms fight. I grew up with alot of hate on the 2600 anyway,except for a few titles,like Kangaroo and Astroids.

[guyjin]

I really like the Sega Master System. My brother used to rent it back when it was new, and I'm still surprised that was actually possible. We lived in a really small town (practically on the country) and the store renting it had absolutely nothing to do with video games or anything (it was a convenience store).

I don't think it was just the northeast. Here in Iowa, one of the bigger (locally, anyway) Convenience stores is Casey's. They do the regular convenience store stuff, but they also rented videos, and games, and made pizza. the movies and games were the lowest common denominator type stuff (NES and VHS, of course); they got out of that business. But they still do pizza, which is acceptable. (better than pizza hut, IMHO; their crust is too greasy.)

But, back to the SMS: There was one video store in Glenwood, IA called Captain Video. They rented videos (VHS _and_ Beta up until 1989 when we moved away) and Videogames. They carried NES games, of course (legal battle? what legal battle?) And SMS games as well. The first time I played an SMS was in that store; and it would be the last time I would touch one for nearly a decade.

Once we moved, the nearest videostore was an odd mom-n-pop with a crappy selection; of games and videos at least. They also sold Higher-end TVs and Satellite equipment. We stopped going because they's always try to sell you their video equipment. (They might have had laserdiscs, but I may be misremembering.) cant remember the name, tho.

Then, there was the 'video village'. this was in the same mini-mall as the grocery store. (but not inside it, so it didn't suck like those always do.) we had a good exuse to rent games every week. I'm pretty sure this is the first time I saw Genesis games. Once the SNES came out, however, the SNES slowly overtook the Genesis selection. Which suited me fine, having a SNES, but I secretly coveted the Genny.

Eventually, a Blockbuster opened up the hill; this was about the time my brother got a Playstation, and 'buster had a better 32 bit selection; so we stopped going to the village.

The fate of these stores:

Casey's is still around, and expanding (there are now 2 within 5 minutes drive of my house; 10 years ago there were none) minus the mini videostore. but they have taken to selling little figurines.

Captain video is weird: Last I saw (a year ago at best) it was oddly combined with a radio shack. All traces of Beta, NES and SMS were gone. (i asked the clerk if they had anything in the back room they couldn't get rid of. no dice.)

Video village is just gone. Went out of business a couple years after 'buster came by; the building has since been demolished; a new grocery store (same company) was built over it.

Last but not least, there is the one whose name I've forgotten.  Oddly enough, this is the only place I 'scored'; took about 10 NES games from their back room off their hands. Still had boxes, even. The 'property of' stickers were a pest to remove, tho.

< /reminisce >  

[Keranu]

Hey there is a Video Village in the town right next to me ! Probably just a coincidence though. They still rent SNES games and I've asked if I could buy them a couple times and they say no. Crazy!

[Seldane]

I totally hate and despise sports games on systems other then a very select few. As for sports on the 2600...They should have all been called Stick Man games.Well,except for boxing,that could been called Black dots with arms fight. I grew up with alot of hate on the 2600 anyway,except for a few titles,like Kangaroo and Astroids.

I agree completely. My first console was the Atari 2600 and I liked it (well, sort of liked it) back then. It was kind of fun to play with it now and then (like once a month or so).

However, nowadays I would never torture myself by playing that thing. I can not understand how people can enjoy playing these things when there are far better games out there. I realize some people will say the same about NES and stuff, but those games actually had GAMEPLAY.

These old 70's games are  too primitive, and they don't last. At least not to me. I need to know why/how people can enjoy these games. Is it entirely based on nostalgia?

[PCEngineHell]

I totally hate and despise sports games on systems other then a very select few. As for sports on the 2600...They should have all been called Stick Man games.Well,except for boxing,that could been called Black dots with arms fight. I grew up with alot of hate on the 2600 anyway,except for a few titles,like Kangaroo and Astroids.

I agree completely. My first console was the Atari 2600 and I liked it (well, sort of liked it) back then. It was kind of fun to play with it now and then (like once a month or so).

However, nowadays I would never torture myself by playing that thing. I can not understand how people can enjoy playing these things when there are far better games out there. I realize some people will say the same about NES and stuff, but those games actually had GAMEPLAY.

These old 70's games are  too primitive, and they don't last. At least not to me. I need to know why/how people can enjoy these games. Is it entirely based on nostalgia?

Oh yea,well for serious,most of the games sucked horribly.
I think I liked Moon patrol,Pitfall,Kangaroo,Astroids,and Combat. Beyound that and I start to get really mean towards the rest of the titles,esp He-Man,ET,Double Dragon,Ikari Warriors,Zaxxon,Q-Bert,taht driving game where everything is black except polls on the sides of the road and your car,which looks like a cock with wings attached. You had to use the crappy paddle for that one. Completely sucked ass. All of those titles were horrible,and people considered those the best on the systems sometimes. I dont even want to talk about Donkey Kong or Pac-Man,just horrible.
Pretty much anything good the 2600 had the Colecovision did better,and if it didnt have a better version,you could just use the 2600 adapter and play the 2600 cart,or buy a 7800 instead if it had  a version of the game your liking.
None of you can honestly tell me your having such a fucking blast with your 2600s that you look as happy as the kid on the TG-16 system box,just aint no way. I know for a fact every time you fire up that 2600 or wood grain VCS you cry at the poor shoddy 5 color graphics and bleep/click sounds,oh,and static,cause it used static as a soundfx also.

I know you used to think the toggle switches served a real purpose,and gave you real options,but then you realized that all it did was make the 4 brick obsticals in Combat change position a tad and make your shot reflect. And who in the hell needs  a black and white switch anyway????? I mean back then there was black and white tvs for christ sakes. Totally useless Fucking retarded. And joysticks that felt like you were working rigormortis out of a dead skank they found cold down by the river,jesus I hated those things. I hate the 2600,old design or newer small useless model,its all the same,junk. I could make better games with paper and ink and two checkers.

[Seldane]

I agree with all that too, hehe. But I mean I don't like ANY of the 70's or early 80's games/consoles. The Famicom (1983) was the first console with playable games on it. Period.

[esteban]

These old 70's games are  too primitive, and they don't last. At least not to me. I need to know why/how people can enjoy these games. Is it entirely based on nostalgia?

We really should make a thread to debunk the "nostalgia" myth.

It's not nostalgia that enables a person to enjoy the more "primal" video games of yesteryear, it's simply an open mind and a willingness to allow yourself to appreciate what the game is, instead of whining about how much video games have evolved over the last 20-30 years.

-----------
Tangent: I have heard folks say utterly ridiculous things such as...

"The special effect in that tv show / film are so primitive, I can't bear to watch it. I can't take it seriously. Special effects today are so good that it puts that show/film to shame."

and, similarly

"That music is so raw, unfinished, and lacking in true "musicianship". How can anyone listen to it? It hurts my ears! Today's electronic music (substitute a genre) is sooooooooooooo much better!"
---------------------

Believe it or not, there is a beauty in what we would now term "simplicity." It is inspiring to see what designers / programmers squeezed out of these "primitive" machines. More accurately, we are actually appreciating the sophistication of yesteryear.

Folks who are genuinely interested in the history of any subject are more willing, IMO, to view their object of study (in this case, video games) as living, breathing pieces of culture -- not dead, dessicated, inanimate "artifacts".

Thus far, I've really only discussed the "mindset" that can lead one to appreciate older games. I haven't even dealt with the fact that many of these older games are still quite fun to play!

For example, I love playing Kaboom! and Joust on my 2600. Those are not the only games I still love to play, but they are the ones that I have recently been occupying my time (last 2-3 months). I don't have lots of free time, so these "simpler" games are perfect when I need a quick fix.

I have to go, but there are so many more aspects of this topic to discuss, such as the GENRE. Many folks who dismiss older games aren't the biggest fans of the early arcade/action genre. Clearly, it is an exercise in futility for me to attempt to convince someone who wants to play a FPS or an MMORPG about the virtues of ZOOKEEPER .

I also think that many folks see that hardware (technology) can be correlated with the evolution of a genre (and the rise and fall of genres across the entire field). This, I think, leads to faulty conclusions about the merits of older games on older hardware.

[GUTS]

I disagree Steve, I think nostalgia has to play a part.  I absolutely love old 40s & 50s movies, but I can't stand playing atari games for more than a minute or so, they're just SO primitive, just like I couldn't stand watching an old silent movie because it would just be way too primitive.  I think the NES was when games first moved into the non-primitive era where they could be considered classics that could actually be enjoyed by future generations like when movies moved into the 30s, and the same with music recording.  Nostalgia must play a part since I can play something lke Pitfall 2 or Video Pinball on Atari and actually enjoy it (since I loved those games as a kid), but I'd rather play Blodia than pretty much every other Atari game ever.

[Keranu]

Steve scored the answer when he said simplicity. I love Atari and Intellivision games because they are so simple to play. The games are purely score based for the most part, so it's a blast playing a good old Atari game with your friends and see who can get the highest score. Hell you guys might think I am crazy for saying this, but I think those old 70's and early 80's games are the best game for multiplayer because I'll play those games with friends for hours and it's just bunch of fun, simple, competition.

Nostalgia had nothing to do with me liking these games. I grew up with a NES and Genesis and I didn't get a Atari until I was 11 or 12 years old, which my dad bought off a friend since he likes those old kind of games. There were plenty of other games I had by that time and I was really getting into the RPGs by that time also. But what would I play when I would come home from school? Good old Atari 2600. I would come home, play it for an hour or two, then go do whatever. Atlantis, Space Jockey, Bowling, Tennis, Pac Man (yes I love the 2600 port of Pac Man), Space Invaders, etc... I loved it.