I love playing Devil's advocate and debating, even if I hafta debate in favor of something I actually have views against in the first place. I love both the Xbox and PS2. I have countless games on them both. I've found myself liking Xbox slightly more than PS2 because of games like Jade Empire and Splinter Cell. While I do love gameplay, I also love good graphics. In a game where gameplay are equal on both system, like the Splinter Cell series, Xbox wins hands down.

Anyway, I like playing games. I like the Xbox and Playstation 2. I've yet to really get into Gamecube because I haven't really played many of its games. The few games I did play I loved, like Smash Tennis. I don't think I've played the Gamecube more than around 2+hours EVER since it was launched. It's obvious I know very little about the Gamecube and have no right to bring a system I'm unfamiliar with into this rant to get a few points across.

I like talking about video games and about how awesome some of them are. However, every here and there, I talk to some pretty narrow-minded people about video games and usually find myself walking away in frustration of their views.

The funniest comment I have ever heard from someone intent on slamming Xbox is "Xbox sucks because it's made by Microsoft". That's gotta be the most idiotic comment I have ever heard. They're basically expressing dissatisfaction on how a company decided to jump from the world of computers and into the world of gaming consoles. It's kinda funny that people think this considering Sony and Nintendo did the exact same thing. "Microsoft should stick to computers" is as good an argument as "Sony should stick to electronic appliances" as "Nintendo should stick to playing cards". Whatever the case, a statement like that seems inane.

Anyway, after I stop laughing from a comment about how much the Xbox sucks because it was made by Microsoft, I would inquire for more details in hopes of truly figuring out why someone would make such a comment. Unfortunately, it's usually the same question when I ask "Why do you think that?" with an answer like "Because it does". If anyone uses that as a way of debating against me, I lose all respect for you for coming up with such a lame comment.

Some people might even go as far as to tell me that "Because Microsoft is bad". Of course, when I ask them for some examples, they have nothing to say. This is what annoys me, that people would say stuff they know nothing about. If Microsoft is so bad in your eyes, then you should be able to tell me why.

Many people don't like Xbox. I myself don't really understand why. I kinda wonder if it has to do people not liking the Xbox because they are fans of the PS2. Could it be that because they like PS2, that means they are obligated to dislike Xbox and Gamecube?

They usually bring up reasons as to why they think PS2 is better than Xbox, "PS2 has better titles". That's a pretty good argument. But this is what I find sad, most of the people who make such a comment like that don't even play those games.

"PS2 has exclusive games like God of War and Gran Turismo and Final Fantasy X" someone might say. Okay, that's a pretty good argument. All those games are considered pretty good, right? Well, how many of you out there have played all these games? I'm pretty sure most of you hardcore gamers out there have.

"Xbox has games like Halo 2 and Knight of the Old Republic and Jade Empire and Fable" might be a good argument in the Xbox's favor. Now, here's the funny part, PS2 lovers would dismiss this argument. What I find hilarious is that most PS2 players who would dismiss such games NEVER even played the games. Then there's Xbox live, which basically makes all games on the Xbox so much better. Of course, PS2 owners don't seem to acknowledge that.

Some people hate a system yet never played its games! How can someone form an opinion about something they've never played?! How can I take you seriously if you have opinions about something in which you have nothing to base such an opinion?

Don't come up to me and say something about a system like "That system sucks" because there's a good chance you never played enough games on it to have come to such a conclusion. What you should do is say "I don't like that system" and not try and convince me to dislike it as well. To me, it's like the blind leading the blind.

You should hear some of the debates I sometimes have.

Friend: Xbox sucks.
Me: Why do you say that?
Friend: Because it just does.
Me: Damn, I doubt there's any way for me to argue against such a claim like that.
Friend: The PS2 is so much better.
Me: Care to elaborate?
Friend: PS2 has better games.
Me: Have you played many games on Xbox?
Friend: Not really.
Me: So why do you make such a claim?
Friend: PS2 has some great exclusives, like God of War of Gran Turismo.
Me: I've played those games and didn't really like it.
Friend: Then you're a fool.
Me: Have you played exclusive games on Xbox like Halo 2 or Jade Empire?
Friend: No, but those games aren't for me so I know I won't like them.
Me: Lemme get this straight, I've played the games you mentioned on PS2 and came to the conclusion that I don't like them, and am considered a fool. You, on the other hand, have not played the games I've mentioned on Xbox and came to the conclusion that you don't like them. What does that make you?

I really do have conversations like these with people I know. Keep in mind that I have similar conversations like that in reverse, where someone would slam on PS2 and I'm on the other side of the fence, debating in favor of PS2.

As I grow older, I find myself believing people are more and more narrow-minded than I originally realized. I'm not saying that I'm an enlightened individual, but sometimes it feels more like it. It's as if the more I feel enlightened, the more I realize many people around me aren't. Why the Hell is that?

You know what's the easiest way to break apart a person's argument on which system is the best? You tell them to only refer to games they have actually played to support their arguments. When you limit a fanboy to such parameters, they will have almost nothing to use as ammo in their arguments. That is because if there is someone that has played enough games to truly support firm arguments for and against the systems of their choosing, they would most likely never make a comment like "PS2 sucks" or "Xbox sucks" or "Gamecube sucks". That's because, if they have played the many games on all the systems, they will have realized that no system actually sucks in the first place, that they are all good in some aspect.

Okay, maybe it's wrong for me to assume that people would realize that no system really sucks in the first place, but still, I find it hard to fathom how someone can truly abhor something which I genuinely have no traits within it to truly be abhorred in the first place.

From my point of view, the next time you decide to root for the system you like and slam on the systems you don't like, perhaps you think to yourself if you've actually played enough games on a system to have actually arrived to such a sound conclusion.

After writing this rant, I'm gonna go off and play some N-Gage some more because I realized I didn't give that little handheld system a good enough try before arriving upon the conclusion that the N-Gage sucks ;)

Information is as useful as its source. If you're gonna accept someone's opinion about something, at least make sure the person actually have a good reason for having formed such an opinion, like having actually played the game first. Something like that is pretty important.

At the time of this writing, none of the next generation systems have come out (ie: Xbox 360, PS3, Revolution). Only screen shots and technology demos have been revealed. What I find hilarious is how people have already taken sides on what their favorite system is when none of them have played any of the games on any of the systems.

Someone sent me a comment about the rant via AIM:

[14:56] EcinKrispie: I agree, but sometimes I find it hard not to choose sides and remain open-minded.
[14:56] EcinKrispie: As for example, even if the Xbox or PS2 have good games, if I own a gamecube I won't want those systems enticing developers that would otherwise be making gamecube titles.

Here's my reply:

You have a point there. It is sometimes hard to keep an open-mind about game consoles. The problem is, in a situation like this, you're basically hating on Xbox and PS2 because they're having developers develop on their systems over your Gamecube. While that could be a reason to dislike Xbox and PS2, that doesn't mean the systems suck. It's kinda like being a baseball fan and hating on all visiting teams not because they suck but because they are up against the team you root for.

I myself don't want a lone system out on the market. Imagine if Gamecube is the only game console. That would suck because there would be no competition for Gamecube to produce better quality games. Gamecube will most likely become complacent with their dominance of the game console industry that they'll just crank out low quality game after game with no worries of gamers complaining because they can really do nothing about it since Gamecube is the only one that produces games. The only option for a gamer is to quit gaming, which, frankly, is highly unlikely. Gamers are like most people in this world, they'll just bend over backwards and take it up the ass.. Now, if there were other systems around, gamers have an option of leaving for the other systems. Gamecube wouldn't like that because that means gamers are no longer in the predicament where they have to play Gamecube games or not play games at all.

If new generations started playing games and Gamecube isn't the only game console out there, Gamecube will realize that they are no longer the lone gateway gaming console into the gaming world, that gamers now have a choice. To me, a game console is good if they earn your respect, not through automatically receiving your attention from being the only console system out there. That's why I have no problems defending Xbox, because I used to love the PS2 and all its wonderful games, yet was never aware of the Xbox and its hold on another corner of the market, and then one day sat down and gave the Xbox a whirl and realized that it's a good system. It's earned my respect.

Your version of the Gamecube is kinda like fanfiction.net. It's a major fanfiction database. Most people are only aware of it and nothing else. Because there is basically no competition in terms of fanfiction databases, they can basically do whatever they want and allow anyone with a computer post up all sorts of fanfiction. "Let the readers sort through the fanfics on our site for those few fanfic gems". Fanfics that should never be posted are constantly being posted on fanfiction.net and fanfiction.net doesn't really care because most people are not aware that there are other fanfiction outside fanfiction.net. They usually put up with whatever problems they have. If there was true competition for that site, then things would change, most definitely. They will have to work at keeping visitors constantly coming back. The can no longer rely on sheer quantity to sustain their site. They would now need to rely on quality as well.

To me, when someone slams on other systems while not having played many, if any, of its games, it's similar to seeing some fanfiction.net fan slamming on all those other fanfic authors that don't post their works on fanfiction.net. It's like seeing a kid all infatuated with a shiny stone on a beach while his back is turned toward the ocean filled with tons of shinier stones. There is so much that person could learn by giving things a try.

What's funny is at the time of this writing, people have already taken sides on which next generation system is better. I already hear people saying that the PS3 is better when nothing beyond screenshots and some technology demos have been released. Now, if these people aren't an example of how people are quick to judge, then I don't know what is.

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