One topic that instantly draws the most vehement discussion and irate comments on GameSpot is the so-called "console war." It seems like everyone either wants to sound off on how their console is the best and everyone who disagrees is a mindless fanboy, or comment with equal fervor about how none of this matters and everyone's an idiot.
People obviously care a lot, but is that a good thing? Is such ardent fandom just a harmless expression of brand loyalty, or does single-minded adherence to one system over another actually hurt discussion about games? GameSpot's staff sound off.
The biggest irony here is that the console war is over--and you won. The major systems are now so alike in core tech and third-party game options that the differences are, at best, negligible. We're well past the days of the Nintendo 64, PlayStation 1 and, let's not forget, the Dreamcast, when not even the controllers had enough similarities to make cross-platform games a viable thing. With very few exceptions, you can pretty much play whatever you want on whatever system your $600 outlay has turned you into a loyalist for. So what is there left to argue over? Display resolutions, refresh rates, multiplayer services--I'm already getting flashbacks to those PC gaming arguments.
But here's where things become problematic. If you're a hard-nosed console loyalist, or a blind sports fanatic, you can paint yourself into a corner of bitterness. Yes, you may root for Sony to sell more consoles, or Nintendo to deliver their magic once again, but if you're ignoring everything else, than you're only hurting yourself. Just like how I eventually came to appreciate LeBron James even though I'm a Pacers apologist, it's important for console fans to not limit themselves to one platform.
There are tons of great games out there. Don't let your dogmatism prevent your from enjoying them all.
Now that I'm older and (slightly) more mature, I recognize this mindset as youthful folly. Every console has a good deal to offer, and although it can be frustrating to not have access to all of the great experiences out there because we can't afford to stock our entertainment centers with every console on the market, the truth is that there isn't a reasonable basis for trashing one major console, and if you pour a lot of energy into criticizing one machine and those who enjoy it, I might suspect that you're trying to distract yourself from the fact that you're bitter or insecure about your own choices. I take my motto in these matters from my friend, former GameSpot staffer Carrie Gouskos, who famously said, "Make console love, not war."
I like being passionate about the things I love, and I love hearing from people who are passionate. It's those people that wait in line to buy the latest console, pre-order the needlessly over-the-top special editions of games, and go online to upload fan fiction and artwork of their favorite characters and universes. That is where console fanboys can triumph, and to those people, I salute you. The day I'm unlucky enough to not write about games, I'll be right there with you.
The trouble happens when that passion turns sour, and there's not really any need for it. I'm all for an open, heated debate on the merits of 1080p vs. 900p, or why the Xbox One UI sucks (seriously, it does), but when it gets personal, or turns into hate-speech, it all gets a bit silly. At the end of the day it's a big plastic box with some circuit boards in it. Be vocal, be passionate, but don't be a dick.
Still, there are a few important things to remember. Firstly, it's not weird that somebody wants to ensure they've invested their $500-odd dollars wisely, because most people aren't going to be able to afford all three consoles right now. Second, the battle between the PS4 and the Xbox One is equivalent to a drunken scuffle outside of a dodgy nightclub compared to the all-out nuclear war of the SNES and the Genesis, and the Genesis will always, always be coolest. Never forget. And finally, the fact that it's fun to add a bit of theatrics to the marketplace battles of the the gaming companies doesn't mean you're allowed to be a complete and utter douche about it.
Of course, you can still be a jerk about showing your console allegiances. But at its very core, being an Xbox/PlayStation/Nintendo/PC fan--and being open about it--is nothing to be ashamed of.
Being so passionate about a plastic box of chips and wires seems like all sorts of first-world-problem, Purple-Wedding-decadent ridiculousness. Anyone who limits their options is doing themselves a disservice. To want a competitor to fail is economically shortsighted. If fewer companies come out alive in this "console war," the likelihood of a healthy gaming marketplace slims down significantly--and rarely is an unregulated oligopoly beneficial to the consumer. It hurts you, the consumer, when you align yourself with a brand because of loyalty rather than product quality or lifestyle compatibility. Competition is healthy; a console "war" is not.
On the other hand, people are shelling out half a grand for these plastic boxes so I can understand where the defensiveness stems from. But passionate debate should be anchored by decorum and mutual respect--after all, we want every single company to produce the best products possible for all gamers. So when deciding to sound off on a public forum, remember that we're all on the same side of the market. Bottom line: Don't be the Joffrey of the console war.
Strong opinions and passion are what drive our world, and it doesn't matter how crazy the console arguments get, they ultimately make for better products. The console and game creators work to appease their frothing fanbase and allay attacks from their detractors, and those self-same fans go to extremes to make sure their voice is heard and echoed by as many potential supporters as possible.
Now if we only we could turn that same kind of energy towards something really big, like ending world hunger. Maybe after the PS5 and Xbox One Two come out.