// BEGIN editorial data var i = 0; var games_top5_090122_consolehate = new Array(); games_top5_090122_consolehate.ID = "games_top5_090122_consolehate"; games_top5_090122_consolehate.ID_WB = 28664017; games_top5_090122_consolehate.sPubDate = "1/27/2009 11:26:35 PM GMT"; games_top5_090122_consolehate.navsectionID = "15879576" games_top5_090122_consolehate.appFmt = 2; games_top5_090122_consolehate.itemsPerPage = 1; games_top5_090122_consolehate.nTeaseW = 298; games_top5_090122_consolehate.nTeaseH = 298; games_top5_090122_consolehate.appWidth = 600; games_top5_090122_consolehate.appHeader = "

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Capable of doing much more than they set out to accomplish, video game consoles have come a long way since their start in the '70s. The can produce life-like visuals. They can detect motion. They can play high-definition movies and music. They can forecast the news. They can double as a HAL 9000 in your living room.

Unfortunately, they can also get in the way of playing games, forcing gamers to jump extraneous hoops before getting to the action. For that very reason we hate current consoles, and blame them for following five shortcomings.

-- Blake Snow


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We don't mind free updates, especially when they improve our games. Just let us download and install them on our own terms. Never-ending firmware updates, release day patches and other \"What did that do?\" modifications can take upwards of 15 minutes to install, depending on the console and the size of the download. It's enough to make us want to disconnect our systems from the Internet, permanently.
"; games_top5_090122_consolehate[i++] = new Array("","They're slow","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/090122_Top5_loading.hmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "Blake Snow", "273", "410", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); games_top5_090122_consolehate[i-1].body = "

Modern consoles are supposed to be fast. But you wouldn't know it when playing games on them, as they present more speed bumps than a school zone. Granted, this has a lot to do with how game developers code their creations, but copying games to hard drives, lengthy load times before and during play and other unnecessary interruptions have got to go. Let me play my game, please."; games_top5_090122_consolehate[i++] = new Array("","They're expensive","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/090122_Top%205_US100dollar.hmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "Wikimedia Commons", "179", "423", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); games_top5_090122_consolehate[i-1].body = "

In the history of video games, this generation was the first to launch without a sub-$200 machine: The Wii launched at $250, the Xbox 360 at $300-$400, and the PS3 at $500-$600. Some devotees blame inflation for the increase, but they've obviously forgotten that computer prices have gone down since the '80s. Microsoft and Sony slashed the price of their systems last year, but the \"more fun\" versions still cost $300-400. And don't get me started on the price of additional controllers. For shame. "; games_top5_090122_consolehate[i++] = new Array("","They break too much","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/brill-090114-redring-1p.hmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "Thomas Spencer", "273", "273", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); games_top5_090122_consolehate[i-1].body = "

Without naming names (Xbox 360), this problem varies from system to system. But I'd bet my ridiculously low Gamerscore that today's consoles crap out a lot more than older ones, cartridge-blowing issues very much included. The reason: the more components you put in, the more things go wrong. From Red Rings, disc-shredding drives, and the nagging sense your new machine is on its last legs, manufacturing defects are a thorn in our side. How can we enjoy our favorite games if the hardware doesn't work? "; games_top5_090122_consolehate[i++] = new Array("","They've forgotten who they are","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/090122_Top5_Wii.hmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "Nintendo", "233", "423", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); games_top5_090122_consolehate[i-1].body = "

I don't remember asking for movies, music, and computer-like bells and whistles in my game console. Do you? With Xbox 360, PS3, and even the Wii, playing games often takes a back seat to other \"channels\" of entertainment. I like that my console can perform secondary features, but I don't like the feeling that games are taking a back seat. I still bought this thing in a toy department. I expect to play it, first and foremost.


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