Beyond the Mind's Eye - Thoughts & Insights from Marriott_GuyBeyond the Mind's Eye - Thoughts & Insights from Marriott_Guy
The RFG Pulse - Favorite Console of the Current Generation
Posted on Oct 31st 2010 at 11:21:57 PM by (Marriott_Guy)
Posted under The RFG Pulse, Modern Gaming

Favorite console of this current generation?

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Hello all.

I don't know about you, but it seems like time has flown by quickly during this current generation of consoles.  The Microsoft Xbox 360 is preparing to have its 5th birthday already, with the Nintendo Wii and Sony Playstation 3 not far behind.  It seems like just yesterday that I strolled into GameStop to purchase my first 'next-gen' system.  Time truly does fly by at times, which is not necessarily welcomed by this vintage gamer.
Smiley

With these anniversaries quickly approaching, I thought it might be fun to have our next installment of The RFG Pulse focus on a very simple question:  Which of the current generation consoles is your favorite?  Each system has its redeeming qualities as well as its faults - that is a given.  I imagine this will be a rather tight race.

Which console is your favorite?
Microsoft Xbox 360Nintendo WiiSony Playstation 3

Vote and Share your thoughts with the community!




The RFG Pulse - Best Looking Console
Posted on May 13th 2009 at 03:12:09 AM by (Marriott_Guy)
Posted under The RFG Pulse

Best Looking Console

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Hello all.

It has been a little while since we have had our last installment of The RFG Pulse - the formal, but most importantly fun, opinion survey of our community.

This poll will examine a simple, yet highly controversial and personal topic - "Best Looking Console".

I tried to list a little bit of everything in the options provided and I know there are some that were unfortunately left out due to space (Turbo Duo - I am talking about you).

Anyway, I added text for each entry for some flavoring/perspective.

There are some heavy weights in this poll.

Who will win?

Vote and add a comment to state your case!



(extra space needed here to incorporate the poll and the table below)



1977 - Atari 26001983 - Nintendo Famicom w / Disk

It was difficult to leave out this classic.  Many companies tried to incorporate the popular wood-grain look into their consoles, but few could duplicate the simple, clean and elegant look of the Atari 2600.
 


OK, so this is a bit of a combo-stretch on my part.  The Nintendo Famicom with the optional Famicom Disk System truly looks awesome.  The blood-red against the black works perfectly.  Another classic that is hard to beat.
 

1990 - Daewoo Zemmix Turbo

1990 - Neo Geo AES


You bet - beam me up Scottie!  This UFO-styled console was only released in South Korea and could easily be placed on a 'Worst Looking Consoles' poll.  Personally, I rather like it due to its sheer uniqueness.
 


The sleek, uncluttered design emotionally portrays a ravenous lion hiding in the brush and ready to release its fury on some unsuspecting prey.  Well, that may be a bit overstated, but it is pretty cool looking still.
 

1994 - JVC X'Eye

1995 - Bandai Pippin ATMARK

I thought about including the Victor Wondermega version instead of this North American version.  The more I compared them though, the fluid contour of the JVC X'Eye won me over.  Both are stylish in their own right.
 


Yes, I admit, this may be my 'fan boy' inclusion on this list.  From the the concave design of the front CD drawer to the top control pad, I love it all.  This console is extremely professional looking and oozes class.

1996 - Nintendo 64 w / 64DD2001 - Panasonic Q

Another combo-stretch.  The Nintendo 64 is just OK by itself, but pop the 64DD optional disk drive underneath it and you have yourself a completely different look.  They work so well together aesthetically it is scary.
 


Purple GameCube versus this gem - no contest.  From the mirrored front to the high-tech top LCD display, everything about this system is first class in design.  This system is always an eye-catcher and rightly so.

2003 - Sony PSX2006 - Sony PS3

Maybe not specifically a console, but I was hard pressed not to include this PS1/PS2 gaming compatible machine.  Released exclusively in Japan, this is kind of a standard AV unit, but the ceramic white color and PSX logo rock.
 


Yes, I am aware of the George Foreman Grill similarities, but the fact remains that the high-gloss finish really pops.  All of the models are visually appealing (as long as you don't touch them).
 

 



The RFG Pulse - Best Digital Controller
Posted on Jul 26th 2008 at 12:40:44 AM by (Marriott_Guy)
Posted under The RFG Pulse, Atari, Nintendo, SNK, Mattel

Best Digital Controller

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A video game or console can be great, but without the right input device who really cares?  Playing a bit off of Tan's article on the Saitek Cyborg 3D Gold USB, The RFG Pulse wants your opinion on the Best Digital Controller.  But first a little history might be in order.

Digital controller technology was the primary method utilized until about the mid 1990's.  To put it simply, this was basically an On-Off technology: push a button, directional button or joystick and a single response was transmitted to the console to execute an action.  The amount of pressure applied was not a factor, as it is in today's analog controllers.

When considering your vote, take into account innovation, control, feel, overall performance and usability.  There were many, many more digital controllers released who did not make the list that you see in this poll.  The most notable missing is the 'pistol' controller for the Bally Professional Arcade - a truly sensitive and responsive controller for its time, but not considered a mainstream system by most gamers.

There are some heavy weights in this poll.  Who will win?  Vote and add a comment to state your case!

Atari 2600 - Joystick



Simple, elegant and easy to use.  A true classic.

Mattel Intellivision



Innovative at the time, allowing complex user input.  The 'circle' pad allowed quick directional input.


Nintendo NES



The introduction of the first gamepad.  The D-Pad exists to this day in our modern controllers.

Sega Genesis



Excellent design and fits like a comfortable pair of shoes.

Nintendo SNES



Slightly small, dog bone design, but introduced us to the 'shoulder' buttons still utilized today.

SNK Neo Geo AES



The mother of all controllers.  This true arcade stick was / is a classic with excellent control.

Comments are always welcomed!  Let's hear from you!


The RFG Pulse - Best Media Presentation
Posted on Jul 21st 2008 at 12:09:10 AM by (Marriott_Guy)
Posted under The RFG Pulse

Best Media Presentation

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Through the years we have seen games come in all sorts of packaging, some pleasant to the eye while others being downright abysmal.  This next installment of The RFG Pulse focuses on the overall appeal of the media's casing - not the performance or content of the format itself. 

When thinking about how to cast your vote, consider how well a particular game package would look in your Room of Doom.  Other items to consider are the durability and artwork of the housing for a respective system.  I did not include the latest CD or DVD game offerings - they pretty much are all the same (except the Xbox's distinctive neon green case).

Some of the pictures depicted below are not entirely indicative of the game case - but you get the general idea.  This is especially true with the Panasonic 3DO and the Neo Geo AES pictures.

Without further adieu, the contenders for the Best Media Presentation.

Sega Genesis



Excellent design, durability and artwork.

Atari 2600



Classic design with easy to read details


Nintendo NES



Great artwork on most games

Sega CD



Excellent design and distinct blue coloring utilized

Panasonic 3DO



Those long boxes were either loved or hated by all gamers.

SNK Neo Geo AES



Those monster carts and 'book binder' casings made you feel good about that big purchase

Comments are always welcomed - state your case on your choice.  Let's hear from you!


The RFG Pulse - Worst Looking Video Game Console
Posted on Jan 5th 2008 at 03:20:27 AM by (Marriott_Guy)
Posted under The RFG Pulse, RCA, Pioneer, Nintendo, Bally, Amstrad, Gakken, Manavox, Atari

As I was writing my next System Overview article, I found myself asking the question "What in the world were they thinking?" when looking at some of the console designs in my Room of Doom. Some are very unique and others are just plain elephant-man ugly. With that image in mind, who will take the home coveted Joseph Merrick Award for worst-looking video game console? The contenders:

Magnavox Odyssey 2

Just what I need - 15 million
keys to play a game.

Amstrad GX 4000


Space-age design or just a cheap rip-off
of the Land Speeder from Star Wars?



Cast Your Vote!!

  Magnavox Odyssey 2
  Amstrad GX4000
  Atari 5200
  Gakken TV Boy
  Nintendo GameCube
  RCA Studio 2
  Bally Professional Arcade
  Pioneer LaserActive


 

Free polls from Pollhost.com




Atari 5200


Hmm... make it bigger and
they will love it - NOT.

Gakken Compact Vision


What in the heck am I supposed
to do with those funky handles?


Nintendo GameCube


Simple design or
designed by simpletons?


RCA Studio 2


Brutal, just plain brutal.

Bally Professional Arcade


Bally should have stuck
to designing arcade machines.

Pioneer LaserActive


"Customer needs assistance in aisle 3.
Fork lift will be required."



                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
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Welcome RFG Friends!!

You have stumbled upon my little piece of the RFG universe where you will find my published articles and various other writings / rantings. Having first hand experience through the evolution of the video gaming field (fancy way of me just telling you that I am old), the topics vary greatly.

Kick back and (hopefully) enjoy!!

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