Every generation of gaming has had some level of fanboys. Whether it’s Sega vs Nintendo or Sony vs Microsoft, it’s nothing new. But this generation has pushed the limits of how bad fanboys are. The viral videos flood the internet and tempers flare to insane levels. Why do so many people get upset about something they enjoy so much? Gaming is around for the sole purpose of entertaining people. It’s out there to give us those moments of enjoyment and memories. Games are a way for families to get closer and people to pass the time. So why do people take this to such and extreme level? Why do people insist on arguing about games and not simply enjoying the system(s) they purchased? The reason is truly quite simple.

The relative cost of the Sega Genesis on release in comparison to today’s dollar value was roughly 315 dollars. The Super Nintendo was released for the same price. The Xbox 360 ranges from 200-400 dollars and the Playstation 3 costs 400 dollars (depending on the availability of other models). So what does the cost of a console have to do with fanboys? What do you do when you buy most things? People naturally become defensive about objects they call their own. A husband gets jealous when he sees his wife touching another man, a woman gets upset when another girl tries to take her shoes, so on and so on. So when some one spends hundreds of dollars just to buy a console, which doesn’t even include games and accessories that will become necessary at one point or another, they feel a sense of obligation to defend it. Sony’s Playstation 3 started out at astronomically high prices and launched with a fairly weak lineup. Quickly the markets turned on the system and the “Great Fanboy War of 2007″ erupted. Playstation 3 owners felt betrayed and Xbox 360 owners felt their purchase was justified. All until Microsoft’s mistake became Sony fanboys shot back. The red ring of death gave Sony’s side a fair argument. The battle came down to malfunctioning hardware or no games. Slowly both sides fixed their issues, the PS3 got games and the 360 RROD slowly fell to the way side.

So is either side wrong for battling for their system? Yes and no. Sure people feel obligated to justify a purchase and rightfully so. Not everyone can afford hundreds upon hundreds of dollars on multiple systems. People should have the ability to speak their mind about the system they paid hundreds of dollars for.  But at some point every one has to learn that it’s not about the system you bought. It’s about the sole purpose of the console. The enjoyment gaming gives us. It’s nice to say that Console A has more pixels than Console B regarding Multiplatform game C but to those who only have one of the two consoles, its meaningless. The differences only matter when you can afford to have the choice.  The subtle differences grow smaller and smaller. Through it all, there are still veteran’s of the great fanboy war who battle on. Many sites still show videos that compare games which look nearly if not completely identical. With those videos the battles continue to rage. NO matter what, there is some one who says A looks better than B or vice versa.

Pic From TecheBlog

So what does it all mean? Is it ok to be a fanboy or should fanboys be shun? Fanboys are good to the industry. Fanboys are just like fanatics of sports teams. MS fanboys are like Yankee fans and Sony fanboys are like the Red Sox, as long as the two companies continue to make consoles the fanboys will rage. But no matter what side you root for, it all comes down to the enjoyment. That moment you’re playing a game and you stop and just enjoy the amazing graphics, or the online battles that make you smile when you get a kill streak of 20.  It’s the small moments that make it all worth it, and in those moments you forget that your holding a PS3 controller or a 360 headset. You enjoy that moment for the enjoyment it brings.

Fanboys aren’t going any where. While at times they anger and push buttons, they keep the competition of the industry up. Each side will continue to build their ammo and fire at the other side, but in the end it’s all for those moments we talk about for weeks and months. The moments we go to school or work and hype up. So next time your gaming and you smile, remember its the game that did that, not the system. Enjoy the great games out there, enjoy the great moments and memories. Remember that no matter which systems you have, everyone paid for the right to defend their system as do you.

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