Ben-DutkaWe're now on the fourth PlayStation launch (not counting handheld devices), and it's interesting to look back and see the individual hype trains for each.
Which one were you most excited about?
Obviously, this depends on your age, but it also depends on the state of the industry at each release point. I mean, gaming was still in an early stage when the original PlayStation first launched back in 1995; the "hype" for that machine was about as big as the normal hype for any new electronic toy. At least, that's how I remember it. The only people I knew who were even aware of the first PlayStation were hardcore gamers.
The PS2 is likely the most memorable, just because it was a perfect storm. The industry was really exploding and Sony had established themselves as a leader on the gaming scene. The lead-up to this launch was absolutely bananas, and it was the first time I remember hearing mainstream media sources cover the event. Yes, there was a time – not too long ago, either – when video games were basically never mentioned outside of dedicated gaming mags. If gaming was mentioned, it was nothing more than a news blurb, the same the latest Cabbage Patch Kid would receive.
The PS3 was huge as well but Microsoft was a heavy competitor at that time, so there was plenty of indecision and speculation. As for the PS4, we all just went through that so there's no real need to recap. What say you? Which PlayStation system had you most amped up?
I was not aware until after ps3 was launched. Pretty excited for ps4
PS2. 🙂
PS2 no doubt about it.
I'd probably say the PS3 just based on the jump we expected. But the PS4 was the first system I ever pre-ordered so… I don't know what that means in terms of this discussion but it was between those two consoles for sure.
PS2. Hands down. After the success of the PS1 and the many rpgs I played on it, I was so excited for it. It also was the day I had to say goodbye to my old friend, the Sega Dreamcast. 🙁
Playstation2. I was still young enough to believe all the pre-release hype. I'll never forget the photo realistic Ridge Racer pics that were soon forgotten after release. I was fascinated with my Dreamcast but the PS2 commercials and games instantly made me want one.
Since Dreamcast doesn't count I'll say PS2.I couldn't wait to play a new Crash,Spyro and sequels to all of the games I had on PS1.
Ps2 or ps3 cause I got a ps4 right away no wait or shortage the ps1 though would a never happened if Sony hadn't bought out Panasonic's rights to the 3do so man its its tough
PS2 for sure. The mose I had fun with and had spent most time with, however, was the PSX … xD
the most time spend definately the ps2 those were soe awsome days when i was a kid
ps2 or ps4 but for different reasons and one of each would be the 1st console i ever owned and the 1st console i brought on my own on day1 respectively thats just the tip of the ice berg but yeah i like them both alot i'm not sure which more
happy gaming
The ps3 hype was the best. It had a lot of effort behind it.
Whoever wasn't wow'd by Resistance Fall of Man, Warhawk, Motorstorm, and those early games is lying. Those were great times.
I don't think I've actually been "HYPED" for any console launch. I care more about the games than the machine itself and it took me a year to even get a ps4 or ps3 nearly. The ps1/2 I think I was too young to think of anything more than a video game machine and not caring about stuff haha.
It also depends on when you entered the console world.
For me who at the time had no interest in the consoles at all, the playstation 2 were just a toy for the mainstream consumer, those who didn't really care about gaming. An entry level gaming machine.
Playstation 2 was Buzz, Sing Star, Guitar Hero and weird Japanese stuff. It was something we toyed with at after-parties while being stoned.
The PS3 was something I approached carefully. The only reason I even considered it was because of GTA4. I so, SO wanted to play that game, the prior three GTAs were so amazingly good so the next GTA were like the most important game release in decades for me.
Everybody said the PS3 had problems with the exotic hardware and oddball system design that caused more trouble than good. But since Microsoft never was an alternative, it was my only option. Plus my best buddy at that time was a playstation fan, and finally, the PS3 was renowned to be a very good Blue-Ray player, something I wanted.
So for me the PS4 is the first launch that I was really engaged in, and also a launch that went really smooth. The entire gaming industry agree it is the best alternative in the console world.
So from my perspective I'd say that the PS4 is easily the launch that has excited me the most.
Last edited by Beamboom on 10/22/2014 2:38:47 AM
"Playstation 2 was Buzz, Sing Star, Guitar Hero and weird Japanese stuff. It was something we toyed with at after-parties while being stoned."
Always amazed me just how little the so-called "hardcore elite" gamers on PC knew about consoles.
I've never seen myself as neither "hardcore" or "elite", rather a regular, average gamer who enjoyed gaming now and then in a quite normal fashion. I definitely do not belong to any elite, unless you define all PC gamers as being so.
Rather, I was surprised to discover how much console gamers believed those of us that didn't have a console cared about that part of the industry. That is to this day puzzling. Like, why *should* we care? We bought magazines that focused on our platforms, being it Amiga or PC. It's always been a significant separation between computer and console gaming – still is.
Ben, it's just like how you don't really know much at all about what goes on in the mobile gaming segment. It's a platform that is of no interest to you, so you just don't pay any attention nor interest in that direction. You're aware of the most popular titles and that's about it.
And why should you care?
It's the exact same here.
Last edited by Beamboom on 10/23/2014 3:03:35 AM
I've always been connected to both console and PC gaming. I don't think I'm "hardcore" at all. I consider hardcore being people who's primary hobby is gaming. I love gaming, but it was never my first hobby choice.
I also don't really know how it's at all possible to think PS2, with 150+ million consoles sold, for anyone to think it was only for the games you listed there, beam.
Back in the day, I played me PC games like Age of Empires, Lords of the Realm (Amazeballs game, by the way), Worms (way better on PC than on PS1), Civilization, some Quake, etc. I probably would have played more PC back then if it wasn't also the family PC. Had to share with a sister, my mom, plus my dad used it for work a lot.
Go way back, and I played games like Commander Keen, Duke Nukem, Where in the World (or space) is Carmen Sandiego.
I think my all time favorite PC game was FreeSpace. (I remember how COOL it was to play a "DVD GAME!")
Last edited by Underdog15 on 10/22/2014 4:42:36 PM
Beam with so many games that hit into the 9+ range by the "hardcore" gaming critics, and the mass amount of console focused magazines on newstands it's astonishing you could have had such a perspective about the PS2.
I've been a PC/console gamer for most my life. I knew where PC had it's strengths and I knew where consoles had there's during the entirety of this time. A PS console never came close to that description by my reckoning.
Last edited by Temjin001 on 10/22/2014 6:08:07 PM
Underdog, I'm not even sure how I'd define "hardcore". I think maybe I'd say they are those who don't just game for pleasure, but for competition. I guess. Maybe? All I know is that I'd never call myself anything like that. 😀
Temjin: It's not like I didn't know there was other console games to be found and I had heard the name Final Fantasy and Metal Gear Solid – but had no idea what exactly they were about. I never – and I do now mean that literary – I've *never* bought a magazine for a platform I didn't own. So I didn't even know what games received rave reviews on other platforms. And quite frankly, if you ask me today what the top three rated WiiU games are, I must reply truthfully: "No idea".
I guess it goes to show the level of interest I relatively speaking had/have in gaming. I seriously could not care less about what went on at other platforms. It had (has) zero relevance to me.
So the only encounter I had with a PS2 were in very casual circumstances, like the mentioned party setting. One typical scenario were a poker evening at a buddy, and the ones that fell out of the tournament went over to a ps2 to play Buzz until a new round of poker started.
"Playstation" was to me back then pretty much a synonym for "party games". The games collections I saw at buddies with a PS2 was essentially just a few titles with the usual trio sing star/buzz/guitar hero being standard inventory.
And now that we talk about it, I also remember when I heard that the PS2 had no online capabilities to speak of (I imagine you could download some highscore lists or something, and that's about it?) it further cemented my impression of the thing as being just a party toy. I mainly did online gaming then, games like Anarchy Online, Unreal Tournament, Star Wars Galaxies, Matrix Online and the likes.
Last edited by Beamboom on 10/23/2014 7:42:01 AM
PS2's online wasn't bad for some games. Certainly not expansive and it sucked you had to buy a whole $100 add-on.
I played a little FFXI: Online with it, though. Worked well.
PlayStation 3 day one
I don't remember much from PS2 launch because I was a PC player at that time. I got it eventually to play some good titles like FF,GoW,MGS.
I guess the first "gameplay" shown at E3 of Killzone 2 and Motorstorm got me realy excited for PS3. When it turned out to be a fake, I waited about 1,5 year before I bought one.
Now I am to old to be "excited" for a console release – I bought PS4 3 months ago. I have 8 games and all of them you can find on PS3… what to be excited about?
ps2 for sure
Assuming we're talking local launch dates, the PS4 is the only PS console I've ever purchased/pre-ordered at launch. I was able to get hands on time with both the PS and PS2 during their Japanese launches but neither convinced me to buy one on Day One here in the U.S. I got my PS3 once Sony confirmed they would not be producing any more backward compatible 60gig models. However, the entirety of the Playstation life convinced me to pre-order my PS4. I picked up my Saturn and Dreamcast at launch but that was when games were games. Even tho I love my PS4, it didn't get any real playtime (from me) until the Destiny Alpha and it still doesn't get more use than my PS3. Possibly by January it will become my number one (or two if you count my 3DS) system of choice.
I'd say PS3. It was the one console that I actually paid attention to all the pre release hype. I did for ps4 too, but the PS3 felt like a much bigger jump from ps2 than PS3 to ps4. They were talking about the cell, bluray, Internet browsing, wireless controllers, 7 controller support, high definition, Bluetooth, which were all very new to the gaming industry.
Ps4. Only because its the first ever system i payed for with my own money
For me, none. The PS4 was the first Playstation console that launched when I cared about Playstation consoles, but I haven't bought one. I was a Sega girl, and still am, when all the others launched.
So like… what are you doing here?
PS2! Memories of Tekken Tag Tournament, Dead or Alive 2 & Fantavision on launch night was the freakin' shiz!!! Then not long after launch we had stuff like The Bouncer & Devil May Cry coming out, it was an amazing time.
Don't get me wrong the PS4 & it's future should be great but the golden era of gaming is gone, long gone imo. PS2 was where it was at for me.
Last edited by Kevin555 on 10/22/2014 8:40:34 AM
Ps2 is the most memorable for me ,so many exciting games for it 🙂
The Playstation 2 by far, I mean I was young at the time but I remember playing on Tekken Tag Tournament and gasping at how good it is – Which still happened when I played the HD version with Tekken Hybrid, even though it was a launch game it was one of the best looking PS2 games.
I bought a PS3 early due to fear of the backwards compatibility models selling out like hot cakes. I managed to get one on the last week September '07. Which I was thrilled about, but I wasn't exactly eager for it then. But MGS4 settled that need the following year.
As with the PS4 now, there is nothing I need for it, but Final Fantasy Type-0 is mighty tempting but I do need it for Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain – Which my hype is over the roof for, it really looks exciting and diverse in gameplay, which reminds me of overwhelmed I was when I played the MGS2 demo for the first time.
The PS3 launch. I was too young to know anything about console launches when the PS1 first came out. And was way too happy with my PS1 to even care about upgrading to the PS2 when that came out (who needs better graphics? Yes, I was that stubborn). Eventually I did cave in years later and realised how many other good games I missed out on thanks to a friend who would let me borrow them.
The PS3 had the whole 'future' concept and hype about it, buying it to last you many more years along with the first look at the game Assassin's Creed when it was originally only announced for the PS3 had me sold on it.
Ps2 Socom Combined Assault ,Ps3 Socom Confrontation ,Ps4 one day i will turn that thing on if H-Hour becomes reality.
I'd say the Vita. It had two analog sticks, a great line-up just simply by having an exclusive Uncharted game, and the thing was the most powerful handheld yet. After not getting a PSP, I was on board and excited for my first handheld.
PS2.
Though I say my all time most exciting platform release would likely have been the DC.