During our ongoing discussions under the latest post about Microsoft hating on Home, dtoid user Squawk brought up a good point about people hating on the PS3:

“I can't really say anything about HOME because I don't have any experience with it.
But....wow, Sony just seems to be tripping this generation at every turn. Even if its not the case, the PERCEPTION is that it is the case, and that's what counts.”

I think that Squawk is on to something about this whole perception thing. As a person who has owned all the current gen system, I can clearly state my preferences, and there is nothing wrong with that, but I've never found myself getting all that engaged in these console fights. I used to back in the day, but I've since learned it's all pretty pointless. The only time I feel the need is when someone is being blatantly retarded, and even then I don't always get involved. Still, that hasn't stopped me from wondering why so many people are fighting tooth and nail and shitting on each other's purchases. Why does THIS console war seem so much more vicious than the previous? And why hasn't it died down yet?

I'm not really sure I can answer all those questions, but I think I have an idea on a few. We'll start with why people have the perception that the PS3 isn't a good gaming device - and it has a lot to do with perception and timing... and fanboys.



You see, Sony was late to the game, Microsoft got the jump and most people bought them up. Then Sony comes along with their system. Now people have a choice. They can save up and buy a another system, the PS3, or they can be happy with what they have and ignore Sony all together. Me, I bought another system, that's just how I am. I saved up the money and I got a PS3. I wanted a blu-ray player anyway, so it wasn't that big of a deal to me.

But for those who just have one system, or even a combination of the wii and one of the others, they aren't just happy with what they have, they have to convince themselves that not only do they not want to buy the PS3, but that it is shit and therefore they SHOULDN'T buy it. Of course this is nonsense, the PS3 is an excellent system, and I think most people would agree(those who actually own one). But some of those folks who just have a 360 or a Wii, they don't want to feel like they are missing out, so they tell themselves that the PS3 is shit and then they actually start believing it. That is easier for them than facing the fact that they might miss some exclusive games like MGS4 or functions like Home. Just like Squawk said, perception. And a fanboy is born – or at least, one kind of fanboy, as there seems to be several breeds out there.



Of course, this isn't enough for them. They need reassurance. So not only do they tell themselves that it sucks but they go on websites and they try to find other people to back up their ideas. Misery loves company, so does blind hate. Now you have lots of people roving about, shitting on the PS3. They say it has no games (it does). They say the online sucks (works fine). They need more and more reassurance as they hear more positive things about the system they have told themselves they hate, so their claims get meaner and more insane as time goes on. And this gives birth to the other side of the battlegrounds...



It starts with those people who JUST have a PS3. They go on their favorite games website and start reading this shit and it makes them mad. “What? But I love my PS3!!” They get defensive. They wonder if they made the wrong purchase, their brains go into alarm mode and their minds won't let them think that maybe they are missing out on something, so they have to believe that the xbox 360 is shit (it's not). But telling themselves that isn't enough, they have to go online and find other people who hate the xbox and exaggerate the hardware failure and hate on the online community attached to Live and the mii-like avatars. All of which is just more bullshit.

Now you have a full blown battle fought by two sides who started the whole thing by convincing themselves that something they don't even own is utter shit because they don't want to buy it. Companies get a whiff of the whole mess and realize that nothing equals money like exploiting a two-sided hate-war so the websites jump in to fan the flames with bait-posts and the news sites get involved with bias and some people who own all three systems and shouldn't care but just like to start fights jump in and then you have people who just blindly love a company and will fall for all their propaganda and-



Well, you get the idea. And all this could have been avoided had people just faced the fact that every system has unique qualities that make it worth owning, but unless you are willing to make the monetary sacrifice to own all three, you simply can't complain. Owning any one system and concentrating on its library is a different experience than having to pick and choose games for all three, so there is a positive to that route as well. But no matter what you have, be happy with it because some people have nothing.