Console Wars: Playground battles and generational favourites

Anything to do with games at all.

Which console battle best represents your school playground years?

Poll ended at Thu Sep 12, 2019 10:48 am

Sinclair ZX81 vs Commodore VIC-20
1
2%
Sinclair ZX Spectrum vs Commodore 64 vs BBC B vs Amstrad CPC
10
22%
Atari ST vs Commodore Amiga
1
2%
Nintendo NES vs Sega Master System
0
No votes
Nintendo SNES vs Sega Mega Drive
15
33%
Sony PlayStation vs Sega Saturn vs Nintendo 64
10
22%
Sega Dreamcast vs Sony PlayStation 2 vs Nintendo GameCube vs Microsoft Xbox
7
16%
Nintendo Wii vs Microsoft Xbox 360 vs Sony PlayStation 3
1
2%
 
Total votes: 45
jawafour
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PostConsole Wars: Playground battles and generational favourites
by jawafour » Mon Sep 09, 2019 10:48 am

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>>> Console Wars: Playground battles and generational favourites <<<

OrangeRKN inspired this topic by indicating that his school playground battles revolved around the era of the PlayStation.

What systems did you fight over during your school days? Please pick the one option that best represents your situation and, hey, why not then list your personal favourite console / gaming format from each generation?

If you're mad that the Commodore 16 or the Atari Jaguar isn't specifically listed as a choice, please also feel free to note this. Maybe you used a less popular system? Let us know! If you're a PC fan and want to point out that the PC wins every generation, go for it!

Sinclair ZX81 vs Commodore VIC-20
Sinclair ZX Spectrum vs Commodore 64 vs BBC B vs Amstrad CPC
Atari ST vs Commodore Amiga
Nintendo NES vs Sega Master System
Nintendo SNES vs Sega Mega Drive
Sony PlayStation vs Sega Saturn vs Nintendo 64
Sega Dreamcast vs Sony PlayStation 2 vs Nintendo GameCube vs Microsoft Xbox
Nintendo Wii vs Microsoft Xbox 360 vs Sony PlayStation 3
Nintendo Wii U vs Microsoft Xbox One vs Sony PlayStation 4
Sony PlayStation 4 Pro vs Nintendo Switch vs Microsoft Xbox One X

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Rex Kramer
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PostRe: Console Wars: Playground battles and generational favourites
by Rex Kramer » Mon Sep 09, 2019 10:53 am

It's probably the Speccy against the C64 for me though the ST vs Amiga argument dominated sixth form (most everyone I know had an Atari ST which was handy for getting disks).

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PostRe: Console Wars: Playground battles and generational favourites
by jawafour » Mon Sep 09, 2019 11:02 am

The Spectrum vs C64 wars best represent my school playground scene! It was an amazing time as there were so many formats; as well as the "big two" you had popular systems like the BBC and Amstrad, as well as the Dragon, Atari, Oric, C16, Plus 4 and more! Looking back, the variety was quite incredible.

Sinclair ZX81 vs Commodore VIC-20
Sinclair ZX Spectrum vs Commodore 64 vs BBC B vs Amstrad CPC
Atari ST vs Commodore Amiga
Nintendo NES vs Sega Master System
Nintendo SNES vs Sega Mega Drive
Sony PlayStation vs Sega Saturn vs Nintendo 64 *
Sega Dreamcast vs Sony PlayStation 2 vs Nintendo GameCube vs Microsoft Xbox
Nintendo Wii vs Microsoft Xbox 360 vs Sony PlayStation 3 **
Nintendo Wii U vs Microsoft Xbox One vs Sony PlayStation 4
Sony PlayStation 4 Pro vs Nintendo Switch vs Microsoft Xbox One X

* Choosing between the PS and the N64 is pretty much impossible for me. Both were great systems with terrific games. In my view the PS won on variety but the N64 had some incredible highs; so it's a draw overall.

** The Wii / 360 / PS3 gen is really tough to decide upon. All were good consoles with huge ranges of games. I've picked the 360 as my choice but, on another day, I could well decide on the Wii.

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PostRe: Console Wars: Playground battles and generational favourites
by Jenuall » Mon Sep 09, 2019 11:04 am

I mean unless you dropped out of school pretty quick surely everyone's school/college years are going to cover at least 2 generations of The Console Wars™?

Earliest memories are of Spectrum vs Commodore (nobody had enough cash for a BBC!), most people were still kicking with one of these into the 90s in our area, the NES vs Master System war never really took off as nobody could really afford one at the time (I think I knew 1 person with each console).

By the time the Mega Drive and SNES were running things people had obviously saved up enough to upgrade from the Speccy/Commodore so that was a big battle. Mega Drive was the clear winner in our area - very few people were on the SNES train.

My later school years never really had a war - the PlayStation was so dominant, the question was really whether you had a PS1 and N64 or just the PS1. :lol:

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PostRe: Console Wars: Playground battles and generational favourites
by Preezy » Mon Sep 09, 2019 11:10 am

Whilst I really enjoy the SNES and MD rivalry, it was the PS1 and N64 battle that raged in the playgrounds of my youth. The Saturn never got a mention, I didn't know anyone who owned one!

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OrangeRKN
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PostRe: Console Wars: Playground battles and generational favourites
by OrangeRKN » Mon Sep 09, 2019 11:13 am

N64 vs PS1 at the earliest (lol @ sega saturn being there), then PS2/Xbox/Gamecube, and finally 360/PS3/Wii.

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PostRe: Console Wars: Playground battles and generational favourites
by jawafour » Mon Sep 09, 2019 11:21 am

Rex Kramer wrote:It's probably the Speccy against the C64 for me though the ST vs Amiga argument dominated sixth form (most everyone I know had an Atari ST which was handy for getting disks).

Your background is similar to mine, Rex! In those 16 bit computer days I started out with the the ST (bought when I began work!) but switched to the Amiga after a couple of years. I am fond of both!

Jenuall wrote:...Earliest memories are of Spectrum vs Commodore (nobody had enough cash for a BBC!)...

Haha, yeah, one of my pals at school had a BBC B as his parents were loaded. I recall being quite envious at the time! It was such a well-built machine and so useful when using the same computer at school. I remember another pal owning an Acorn Electron (a kind of cut-down version of the BBC B) and that was neat although it never took off in the same fashion.

Jenuall wrote:...the Mega Drive and SNES... Mega Drive was the clear winner in our area...

My younger brother's playground time was during this era and, man, it was intense! My bro was lucky as he could play on my MD and SNES before he then got his own MD. In our area the MD seemed slightly more popular and the shops held bigger ranges of MD titles, but both were popular.

Jenuall wrote:...My later school years never really had a war - the PlayStation was so dominant, the question was really whether you had a PS1 and N64 or just the PS1. :lol:

Yeah, the PS was everywhere although our neighbours had an N64 and seeing ISS 64 running on it persuaded me to get one!

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PostRe: Console Wars: Playground battles and generational favourites
by jawafour » Mon Sep 09, 2019 11:28 am

Preezy wrote:Whilst I really enjoy the SNES and MD rivalry, it was the PS1 and N64 battle that raged in the playgrounds of my youth...

The PS1 and N64 were so different - in terms of both the consoles themselves and the games - that, looking back, it's remarkable that they were competing. For folk lucky enough to have access to play both, it was an amazing time!

Preezy wrote:...The Saturn never got a mention, I didn't know anyone who owned one!
OrangeRKN wrote:...(lol @ sega saturn being there)...

The poor Saturn! It's stunning to think that Tomb Raider debuted on the system and yet the PS then became the face of that hugely popular franchise. I've never used a Saturn but I did like the look of the system. Sony hit it for six in terms of the launch pricing of the PlayStation and the Saturn just never recovered.

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PostRe: Console Wars: Playground battles and generational favourites
by Garth » Mon Sep 09, 2019 11:43 am

I wasn't aware of console wars at school, didn't really notice console wars until I joined internet forums during the Dreamcast/PS2/GameCube/Xbox era.

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PostRe: Console Wars: Playground battles and generational favourites
by Gemini73 » Mon Sep 09, 2019 11:44 am

It was all about Sinclair ZX Spectrum vs Commodore 64 during my school days,. That said coming from a small town I knew few gamers so it was all good banter. By the time I'd hit my late teens anyone I knew who still gamed had an Amiga 500/+. Of those I knew only myself and one other had a second gaming platform in the Megadrive. Didn't know a single soul who owned a Nintendo platform, although I did eventually buy a SNES with Starfox from Woolworths.

I didn't come across any real console/gaming platform war until I moved to Gloucester and PlayStation vs N64 was in full swing (I did already own a PlayStation prior to moving). After quitting my job at GW I began working at an independent video game store. Some of the arguments I would witness between customers were ridiculous.

By the time I moved to Cheltenham and was a manager for Pink Planet/ePlay then eventually Game console war arguments breaking out in store amongst customers were common place. Used to get some right nutters in.

Glad the pettiness, often toxic environment of "my system is better than yours" wasn't a thing during my school years. I was too busy fending off bullies who didn't like gaming, Iron Maiden and Dungeons & Dragons to worry about Spectrum vs C64. :lol:

Last edited by Gemini73 on Mon Sep 09, 2019 11:48 am, edited 2 times in total.
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rinks
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PostRe: Console Wars: Playground battles and generational favourites
by rinks » Mon Sep 09, 2019 11:47 am

The unexpectedly early release of the Saturn is still one of the most exciting experiences in my gaming history though. Hearing about it on Digitiser. Reserving one. Seeing Daytona on a huge CRT in Game. Buying the system. Going back the next day to get Clockwork Knight because I wanted more Saturn.

Anyway, back to the question, my first was a ZX81, but the enduring battle was Spectrum vs C64, in which I was one of Sir Clive’s infantry.

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PostRe: Console Wars: Playground battles and generational favourites
by gamerforever » Mon Sep 09, 2019 11:53 am

SNES Vs Mega Drive is my all time favourite, with me being a first Sega fan back then. I must say I have particularly enjoyed the last few generations which saw Sony, then Microsoft taking the lead and now back again to Sony. Let's see how the next generation plays out. I would love to see proper franchises battling it out against one another like Gran Turismo and Forza, like we had in the old days with Sonic and Mario. It's all fun.

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PostRe: Console Wars: Playground battles and generational favourites
by jawafour » Mon Sep 09, 2019 12:08 pm

Gemini73 wrote:...I didn't come across any real console/gaming platform war until I moved to Gloucester and PlayStation vs N64 was in full swing... I began working at an independent video game store. Some of the arguments I would witness between customers were ridiculous... console war arguments breaking out in store amongst customers were common place. Used to get some right nutters in...

Looking back, it is funny how some folk used to (and maybe still do) treat it as a battle :lol: . "Your (name of console) is rubbish!" :lol: .

Gemini73 wrote:... during my school years. I was too busy fending off bullies who didn't like gaming, Iron Maiden and Dungeons & Dragons...

I trod a thin line between the two disparate crowds; I loved talking gaming with the "nerds" but I could hang on the edges of the "cool crowd" because I loved playing football, too. Centrist from an early age etc.

rinks wrote:The unexpectedly early release of the Saturn is still one of the most exciting experiences in my gaming history though...

It appeared out of nowhere... "It releases today!". Amazing! Sega Rally was an attraction and it appeared to be superb for 2D graphics. I recall how it later gained a memory expansion unit.

rinks wrote:...but the enduring battle was Spectrum vs C64, in which I was one of Sir Clive’s infantry.

Sir, I must challenge you to a duel!

gamerforever wrote:...I would love to see proper franchises battling it out against one another like Gran Turismo and Forza, like we had in the old days with Sonic and Mario. It's all fun.

It can be cool to see huge rivals go up against each other. I'm kinda excited about the next gen battle as I think Sony, Microsoft and Stadia will be going all-out to be the dominant player. I'm hoping that they all gain significant chunks of the market as that drives up quality and value for the consumer.

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PostRe: Console Wars: Playground battles and generational favourites
by Jenuall » Mon Sep 09, 2019 12:10 pm

Gemini73 wrote:It was all about Sinclair ZX Spectrum vs Commodore 64 during my school days,. That said coming from a small town I knew few gamers so it was all good banter. By the time I'd hit my late teens anyone I knew who still gamed had an Amiga 500/+. Of those I knew only myself and one other had a second gaming platform in the Megadrive. Didn't know a single soul who owned a Nintendo platform, although I did eventually buy a SNES with Starfox from Woolworths.

I didn't come across any real console/gaming platform war until I moved to Gloucester and PlayStation vs N64 was in full swing (I did already own a PlayStation prior to moving). After quitting my job at GW I began working at an independent video game store. Some of the arguments I would witness between customers were ridiculous.

By the time I moved to Cheltenham and was a manager for Pink Planet/ePlay then eventually Game console war arguments breaking out in store amongst customers were common place. Used to get some right nutters in.

Glad the pettiness, often toxic environment of "my system is better than yours" wasn't a thing during my school years. I was too busy fending off bullies who didn't like gaming, Iron Maiden and Dungeons & Dragons to worry about Spectrum vs C64. :lol:

What Indie game shop were you at in Gloucester Gemini, and what timeframe are we talking? I may well have been one of the people engaging in those console war arguments! :slol:

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Gemini73
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PostRe: Console Wars: Playground battles and generational favourites
by Gemini73 » Mon Sep 09, 2019 12:57 pm

Jenuall wrote:
Gemini73 wrote:It was all about Sinclair ZX Spectrum vs Commodore 64 during my school days,. That said coming from a small town I knew few gamers so it was all good banter. By the time I'd hit my late teens anyone I knew who still gamed had an Amiga 500/+. Of those I knew only myself and one other had a second gaming platform in the Megadrive. Didn't know a single soul who owned a Nintendo platform, although I did eventually buy a SNES with Starfox from Woolworths.

I didn't come across any real console/gaming platform war until I moved to Gloucester and PlayStation vs N64 was in full swing (I did already own a PlayStation prior to moving). After quitting my job at GW I began working at an independent video game store. Some of the arguments I would witness between customers were ridiculous.

By the time I moved to Cheltenham and was a manager for Pink Planet/ePlay then eventually Game console war arguments breaking out in store amongst customers were common place. Used to get some right nutters in.

Glad the pettiness, often toxic environment of "my system is better than yours" wasn't a thing during my school years. I was too busy fending off bullies who didn't like gaming, Iron Maiden and Dungeons & Dragons to worry about Spectrum vs C64. :lol:

What Indie game shop were you at in Gloucester Gemini, and what timeframe are we talking? I may well have been one of the people engaging in those console war arguments! :slol:


The Software Store down, er, Southgate Street I think it was (I always get the streets mixed up!). During around 97-98 before they moved further up. I'd moved to Cheltenham by then (mid way through 1999).

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PostRe: Console Wars: Playground battles and generational favourites
by KK » Mon Sep 09, 2019 1:07 pm

Preezy wrote:Whilst I really enjoy the SNES and MD rivalry, it was the PS1 and N64 battle that raged in the playgrounds of my youth. The Saturn never got a mention, I didn't know anyone who owned one!

Pretty much the same in my school. SEGA's presence in the home was just non-existant to the point I only ever knew two people with one when the Saturn rolled around - my cousins (who sold it I think within a year for a PlayStation) and one solitary person at school, who then about a year or so later either replaced it with or also had an N64. And I have no recollection of talking about my Master System, which I got very belatedly anyway.

Videogame discussion wasn't really a thing in my school until the PlayStation arrived, which is when it just exploded, followed by the GameBoy Color and Pokemon Red/Blue/Yellow. A number of people had an N64, and that really started to gain momentum with Goldeneye, ISS 64 and WCW World Tour.

For the select few (i.e. those with well off parents), PC was also semi popular. But it was still pretty much the same games people were playing or talking about (Tomb Raider and Actua Soccer are the 2 that really stick in the mind on PC). A few people had the original GameBoy which they brought in occasionally, and I remember a couple of kids having a SNES, but it was never a big or remotely cool thing until 1996.

In the Arcades, the popularity lay with Time Crisis 1 (and boy did that get massive in 1997 - you couldn't get a G-Con 45 for love nor money in the home) and 2 (another sell out job in 2001), Silent Scope, something with a jet ski, something with a motorbike, and Daytona USA.

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PostRe: Console Wars: Playground battles and generational favourites
by Ironhide » Mon Sep 09, 2019 3:00 pm

Only doing the proper consoles, no weird 80's/90's home computer nonsense.

Nintendo NES vs Sega Master System
Nintendo SNES vs Sega Mega Drive
Sony PlayStation vs Sega Saturn vs Nintendo 64 - heart says Saturn, Head says PS1
Sega Dreamcast vs Sony PlayStation 2 vs Nintendo GameCube vs Microsoft Xbox
Nintendo Wii vs Microsoft Xbox 360 vs Sony PlayStation 3

Nintendo Wii U vs Microsoft Xbox One vs Sony PlayStation 4 - didn't own any of these so can't comment
Sony PlayStation 4 Pro vs Nintendo Switch vs Microsoft Xbox One X - ditto

The Dreamcast, PS2, GC, Xbox generation was a very difficult choice as I loved all three of the DC, PS2 and GC almost equally.

The Xbox 360 was probably the easiest choice as it was hands down the best console that generation.

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PostRe: Console Wars: Playground battles and generational favourites
by Vermilion » Mon Sep 09, 2019 3:07 pm

It was Megadrive vs Super NES when i was at school.

Didn't matter too much to me though, as i had both.

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captain red dog
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PostRe: Console Wars: Playground battles and generational favourites
by captain red dog » Mon Sep 09, 2019 3:35 pm

I remember C64 vs Amiga used to get quite heated but in terms of consoles I can't really remember arguing with my mates at school about it. I had a snes and my best mate had a mega drive and we used to swap consoles every now and then. Once it got to the PS1 era it all tended to die out as most people had a PS1. Same with the PS2 but I remember there was a bit of tension when the original Xbox was released.

Gen favs for me were as follows (console only as speccy and C64 starts to get murky)

2nd gen - Atari 2600 as it was the only one I had
3rd Gen - Nes
4th Gen - SNES
5th Gen - N64 (PS1 had nothing to match Goldeneye or Zelda)
6th Gen - Xbox
7th Gen - Xbox 360
8th Gen - PS4

Overall fav, Xbox 360. Probably peak gaming for me.

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mic
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PostRe: Console Wars: Playground battles and generational favourites
by mic » Mon Sep 09, 2019 3:38 pm

Atari ST
Master system
SNES
Saturn, PS & N64 (they were all the best at different things and I had them all! IMO the best gen)
GameCube
360
Switch


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