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Does anyone buy backup consoles?

Bigfoot

Member
I was just thinking that I've owned my GC since launch, and now that they are getting cheap, I was thinking af buying another "just incase" my current one breaks. Does anyone else do this with consoles as the generation is about to end?

It's probably not an issue if the next gen consoles have backwards compatability, but right now my plan is to wait a few years before I jump into next gen, instead of jumping in right away. I've got a huge backlog of games to buy/play still anyways (as you get older, there is a lot less time to play games).
 
I don't buy consoles more than once for the backup purpose, but because I like to play US imports too (f**k modchips) or because I am a lazy ass who hates to lug his consoles from one room to another. They are so cheap that I bought a second PAL Xbox and a second PAL PS2 to put them in my workroom.
 
I'm sorry, but thats just fucking retarded. Consoles will only get cheaper, and there's not likely to be a GCN shortage anytime soon (even after the launch of next gen). Why would you buy something now that you have absolutely no use for whatsoever, when you can buy it when you need it, and save yourself some coin?
 
nope, never have, never will. Owning more than one console (per company) is like buying the same pair of shoes to wear different days of the week even though you already have that pair of shoes.

yes, generic as it might be, it's a waste of money and you end up feeling like a moron later on.
 
I got a Dreamcast a few weeks ago.... brand new (and will stay that way until my regular one breaks down). Got some good games (and som crap), a vibration pack and some other stuff for about 100 euros.

Won't do it for the other consoles unless they get super-cheap.
 
I would only consider it when the console has been absent from the market for a while. I have two Saturns, for instance. I'll probably pick up a second Dreamcast soon enough as well.
 
The End said:
I'm really pissed that a didn't get a backup CDR compatible DC before they became hard to find.

Hard to find where? Tanzania? Most of them are compatible (here in the US at least).
 
Yep. I have a backup Dreamcast (bought for $10), a backup Saturn (bought new for about $20 years ago), and a backup XBOX (bought for $50 from a co-worker). I won't pay full price for a backup system, though,
 
Yeah, it would be pointless to buy one now, but I do plan on getting one eventually. Maybe when GC2 comes out and the GC is like $50. I have been tempted to buy a second Xbox too since the one I own is modded and I can't play Halo2 on Live.
 
Yes, or at least I plan too.

I need one more PS2 with Firewire ports so I can still link up, mainly for Time Crisis. I've already moved to the PStwo, so one is in storage.

I've been meaning to nab another Dreamcast or two, and if I got the chance to get another Saturn (which I never play) I'd do it.

One thing to consider is with all the fucking around with controllers I going to do, making arcade sticks and external PCB boxes for them, it's likely that I'll blow a controller port somewhere down the line. I just want to be prepared.
 
I do however buy the extended warranty at EB. Boy has that come in handy. I've had 3, count them 3, Xboxs fail on me one after the other. If I hadn't of done that, I would have been screwed.
 
In my more "hardcore" days, i'd do it when the price was right. i've got three different model US Saturns and a couple of Dreamcasts as a result. i used to keep a Saturn, four controllers, a multitap, and Saturn Bomberman and Guardian Heroes in my car for those impromptu gaming sessions.

Those were the days... ;)
 
Musashi Wins! said:
Hard to find where? Tanzania? Most of them are compatible (here in the US at least).


all of the ones I've seen at Gamestop/EB have been post-10/00 models, which are useless to me.
 
If I had the money I would pick up the limited edition consoles as backups/investments. At least that way, if you never needed it you could sell it off in ten years time for a handsome price when no other mint, unopened versions of that console exist anymore :)
 
I bought another DC (black sport edition) when it still full price, just in case. I also bought a neofami to play my nes carts.
 
I have a brand new unopened NES i got a few years back just in case my orignal breaks. I would not backup a current gen console as they are to easy to pick up if they do break.
 
I think the whole "backwards compatibility" thing has rendered this subject moot.

Although this is nowhere near confirmed for consoles other than the Playstation brand right now. I'll feel pretty stupid buying an extra Gamecube, even if its on the cheap, if the next Nintendo system plays Gamecube discs. Likewise with the XBox.

I did buy a Dreamcast backup when it hit $50, though. Still in the box, untouched except to pull out and make sure it worked before putting it in cold storage.
 
Baron said:
I think the whole "backwards compatibility" thing has rendered this subject moot
No it hasn't. For one, backwards compatibilty hasn't yet been 100% accurate. Nearly all but not all games are supported, and the accuracy of the emulation has varied in the past.

My personal example was when Dark10x convinced me to play through Silent Hill because I enjoyed the sequel so much. Emulated on the PS2, the game's fog effect was broken and produced a graphical glitch. We ended up playing it on the Playstation .

However all this is predicated by the assumption that you will buy the next console. Not everybody does.
 
Good point. I had no idea there was such an issue with Silent Hill on the PS2.

And there is also the issue with features removed from later iterations of a system - like the Firewire taken out of the newer PS2s and the DV output removed from newer Gamecubes.

So if you really want a "backup" system, so to say, with full functionality, you've got to pay the higher retail price now and get one before these are gone.
 
When working at Gamestop, I bought an NES, and a SNES for ten bucks each off of people once we stopped taking them for trade-ins.

I would never do it for a current console though, unless it was really cheap.
 
Because of the money that I have spent on my collection, I do have a few backups for the older systems but I wait until the systems are no longer supported and are on clearance. I picked up a new N64 for $50 and SNES for $40 at the end of their lifecycles and still have them just in case my main ones break down. I don't plan on doing it with the newer consoles unless any of them doesn't turn out to be backwards compatible and if that's the case I will pick one up when the price is around $50. I also plan on picking up a used Dreamcast for $10, when I see one that is in good condition.
 
Baron said:
Good point. I had no idea there was such an issue with Silent Hill on the PS2.

And there is also the issue with features removed from later iterations of a system - like the Firewire taken out of the newer PS2s and the DV output removed from newer Gamecubes.

So if you really want a "backup" system, so to say, with full functionality, you've got to pay the higher retail price now and get one before these are gone.

I have always been worried that my GC would break since DV output removed on newer cubes (Yes I use it)

Maybe there are still old gamecubes left to buy though?
 
demi said:
Damn you're almost up to me! TEH RACE IS ON

Actually, I still need to add most of the following games that I scored this past week from Game Rush's $.99 retro sale:

DC:
Sydney 2000
Shenmue
RE: Code Veronica
Plasma Sword

SNES:
Top Gear 2
Super Off Road
Super R-Type
Paperboy 2
Family Fued
Top Gear 2
Eye of the Beholder
Cybernator
Legend of Zelda: LTTP
Side Pocket
Blackthorne
Axelay
Thunder Spirits
Darius Twin
Earth Defense Force
Strike Gunner STG
Donkey Kong Country 3
Super Empire Strikes Back
Firepower 3000
Monopoly
Raiden Trad
Gunforce
Imperium
Sparkster
Aladdin

NES:
Rush N Attack
Pro Wrestling
Legendary Wings
Bayou Billy
Ring King
Heavy Barrel

Genesis:
Gunstar Heroes
Hard Drivin
Air Buster
Aero the Acrobat
Steel Talons
Road Rash 2
Tail Spin
Zombies Ate My Neighbors
Crossfire
Gaiares
Vectorman
Landstalker
Strider 2
World of Illusion with Mickey Mouse
Lost Vikings
Road Rash 3
Comix Zone
Mickey's Ultimate Challenge
Ecco: Tides of Time
Risk
Trouble Shooter
Virtua Racing
Lightning Force
James Pond and the Aquatic Games

PS1:
Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete $6.99
Klonoa: Door To Phantomile $3.50 (B1G1 50% off)
Persona: Revalations $6.99
Legend of Dragoon $3.50 (B1G1 50% off)

Bring it on!! :D

Oh, and as others have stated, I am also worried about the issue of the Gamecubes no longer supporting progressive scan.
 
The only time I will but a "back-up" console is when my old one breaks down. Not surprisingly, I have only had to do this with Sony systems.
 
I bought a back-up redesigned SNES about 5 years ago for $30. Well worth the extra system, power adapter and controller, plus it came with Yoshi's Island (which I didn't own before that).
 
SantaCruZer said:
I have always been worried that my GC would break since DV output removed on newer cubes (Yes I use it)

Maybe there are still old gamecubes left to buy though?

I wouldn't worry too much about that. Nintendo tends to support and repair their older systems indefinitely. You can still send an NES into them for repairs, I believe. If your Gamecube with DV output goes on the fritz, I think you can have the peace of mind that Nintendo wil be there for you to fix it.

Same can't really be said for Sega and the Dreamcast, or, say, the TurboGrafx or Atari Lynx.

When Game Companies Die!
Next, on A Current Affair!
 
I bought two MIL-CD compatible Dreamcasts the day they dropped to $50. I figured why the hell not since I probably spent ~$1500 on DC software, my first DC was on its last legs, I didn't want to mess with someone's cummed-up preowned system, and it's not like they were going to devalue.
 
never have on purpose but I've ended up with a few spare consoles fromw orking at a video game store for 3 years

I have 2 or 3 NES systems though I think I sold my sare box one and now just have my original box and a top loader

I have I think 3 or 4 saturns, I dont think I paid more than 5 bucks for each spare one and one is brand new still doesnt have the battery thing pulled out of it

2 DCs

3 SNES' my original i got at launch, 1 regular one that's not fadded and in mint condition and a nice model 2 one

2 N64s my original and a gold model one

umm what else I have at least 1 of each model genny like 2 32Xs and I think 2 master systems

I had like 7 PS's at one point got ride of all of them cept my original modded one

had 2 nomads sold one, had like 4 or 5 game gears sold all but 1 of them


work at a gamestore for a bit and you just ended up with tons of spare systems and shit
 
I bought a second Dreamcast for $49.99 but ended up returning it to get something else. I guess if the one I have ever craps out I'll just buy a used one for cheap @ EB.
 
I must be the only fool in this forum, because I buy backup consoles. I usually wait until the end of the life cycle or see a VERY good deal. Off the top of my head I know I own 4 Sega Genesis, 2 Sega CD, 3 Saturns, 3 SNES, 2 PS1, 4 Dreamcasts, and 3 XBox. I'm sure I have more but I can't think of it right now. I consider myself somewhat of a collector, and plan on playing a lot of my old stuff years from now (had my Turbo Duo out the other day). I'm waiting for a good deal on PS2.

Trust me, it's not like I go out of my way to get this stuff, but you'd be surprised at the deals you come across in used shops, pawn shops, and people in a financial bind. Besides I always negotiate good deals. Call me a packrat, but I like having this stuff around.
 
Apharmd Battler said:
I must be the only fool in this forum, because I buy backup consoles.

nah you're not the only fool, I always buy the redesigned consoles (NES, SNES, Genesis & PSOne) as backups when they drop to $50 or less
 
You'd think that just buying a warranty on the first one would be enough, be 'eh - if you want to have one around just in case the other one breaks and there is some sudden rush for gamecubes that consumes the stacks of them in stores - more power to ya :)
 
Yes. In fact, I bathe in a tub full of assorted color Gamecubes, and then dry myself off with my precut rolls of 1000 DOLLAR BILLS! Yes, the Gamecubes were wet. Shutup.
 
I have a few backup consoles for various reasons. Usually they are different regions though.

I have 3 NGPCs, mostly because I found two rather cheap. They're all "original" too, not the white box release. But they're not worth anything now because of those stupid warehouse sales...

I have 3 PS2s as well, one modded PAL, one original PAL (which I bought when my old 2000 modded PS2 stopped playing CD games) and an original JP (for mod protected games and just general convenience when my modded one acts up on a JP game).

I bought a second Saturn but I couldn't get it to work, I wanted a NTSC console to play some JP imports...

And finally I've got two Xboxes, one US that I got to play Morrowind as soon as possible, and a PAL one I got when they became rather cheap, to be able to play PAL games.
 
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