From: sherman@unx.sas.com (Chris Sherman)
Subject: Re: Nintendo Game vs. 386sx Computer
Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1992 09:57:06 GMT
Organization: SAS Institute Inc.
Keywords: Nintendo, Games, Computer

In misc.consumers you write:


> Well I have a problem I would like to get some opinions on.  I have 2
> children, a 3 year old & an 8 year old.  Earlier this year while at my
> mother-in-laws house, the kids found an old Atari system that she had. 
> We brought it home and the kids have really enjoyed it.  My wife and I
> were thinking about buying them a new video game. 

> Now here is the problem.  I already have a 386sx computer in my home, and
> I have a hard time justifying going out buying a Super Netendo
> 16-bit($140.00) to play games on when I can do most of the same thing on
> my computer.  So I guess what I am looking for is some of your opinions
> on the pros and cons of the two.  Here are a few that I thought of:

>Pro for buying Nintendo:
>  1. Simple to use.  As I stated the kids are 3 & 8.  The 8 yr old has no
>     problem with using the computer but the 3 yr does.  It would be alot 
>     easier for him to use the Netendo by himself.   
>  2. My computer would not be tied up all the time with the kids on it.
>  3. Get to hear all the nice music that plays when you play the game. ;) 

  4.  Better graphics due to advanced graphics hardware in the system.
      The 386 has just a standard bitmap display--nothing advanced about it.
      Even you will notice the games under the Nintendo will 'feel' much
      better.  Action will be much smoother.
  5.  Sound.  Stereo sound!  The SN has special hardware for the generation
      of special effect's type sounds that the PC doesn't have.  You can get
      a sound card for a PC, but they cost almost as much as the SN itself.
      (I think).
  6.  Better selection of action games.  The PC's usually did better at
      adventure or slow-moving games, while the Nintendo is more 
      motion based.  I believe the kids will find the motion based
      games more interesting at this point in their lives than the
      adventure type you find on PC's.
  7.  The Nintendo is more durable, being designed for kids.  Usually,
      the pc's aren't made for hard gaming.  Besides, I don't think you
      have joysticks or other game controllers (or the cards they need
      to interface to the computer hardware), so add $$ there.
  8.  Nintendo's are more common amoung children than PC's are, so your
      kids will be able to discuss the games with their friends.  Even
      trade.  
  9.  Some TV video rental stores offer Nintendo cartidges for rent, so
      you can see if the game is any good before buying it.
  10. Stores aren't the only place to find cartridges.  There is a flea
      market near where I live that has used cartidges for at least 10 to
      15 dollars less than store versions.  And as you know, it takes a lot
      to kill a video game cartidge.  (Cleaning with the erase end of a 
      pencil ususally fixes most problems).
  11. You will probably be able to resell the Nintendo system on the used
      market easily when you kids are done with it.
  12. For this much money, you might want to play with it yourself!  I have
      phases when I do a lot of Nintendo'ing and phases where I don't touch
      it at all.

>Con for buying Nintendo:
>  1. The computer has a more cpu power. ( 32 bit processor as apposed to 16 bit)

      Yeah, but the 16 bit is just for the logic processing of the game.  All
      the graphics is handled by very special hardware graphics accelerators
      that would cost major $$ for PC's.  For example, scolling the screen
      left, say, would take only a few processor instructions on a SN, but
      would require 10's of thousands on the PC because every pixel would
      need to be moved manually.

>  2. All I would have to do is buy joy sticks for the computer (approx $50.00)
      And the sound board, and the game port (special card for the pc's that
      joysticks plug into, unless you already have it).

>  3. The computer games cost about the same or cheaper.  (Super Nintendo 16-bit
>     games are about $50.00 to $60.00)

      Check mail-order and flea-market prices.  You might be able to knock
      $10 or $20 off these prices.
-- 
     ____/     /     /     __  /    _  _/    ____/
    /         /     /     /   /      /     /          Chris Sherman
   /         ___   /        _/      /          /
 _____/   __/   __/   __/ _\    _____/   _____/           sherman@unx.sas.com

-- 
     ____/     /     /     __  /    _  _/    ____/
    /         /     /     /   /      /     /          Chris Sherman
   /         ___   /        _/      /          /
 _____/   __/   __/   __/ _\    _____/   _____/           sherman@unx.sas.com
Newsgroups: misc.consumers