Many people that know me, know very well I go through the cycle of "but cool stuff" and then pretty much immediately and perhaps even to the purchase event itself, I get INSTA-BUYER'S REMORSE™.
I believe I have improved on this issue in my life (my last Fuji japanese F710 camera and the very laptop I still own are good examples of ZERO buyer's remorse), but in more than half the ocassions I still get it.
So today after being pumped up from some conversations with co-workers and seeing that little new machine itself, I went with them and we all three bought a Nintendo DS.
To make some story on this, this machine has virtually sold out everywhere. I went at lunch to Best Buy, they had a box with 20-30 machines.. held one in my hand and decided "not to buy." But then in the evening talking with some co-workers we all got pumped up for it, went to that Best Buy and "We are sold out. we sold the last one 1 hour ago."
We called Frys- same thing. I called the Best Buy were I live - same thing. It ocurred to me then that the normal populace wouldn't think of a place that carry them... that there will be a "lag" until they realize they also sell it - we called Circuit City... they had 6.
We got into our cars ASAP and went there. I piked one, my other two coworkers picked theirs. And I knew it, I saw it coming - bang! buyer's remorse.
But why the buyer's remorse?
My thinking:
* I really don't have much free time in my life lately... and...
* I have a Gameboy SP with two games to play... the SP is still nice and far more portable with better battery life and...
* There really isn't any killer DS titles yet (except for Mario 64 for those who haven't played it yet)... and...
* It's $150 friking bucks. That's some cash even if the machine "it's a good deal" and...
* The machine looks ugly, though not anywhere near as ugly as in a website or pictures and...
* I know already.. I know it will happen, that I will *HAVE* to get a Sony PSP even if the battery life is a scant 4 hours (if it's less than that then I'll reconsider). For all the dual screen boasting Nintendo does, the PSP's wide screeen more than makes up for it. I already saw a game using an area for the game and the right 1/5th of the screen to show some stats/map/whatever... it's like having a "dual screen" but as a single screen....
So... well... um.... The DS's nice it's just that um... GRR.. I hate buyer's remorse.
I
You're the #1 google hit for "nintendo ds buyer's remorse." Congrats. :)
I'm somewhat the same when it comes to buying games and gadgetry. A slew of bad buying decisions in the past have made me a bit gun-shy when it comes to slapping down the bills for a new game.
On more than one occasion, while browsing the huge software selection at Best Buy, has my wonderful wife declared, "Go ahead and get a game." These words usually fill me with a mild euphoria as memories of "successful" purchases fly through my mind:
* The day my dad and I bought my C-128...
* The day I got an Amiga 500
* Amiga 3000
* Lemmings
* Unreal Tournament
* Tron 20th Anniversary Special Edition
Oh, this will be another landmark purchase...
Then the reality of the situation begins to set in. Despite being surrounded by all this wonderful software and technology, I really have no desire to own any of it. Suddenly, the prospect of having to choose a (probably crappy) game or walk out empty handed is less than appealing.
When I'm not around software, I want it... but when given the opportunity to buy it, I'd rather be doing something else.
It's kind of like sitting at work thinking, "If I were at home right now, I really wouldn't mind vacuuming... so long as I was at home and not here." But then you get home that night and think, "Vacuuming really sucks."
And this relates back to the DS how? Well, here's why I googled "remorse":
I'm a Sony guy. I have a PS2 that I've had some really good times with and I'd gotten very excited about the PSP. (Particularly since I discovered its wireless support.)
Similar to your situation, a bunch of (3) co-workers had recently acquired DS's in all their tangible glory. Beautiful little devices. The "virtual surround" bootup sound alone blew me away.
After much teasing of the spouse that I was going to run out and buy one, she actually said, "Go buy one."
So how could I not buy one?
I very matter-of-factly picked up the DS along with Super Mario 64 DS (naturally) at the local GameStop.
The device has been virtually glued to my hand for 3 days now. I can't play enough Mario. I can't play enough of the minigames. I can't fidget with Pictochat and the friggin' cool little configuration menus enough. I just can't get enough... and even if I wanted to get more... I can't. Because there's nothing else out there.
I think I googled "remorse" because I feel like I spent $190 just to play Super Mario 64. An awesome game. But not "$190" awesome.
It's really just the lack of software available that's bugging me. I am, however, impressed with the device itself.
But tonight, I found myself drooling over the screenshots for Mercury on the PSP.
I will ... I must ... own both.
And I part with this toast (or prayer, if you will): Here's to more great games for the DS! (And I mean "great games" ... not "great (insert qualifier) games" ... like "great puzzle games" or "great mini-games" ... just "great games" ... please ...)
-Lee
Posted by: Lee | January 23, 2005 at 11:05 PM
HAHAHAHA...
"You're the #1 google hit for "nintendo ds buyer's remorse." Congrats. :)"
LOL!
I see you also went through the Amiga thing. I certainly did. I still have my Amiga 1200 and it still works!
I have to say only this though: Since Konami officially announced Castlevania coming for the DS, any buyers remorse I had stopped :-)
- Raist
Posted by: Raist3d | January 24, 2005 at 09:06 AM
I've only heard good things about Castlevania, but have never played it. I'll keep my eye on it!
I still have my Amiga 3000, a broken C128, an Atari 2600, and an Apple IIc. The last two are currently set up and in use. I'm one of those homebrew wannabe's developing a game for the 2600. (Development has slowed considerably in the past few months.)
http://www.ioyu.com/io/atari/
I use emulators for Amiga stuff these days. Wonderful machines, they were. :)
-Lee
Posted by: Lee | January 24, 2005 at 12:52 PM