Game System That Gave You the Greatest Amount of Buyer's Remorse

[Ephraim]

I've seen buyer's remorse referenced in a few threads. Usually people who bought a system well before any good games arrived for it, where it sat in their living rooms like an albatross around their necks, silently taunting the buyer with its powered-down status.

I'm only going to include relatively recent systems, because I'm sure there's plenty of folks who regret their VirtuaBoy the most, but they can choose "Other".

[Jason McMaster]

Man, TurboGRAFX

[Claycw]

Atari Jaguar

[Hawkeye Fierce]

Needs a "None" option.

[Hanzii]

I only own two of those and only bought one, so no remorse.

I felt very sad when I finally exchanged my ageing Amiga with a 486... but then somebody invented the 3D-card and all was good again.

[Ephraim]

Needs a "None" option.

Dammit! I guess the "None" option is not to vote.

I voted PSP, by the way. It's still basically my Lumines machine. I know there are lots of games that people enjoy playing on it, but I haven't found one. And I've tried a few of the highly recommended, thanks to the magic of cracked firmware. Dullsville, I played Syphon Filter for 10 minutes before erasing it forever and not considering buying it. I did pick up Virtua Tennis after "sampling" it, but I never ended up playing it.

I did snag Loco Roco for $11.49 Canadian last week, hopefully that will drive away some of this remorse. But personally, I'd love to trade my pristine PSP for a new iPod.

[Charles]

DS for me. It wasn't until the new Super Mario game that I actually started using the system. I bought it for castlevania but when I was done with that the system gathered dust for a long long time.

[Becoming]

The Xbox. It was basically my Halo tv adapter and nothing much else. I was happy to pawn it off towards a DS Lite over the summer.

[rjcc]

If I had ever played lumines prior to getting lumines live, psp would be my answer, cuz the game is crack and I'd buy the system just for it. as it is, I can't say I've had buyers remorse for my systems, I bought the 360 for pgr3 and nba 2k6 and was quite happy with them.

[LesJarvis]

I'm pretty happy with all of the consoles I've purchased, and have at least a decent (i.e. 10+) game library for each of them, with the exception of the Wii for obvious reasons. Of those listed, the only ones I don't own are a PSP, 360 and PS3.

[unbongwah]

No remorse so far, but I've avoided buying any consoles I thought didn't / don't yet have enough titles for my tastes. I'm also not into portable gaming, so I haven't bought a DS or PSP.

There are some which have been underutilized - in hindsight, I don't think I spent enough time with my Genesis or Saturn - but that's lack of free time and/or too many other distractions, not a ding against the system itself.

[shift6]

Game Boy Advance. Bought it on day one with maybe a half dozen games, after going to great lengths just to find one at a Software Etc (was in LV at the time). Then of course you couldn't see the screen except in bright light, the Dig Dug in the Midway classics fucking scrolled, Chu-Chu Rocket was far less fun than on the DC, the Tony Hawk 1 port was absolutely horrible, and Super Dodgeball was only cool playing against another person. My GBA sat in a box for three years before I gave it away.

[Squirrel Killer]

Other: An Odyssey2 that I bought as a nostagia console but forgot to test beforehand.

[Equis]

I honestly don't remember enjoying any game on the Xbox that I didn't enjoy more on the PC.

Ok, Oddworld: Stranger and Panzer Dragoon Orta, yeah, but there really wasn't a whole lot i got out of that system.

[Dave Long]

I enjoyed my Atari Jaguar, but that's definitely in the Buyer's Remorse column for me only because I traded in SNES Secret of Mana to get it.

Tempest 2000 still rox, though.

I have way more Trader's Remorse than I do Buyer's Remorse. Oh... those Neo Geos I used to own... :(

[Jason McMaster]

None of those systems are a regret for me, and I've bought all of them.

[Chris Nahr]

PSP. The only system I sold quickly enough that I got nearly full price for it.

[Equis]

I honestly don't remember enjoying any game on the Xbox that I didn't enjoy more on the PC.

Ok, Oddworld: Stranger and Panzer Dragoon Orta, yeah, but there really wasn't a whole lot i got out of that system.

[Harkonis]

3DO , and everytime I see 360 I think of it.

[Naked]

PSP, by a yard.

At least my 3DO had Samurai Shodown.

[stusser]

It does need a "none" option. I only have an xbox out of that entire list and I never play any games, but I use it every single day for xbmc.

[triggercut]

Gamecube here. Never been a huge fan of the Nintendo exclusives, but fans of those games caved in my resolve. It isn't that it's a bad console, it's just that I don't think it suits my gaming tastes very well.

The couple of games I finished (Pikmin, Eternal Darkness) or played a long time (Res Evil 4) I really enjoyed, but other stuff (Viewtiful Joe, Super Smash Brothers, Animal Crossing, Metroid, Zelda, etc.) just didn't click with me, so it ended up being a dust-collector.

[Jancelot]

Gamecube. Eternal Darkness was great and Animal Crossing was fun to play with my girlfriend at the time. But otherwise it was pretty much a disappointment. For the first time both Mario and Zelda failed to draw me in and I never finished either. My XBox just sank my GC's battleship when it came to both content and enjoyment.

[Dave Long]

PSP, by a yard.

At least my 3DO had Samurai Shodown.

3DO had some really good stuff. Road Rash was great on there. Madden 3DO was awesome for the time. Super Street Fighter II Turbo... loved it. There still hasn't been a replacement for that wacky Twisted either. Star Control II... brilliant!

Later stuff like Star Fighter, Return Fire, Blade Force and Immercenary were very cool also.

I don't regret the PSP at all. There are some good games on there now. They're often too expensive, but as long as I wait for discounts, I'm happy with the system.

[worm]

Sega Saturn, even though I got it for 50 bucks because it was mislabeled and I cried when they tried to weasel out of it.

Now that I've modded it, it's not so bad.

[Qenan]

The 360 has been a disappointment to date, so I chose that, but I think that will turn around with time... hopefully starting this Christmas. Otherwise, no real disappointments.

[tromik]

N64. I mean, I loved it, there just weren't that many games for me, and so expensive here. I remember Killer Instinct 64 (not that I would have bought KI) costing something like $129. Plus most of my friends had PS1, so I saw them playing things like MGS.

[tromik]

The 360 has been a disappointment to date, so I chose that, but I think that will turn around with time... hopefully starting this Christmas. Otherwise, no real disappointments.
To date? I think it's only the last two months that's it's actually been worth buying, but now there a pile of great games. Look at the releases just in November.

If you bought your 360 before November 2006, you probably bought too early.

[Lum]

Definitely PSP for me. Lumines was the only game I ever enjoyed on it. Now that I have a video iPod I don't even use the PSP for videos any more (iPod is smaller, tons more storage and has much better battery life).

[Nick Walter]

A month ago PSP would have taken this hands down, but lately the PSP has redeemed itself lately so the original Xbox wins.

[Jake Plane]

Agree that there needs to be a none option. Typically buy my systems based on the games I want to play. The one exception was the dreamcast that I purchased on a lark (a used one). Whatever the opposite of buyer's remorse is is how I felt about that thing. Was a lot of freaking fun.

[Thrag]

I picked up a GBA for a series of long plane rides, but on the first flight I started reading Catch-22 and could not put the book down. I keep taking it on flights and somehow I never manage to play it. I think in the few years I've had the thing I've played it for maybe three hours. So I have minor remorse on that purchase.

[roguefrog]

Gameboy Color. The only handheld I ever owned. I just don't like gaming on a tiny screen when I got a TV or Monitor available. Thus I didn't buy much games for it. Even when I was going somewhere I just left it behind.

[RepoMan]

Gamecube. My AV setup has a 2x2 VGA switcher, but Gamecube doesn't do VGA. So setting up the gamecube (as opposed to Xbox or PC) was always a hassle of cable swapping... and hence it just never got played. Pretty much a total waste of money. Too bad, too, because my wife and I had a real hoot with Smash Brothers the handful of times we did play it....

Does Wii have a VGA adapter?

[Saxman_72]

None of those systems are a regret for me, and I've bought all of them.
You're a madman, I tell you! A MADMAN!!

[Warning]

I voted PSP.

The odd thing is since I downgraded it to firmware 1.5 I use it everyday to watch full-resolution movies, do emulation and read ebooks. But I haven't put a UMD game or movie in it in probably 4 months.

Edit for Jake: and I play my DS all the time.

[Zylon]

GAME.COM.

Only a little bit of remorse though, since I got it on clearance. Ditto for my Virtual Boy.

[Kevin Grey]

Original Gameboy Advance- almost useless for me without a backlight. The DS at launch would be an honorable mention for lack of titles, however playing GBA games on its much superior screen was worse the cost by itself.

[mk56]

Game Gear :(
I thought it'd be as cool as my Gameboy, but in color.

[Malaak]

I guess for me that'd be the Xbox, though I can't say I've actually felt remorse about buying it until I'd read this thread and started thinking about it. Thanks!

Halo and KOTOR were the reasons I originally bought it, and apart from their respective sequels, Jade Empire and a few other games, I've hardly played anything on it. In fact I don't think I've turned it on since I finished Halo 2.

I don't think I actually regret buying it, but I guess I didn't get a lot of mileage out of it. Maybe I ought to get it chipped and turn it into a media center, but I don't really know if that is still worth doing at this point in time. I do know that I'm pretty tired of reencoding everything to xvid/mp3 so my dvd standalone can play it.

[Gunmetal]

PSP for me. Between the awful button layout, abysmal battery life (especially when not in use), total lack of games and constantly having to update my firmware when a new game does come out, it's the first system I've ever considered a chore to play.

Well, I kind of regret the GBA Micro as well. Since I basically used it to play Drill Dozer and then never touched it again (I play any GBA games on the DS Lite)

[Jeff Green]

PSP in a landslide.

All it ever was to me was the dedicated Lumines machine. That game kicked ass, but it sure wasn't worse the price of the PSP, which has been collecting dust on my shelf ever since.

[Jake Plane]

How many PSP owners are also DS owners?

I wonder if this anti-PSP wave is more of a reflection that folks purchased a mobile gaming device and found that they weren't mobile gamers.

[Drastic]

I voted PSP, but as remorse goes, it hasn't been very severe. It was something of a celebratory impulse buy at the time, and I've certainly had good playtime out of it and expect more. But if I had a time machine, I'd send me a message to not buy it, and put that chunk of change into getting an hdtv and 360 earlier than I did. I could've had the joy of the last couple weeks months earlier!

[brainfromarous]

Coleco Adam.

A bolt of pain went through me even as I was typing the name.

[RickH]

PSP. What a collection I have of nice-looking games that ultimately bore me.

EDIT FOR JAKE: So I go play my DS instead.

[DennyA]

Vectrex. Always wanted one when it was new, bought a used one for $125 or so in the late 90s, and played with it for all of an hour.

[Damien Neil]

PSP, no question.

Expensive. Painful to use, with horribly positioned controls. Very few good games that aren't ports of games I can get on the PS2. Most of the good games are terrible for mobile usage--for example, Burnout looks great, but it's almost impossible to see oncoming traffic on the tiny screen, the load times are bad, and the PSP controls are crap.

In contrast, the DS has great games that I can't get on any other platform. The stylus is the most comfortable control method for portable gaming that I've used. The graphics are entirely adequate for a portable console--I don't need or want super-detailed 3D environments, since I can't make out any of the details. The cartoonish Mario style of big, blocky regions of color is perfect for small screens.

[MatthewF]

None of the systems listed, but I do have some regret for buying my Atari Lynx and Jaguar, even though I remember them fondly. They both had some pretty excellent gaming moments (AvP, Tempest 2000, Slime World, Raiden) and were much more powerful than other systems released at the time. The problem was their short lifespan. Why did they never finish Eye of the Beholder for Lynx? WHY? Damn you Atari.

[Stroker Ace]

In retrospect I'm gonna say Game Boy Color. I bought it along with Zelda DX - even though I already owned an original game boy and the original Link's Awakening. I never bought another game for it... over $100 on a colorized rehash with one new stupid level. My fault probably, but still the worst console purchase in memory. That said, Link's Awakening is still one of my top 3 favorite console games ever. (Bionic Commando, Link's Awakening, and Goldeneye)

[Derek Meister]

Are we counting half-systems, like the Sega 32X?

The only thing I didn't regret about that thing was returning it the next day.

[DustyTheHamster]

2 and one only slightly more then the other.

The leader of the race is currently the PSP being followed by the Gamegear which IMO was ahead of it's time.

[marxeil]

<Quietly>PS2</Quietly>
I tried moving away from PC to PS2, so I got one for my birthday two years ago. I played some good games (God of war, Ico, Jak3 - got stuck in the middle, SSX3), But eventually I found myself going back to my PC. Last birthday I got a Wheel and started playing driving sims and the PS2 is now an expensive DVD. I will say to its defense that it managed to play some burned home DVD's that my proper DVD player couldn't handle for some reason.

[Jeff Green]

How many PSP owners are also DS owners?

I wonder if this anti-PSP wave is more of a reflection that folks purchased a mobile gaming device and found that they weren't mobile gamers.

Not me--I love my DS. And my GBA before that. I bought into the PSP hype because it looked more "adult" and sexier at the time. I actually bought it INSTEAD of a DS, and felt kind of sorry for the DS, because it looked cheap by comparison. Now, with time, I see how empty the PSP hype was. And I'm with everyone else on the other criticisms--too expensive, crappy controls, and horrendous load times. Really just a total waste of my money, IMHO.

[Desslock]

why are the controls on the PSP so goddamn awful? I bought it at a time when I didn't have any other consoles, so I thought it was the norm for console controls to be crappy, and happily went back to my PC. But now after having a 360 and Gamecube Wavebird, I just don't get how Sony could design such crappy, uncomfortable and inconvenient controls as the PSP.

So I guess the PSP would be my choice as well, although I only played a couple of games on my GBA and my Gamecube, but I kind of like them all for different reasons.

[DeathMonkey]

The correct answer is:

Nintendo Virtual Boy

At least the PSP doesn't shoot lasers into your eyes, man!

-Scott-

[Demon G Sides]

None, really. I bought the 360 late enough that the good game train was beginning, and the N64 wasn't even on there, and the Sega was a classic at all times, so no.

[SqueakyFoo]

Count me in for PSP. What a craptastic system that is. I'm almost glad it got stolen.

[Fuzzydevil]

None, oddly. I got a 360 recently - but I don't have a great deal of cash at the moment, so I feel guilt every time I buy a game. And there are many I want.

I have the least games for my Dreamcast, but I got that brand new for £40 after they'd already been phased out, and frankly Chu Chu Rocket, Powerstone, and sundry others make that a worthwhile buy. The same thing goes for my Gamecube - that was bought second hand for £40, and made worthwhile by Resi4, Super Smash, Mario Kart, and sundry imported beat 'em ups based on anime licenses.

I guess my DS gets the least play, but again, I don't regret it one bit. That was bought when I was in London and provided ample amusement when on the tube or when flying back to the island, and I'd presently be itching to try out things like Phoenix Wright and Ouendan if I didn't have one. I guess I could have some remorse over getting an Amstrad CPC, but as I got that by trading something worth £15 with a friend, and he had about 90 games on cassette with the CPC, I'm not complaining there, either.

Dave Long: Bleh, trading SNES Secret of Mana isn't much to worry about - in England at least. It seems like every single second-hand games shop in the country has at least one copy of that, on display, in their window. After the second time I saw it in just such a location I started really paying attention to its appearance, and I don't think I've ever seen a shop without it, even now.

Tim

[quatoria]

I voted gamecube, even though the few games I've bought for my psp, aside from monster hunter portable, universally suck, but at least it's a decent media device and emulator. The controls are fucking abhorrent, though. One goddamned nub? Screw you, Sony.

Still, I ended up buying something like four fucking games over the entire damned lifespan of the Gamecube, and that's a real shitty run on a console. Animal Crossing, Cubivore, Wind Waker, PSO V1 and 2, Smash Bros and Resident Evil 4 are the only games I can even remember enjoying on that system. I went something like two years without buying a single damned gamecube title. It had been at least a year before Resident Evil 4, I think.

[quatoria]

Also, fess up: who picked PS3? Was it Whitta?

[E-phonk]

The Dreamcast. While it had a few good games, it also didn't last very long.

Tennis, Soul Caliber & mr driller were the games I enjoyed, but in the end i would be better of if I had bought a PS2 or something. And it seems my dreamcast isn't working anymore anyway.

[nKoan]

Yet another vote for None on whole systems.

I do have buyers remorse for a few games and peripherals though. I bought Forza and a wheel at the same time for the xbox and got buyers remorse there. I tried the game out with a regular controller in the store, but I don't really like controllers for driving games to begin with so I didn't feel it was a fair judge of the game and I'd need a wheel to really experience it. With all the positive reviews out there, I figured it was a safe bet so I bought both. I played Forza for a few hours until I decided I just didn't like it that much. I kept the wheel in the hopes of using it on other driving games for the xbox, but its really just collecting dust.

[quatoria]

The Dreamcast. While it had a few good games, it also didn't last very long.

Dude. DUDE. I'm just gonna pretend I didn't hear that, so I don't have to go all Dave Long up in your mug.

[Rimbo]

I felt badly about the Dreamcast being discontinued up until I realized that I could get every game I wanted for it for $5 each. When my niece and nephew come over, they don't want to play the PS2; they want to play Cannon Spike.

In fact, other than Rez and Katamari, I really never feel like playing the PS2, either. And if I had a working DC copy of Rez, I would play that version instead.

GBA would have been here if I hadn't had a chance to exchange up to the SP at a discount. God, that screen was awful.

The real winner here would have to be the Voodoo Banshee PC. But that all ended well, and it didn't prevent me from buying or playing my favorite games.

So, PS2 wins.

[jfletch]

Definitely the GBA. I bought it on launch and the ultra-dark screen and hand raping controls were a 1-2 punch in unplayability. The Castlevania was garbage and the rest of the games were fairly uninspired SNES ports/remakes. The Super Mario World port, which I was really looking forward to, was utter cack (stupid Mario voice clips, change in power-up structure to make it easier). The fact that Nintendo claimed it was impossible to light their handheld, only to actually do it, was the final straw. No way was I giving Nintendo another $100 for fixing their broken system.

I enjoyed Advance Wars and Wario Ware but I gave it to my sister a while back and haven't missed it yet. She later bought a SP.

[MatthewF]

I dunno, I bought the micro for $40 and I thought it was well worth that price. The screen on the micro is really bright, and once you figure out how to hold the thing it doesn't hurt your hands. Also, it's tiny.

[JM]

Count me in for PSP. What a craptastic system that is.

By no definition is it "craptastic".

[Jupiter Jones]

Actionmax

[Jason Cross]

3DO , and everytime I see 360 I think of it.

Ditto on 3DO, but 360 doesn't make me think of it. I don't really associate the names, the systems just look so different, and I think the 360 is the system I have been most satisfied with since the Genesis.

PSP is coming close to that territory, but I'm not ready to give up on it yet. Let's see if they start offering PS1 games that I don't need a PS3 to download.

[Jeff Green]

By no definition is it "craptastic".


Oh yeah? Try mine.

CRAP-TAS-TIC (adj): over-expensive, unwieldy, inefficient, heavy, poorly designed hunk of junk with a nub guaranteed to break off within a month and a grand total of one must-have game to its name, even after a year on the market.

[Desslock]

The 3D0 is the only console from the last 24 years that I actually wish I had, because I would love to play its enhanced version of Star Control 2.

[andrew_fm]

The original GBA. I can't see shit on it and I never wanted to bother plunking down the cash for the clamshell model or a DS.

[Damien Neil]

The 3D0 is the only console from the last 24 years that I actually wish I had, because I would love to play its enhanced version of Star Control 2.

Is it substantially different than the freely-available Ur-Quan Masters (http://sc2.sourceforge.net/)?

[Drastic]

why are the controls on the PSP so goddamn awful? I bought it at a time when I didn't have any other consoles, so I thought it was the norm for console controls to be crappy, and happily went back to my PC. But now after having a 360 and Gamecube Wavebird, I just don't get how Sony could design such crappy, uncomfortable and inconvenient controls as the PSP.
As I recall, I think the reasoning is that Sony's doing you a favor by even releasing pictures of their sexy, sexy product, much less actually selling it, and you should be falling down on your knees to kiss their feet for not pulling it entirely from the market due to the market's refusal to make UMD movies just as popular as DVDs. Lousy groundlings don't know what's good for them!

Also, I want to say that one of the two votes for the PS3 was from KONY, because I think that would make the world an even more amusing place.

[Rorschach]

Is it substantially different than the freely-available Ur-Quan Masters (http://sc2.sourceforge.net/)?

AFAIK Ur-Quan Masters includes the 3DO music soundtracks and voiceovers. About the only thing missing is the intro and win movies.

[quatoria]

The 3D0 is the only console from the last 24 years that I actually wish I had, because I would love to play its enhanced version of Star Control 2.

Wanna make a bid for mine?

[Damien Neil]

Yes, UQM includes the 3DO soundtracks and voiceovers. I haven't played the 3DO version, however; is there anything else that makes it different?

I ask because I figured Desslock would have heard of UQM by now. :>

[Fuzzydevil]

Isn't UQM basically a port of the 3DO version to PC? I recall that it has the flaws that were in the 3DO version, like there not being the time limit warning.

I've had so, so many discussions on UQM that I can't remember what's true and what's false anymore :|

Tim

[Desslock]

Is it substantially different than the freely-available Ur-Quan Masters (http://sc2.sourceforge.net/)?

I think it's basically the same except missing some cinematics -- I downloaded it years ago for that reason, but never got around to playing it, because it was still a work in progress and I figured I'd wait for a final release.

[Desslock]

Wanna make a bid for mine?

Heh, I periodically consider bidding on one on ebay.

[Desslock]

Yes, UQM includes the 3DO soundtracks and voiceovers. I haven't played the 3DO version, however; is there anything else that makes it different?

I ask because I figured Desslock would have heard of UQM by now. :>

Ye of little faith, heh heh. I wrote a column on UQM back when CGW had genre columns, years ago. I just wouldn't mind a version I don't have to fuss with though.

I also kinda wanted the 3DO version of Wing Commander 3, for the missing cinematics like Hobbes' explanation of his betrayal (also available online, at places like wcnews.com.

[ciparis]

1) Playstation (version 1, launch week) -- talk about worthless (very pretty, but if you went from a well-played Saturn to that...)
2) Lynx
3) Dreamcast -- definitely more my problem of not having time for it at the time
4) Gamecube -- (ditto)

Most of the other old-timer and later systems I really enjoyed, even if they didn't have a great number of games. There was always at least one title that made it worthwhile for me.

Odyssey2: loved it, especially UFO! and K.C. Munchkin
Colecovision: Donkey Kong!
5200: Space Dungeon, man
Vectrex: can't remember the names :/
7800: Ballblazer, Joust
Sega Master System: various
3DO: Star Control 2, FIFA, that Matrix game (before there was a Matrix)
Jaguar: AvP, Tempest 2000, DOOM, even the pack-in
Genesis: Madden 92, many many more
Saturn: Sega Rally, VF, Daytona, Panzer Dragoon
N64: Mario Kart, Mario 64, Zelda, Rogue Squadron
PSP: Lumines.
DS: Animal Crossing
360: Chromehounds, Live
PS3: Resistance, movies, sheer sexiness
Wii: Wheeeeeeeee!

[John Merva]

I'm beginning to have a certain amount of remorse about the 360 because, even though there are so many games I want to play, all the talk here about how they die at the drop of a hat almost makes me afraid to turn it on, especially as Dead Rising loves to give me a disk unreadable message!
Made even worse as my girlfriend bought it for me and I really don't want to have wasted her money.

[quatoria]

Heh, I periodically consider bidding on one on ebay.

I was actually being a console-tease, anyway - I don't want to sell my 3DO, I love the thing. How could I give up being able to play Way of the Warrior?

[Fuzzydevil]

John Merva, I had that worry when I was thinking about buying one. It's crashed twice already - once being on a Gears of War loading screen - but I've no real issues thus far, besides my wireless controller being a bit sporadic. Still, when it crashes, I turn it off and leave it for a few hours, just in case...

Tim

[MattKeil]

Had to vote PSP, for the reasons mentioned by many others already. I'll add in that the lack of a second analog nub is unforgivable, and will ultimately be what dooms the system to require a replacement that actually functions with 3D gameplay as we know it in the post-Dual Shock world.

Runner-ups include the DS for its horrendous software drought following release, although subsequently it has proven to be the best handheld ever made, IMO. Also the original GBA, for having the most ridiculously dim non-backlit screen of all time. I couldn't play that thing for more than thirty minutes without giving myself a headache from squinting or making my neck sore due to the odd positions I'd have to hold it in to get the light just right on it.

Surprised at the number of 360 responses. It's had the best first year of any console in history, for my money.

[quatoria]

There's only four of them. And at least three of those are Dave Long.

[Marcus]

So I voted PSP if only because it was the only option on the poll that worked for me.

There really needs to be a GBA option on there because that thing gave me the worse buyers remorse ever. I was seriously depressed that it sucked so bad I swear I tried every light on the market for that fucking thing.

The PSP gave me some remorse until they cracked it and I could play play NES games on it. It was pretty bare for a few months there though.

[Ephraim]

So I voted PSP if only because it was the only option on the poll that worked for me.

There really needs to be a GBA option on there because that thing gave me the worse buyers remorse ever.

These vBulletin polls only support 10 options. I had 9, so I could have fit one more in, which in hindsight should have been "None". I would have included some of the more retro systems that people are mentioning, but the poll just couldn't handle it.

[Jeremy Johnsen]

N64. Any system that makes you wait 6 months between good games is crap. PS2 was pretty close, but I got rid of it before I could feel buyers remorse. Basically any system I bought early in it's cycle made me feel remorse. Buying the Gamecube and Xbox 18 months into their life meant a full supply of cheap, good games.

Thsi makes me nervous about my Wii purchase.

[Enduro_Man]

Like Derek, I'd vote for the 32X if that were an option. It was Boxing Day: I'd lined up to get into Future Shop, and hyped myself into believing it was worth purchasing. Sure, I played Virtua Racing Deluxe until my thumbs were bloody, but other than that, the selection of games was horrible. Doom on a console was neat at the time, but by the winter of '94 you didn't need a cutting-edge PC to play a much better version.

In hindsight, I would have been much better off saving that CAD~200 for a PS1, which wasn't that far off.

[SolomonGrundy]

the Saturn. there were some great games, but it died pretty quickly on the vine.
Never regreted my DC- the sheer # or great titles outwieghed the short life of the console.

[Dave Long]

There's only four of them. And at least three of those are Dave Long.

Am I going to open my door and find you waiting for me with a gun in your hand someday? Back the fuck off asshole!

[John Merva]

Had to vote PSP, for the reasons mentioned by many others already. I'll add in that the lack of a second analog nub is unforgivable, and will ultimately be what dooms the system to require a replacement that actually functions with 3D gameplay as we know it in the post-Dual Shock world.

Runner-ups include the DS for its horrendous software drought following release, although subsequently it has proven to be the best handheld ever made, IMO. Also the original GBA, for having the most ridiculously dim non-backlit screen of all time. I couldn't play that thing for more than thirty minutes without giving myself a headache from squinting or making my neck sore due to the odd positions I'd have to hold it in to get the light just right on it.

Surprised at the number of 360 responses. It's had the best first year of any console in history, for my money.

I voted for the 360 for the reason I gave above. To be honest, I am loving it and can't wait to get through with F.E.A.R. and then get onto things like Gears of War. I am thinking about picking up Fight Night to have a 'change of pace' game.

Just a little concerned about the possibility of it breaking.

[Andrew Mayer]

the Saturn. there were some great games, but it died pretty quickly on the vine.


Did you ever play Panzer Dragoon Saga? That alone was worth the price of purchase. Still one of the greatest games I've ever played.

Of course if you hacked it to play japanese games and got a hold of the arcade perfect Darkstalkers (with memory pack) it was worth it even more.

[K0NY]

PSP, by a yard.
At least my 3DO had Samurai Shodown.
PSP has Samurai Showdown and any other Neo Geo game you care to emulate.

Atari Jaguar
Ditto. It wasn't right away though. I liked Tempest enough to really get into it for a while. But then when there were no games coming out for it, I got pretty remorseful.

[baren]

My vote goes to an imported Chinese Dreamcast that played the Japanese games. I got weirdly excited about the Japanese launch titles for that machine. And, while I enjoyed them, I ended up getting a US Dreamcast rather than modding my import. The old hardware has been gathering dust in a closet ever since.

I daily count my lucky stars that I got to experience Blue Stinger before any naysayers could push me away.

[Jason Cross]

AFAIK Ur-Quan Masters includes the 3DO music soundtracks and voiceovers. About the only thing missing is the intro and win movies.

Correct. The 3DO version was indeed the best one ever by far, and UQM is a port of it. Smooth scaling in ship battles (instead of three separate zoom levels), fantastic voice-overs, great controls, you name it.

I haven't used UQM in a long time. I bet it has come a long way.

I would KILL for UQM as a Live Arcade title. Plleeeeaaaase!

[dwinn]

The SEGA CD collected the most dust at our house. I think we only ever played Sewer Shark on it.

[Lunch of Kong]

Where's the "none" option?

[JM]

Oh yeah? Try mine.

CRAP-TAS-TIC (adj): over-expensive, unwieldy, inefficient, heavy, poorly designed hunk of junk with a nub guaranteed to break off within a month and a grand total of one must-have game to its name, even after a year on the market.

Didn't cost me too much, but it was a pricey system. Unweildy? Hahah. Heavy? What, are you 3?

I've had mine for a couple of years and the nub hasn't broken off - nor do I know of anyone in my circle of friends who've suffered that to their PSP (that's about 7 PSP owners).

One must-have game? Loco Roco, Lumines + sequel, Wipeout, Pro Evo, Untold Legends, Monster Hunter, GTA, Metal Gear, Hot Shots Golf... christ, there's been plenty of games I've loved on there.

The system ain't perfect, but suggesting it's "crap" is some serious bending of reality. Crap is gizmondo. Crap is The Day After Tomorrow. Crap is not a system with a stunning screen and impressive oomph that does all-singing all-dancing multi-meeja fun as well as some damn fine games, just because you'd rather be rescuing princesses or something.


Edit: I was a very early adopter (ie imported) for both the PSP and the original DS. The DS started collecting dust far earlier than the PSP, because it had a pisspoor selection of games that appealed to me and the touchscreen was mostly a gimmick to begin with. Even now, wanting to pick up a DS Lite, I'm struggling to find too many games that would grab my interest - I have Advance Wars, Metroid Hunters, and some others, but was disappointed with the likes of Mario Kart.

[Chris Nahr]

Not surprised at the landslide victory of the PSP and the second place for the GameCube, but why are so many people disappointed with the PS2? Early adopters who hated the launch lineup and had their console break down?

[Rob_Merritt]

I've bought pretty much every system ever made. I liked systems that everyone else hated such as the Coleco Adam, Atari Jaguar, and 3DO. (I bought all three of those systems at launch!)

The system that has given me the most remorse is the PSP. Complete waste of money.