Why I Am A Fanboy

8 years ago, I graduated from business school with a degree in business, and an emphasis in Marketing. Human psychology plays an important part in business, but especially so in marketing. Here's what I remember...please correct me if I'm mistaken: Basically, when a human makes a decision, such as buying a video game console, we all experience some degree of ''cognitive dissonance''. The doubt is always in the back of our mind that we may have made the wrong decision. The way humans deal with cognitive dissonance is to seek out reinforcing information that supports their decision, thus minimizing or perhaps eliminating the doubt. For example, I buy XYZ console. It cost me a lot of money. I really like XYZ console, but I'm worried that perhaps ABC console would have been better. Therefore, without really knowing it, I'm drawn to things that make me feel better about XYZ console, such as news stories...marketing materials...whatever...that put XYZ console in a better light than ABC console. That makes me sleep better at night. However, I cannot help but come into contact with information that puts ABC console in a good light. This makes me feel insecure about my decision. I can either ignore the disturbing ABC information or do battle. My insecurity makes me a little edgy...this was a big purchase for me and the console has become part of my identity; it says something about my ability to make decisions! News stories about ABC's so called superiority (real or not), or XYZ's flaws (real or not), seem biased and not to be trusted. OPINIONS from purchasers of ABC console about their console's superiority make me angry; my need to reaffirm my decision making ability to myself compells me to do battle on the boards! I'm dug in and my guns are pointed at the enemy...hence, system WARS! There is no immunity. It's in our blood. If you own ABC, XYZ and all consoles, then your battle may be with some other doubt...e.g. ''I should have used the money for ______'' or whatever. PS: PLEASE EXCUSE THE WALL OF TEXT. I'm typping this from my console (it's an XYZ, btw :) ) and can't get the spacing right Why I Am A Fanboy
pointless wall of textWhy I Am A Fanboy
[QUOTE=''Stowik''] My insecurity makes me a little edgy...this was a big purchase for me and the console has become part of my identity; it says something about my ability to make decisions! [/QUOTE]yep, that's the sick part. Buy all three. that's your cure.
Good thread, people won't read unless you space it out a bit more though. Do it when you're on your PC.Anyhoo, I think everyone's got a little bit of fanboy/girl in them, no matter whether or not they own all systems. You're gonna have a preference to one even if you don't realise it. And it's a good thing too, otherwise we wouldn't have System Wars... that's a good thing...right? :P
[QUOTE=''the-very-best'']Good thread, people won't read unless you space it out a bit more though. Do it when you're on your PC.Anyhoo, I think everyone's got a little bit of fanboy/girl in them, no matter whether or not they own all systems. You're gonna have a preference to one even if you don't realise it. And it's a good thing too, otherwise we wouldn't have System Wars... that's a good thing...right? :P[/QUOTE]

Absolutely! I love System Wars. Good advice about the spacing, too. Thanks :)
[QUOTE=''Stowik'']8 years ago, I graduated from business school with a degree in business, and an emphasis in Marketing. Human psychology plays an important part in business, but especially so in marketing. Here's what I remember...please correct me if I'm mistaken: Basically, when a human makes a decision, such as buying a video game console, we all experience some degree of ''cognitive dissonance''. The doubt is always in the back of our mind that we may have made the wrong decision. The way humans deal with cognitive dissonance is to seek out reinforcing information that supports their decision, thus minimizing or perhaps eliminating the doubt. For example, I buy XYZ console. It cost me a lot of money. I really like XYZ console, but I'm worried that perhaps ABC console would have been better. Therefore, without really knowing it, I'm drawn to things that make me feel better about XYZ console, such as news stories...marketing materials...whatever...that put XYZ console in a better light than ABC console. That makes me sleep better at night. However, I cannot help but come into contact with information that puts ABC console in a good light. This makes me feel insecure about my decision. I can either ignore the disturbing ABC information or do battle. My insecurity makes me a little edgy...this was a big purchase for me and the console has become part of my identity; it says something about my ability to make decisions! News stories about ABC's so called superiority (real or not), or XYZ's flaws (real or not), seem biased and not to be trusted. OPINIONS from purchasers of ABC console about their console's superiority make me angry; my need to reaffirm my decision making ability to myself compells me to do battle on the boards! I'm dug in and my guns are pointed at the enemy...hence, system WARS! There is no immunity. It's in our blood. If you own ABC, XYZ and all consoles, then your battle may be with some other doubt...e.g. ''I should have used the money for ______'' or whatever. PS: PLEASE EXCUSE THE WALL OF TEXT. I'm typping this from my console (it's an XYZ, btw :) ) and can't get the spacing right [/QUOTE]First of all - how could you possibly be mistaken with credentials like that? The fanboy-ism/insecurity thing is spot-on...
[QUOTE=''air_wolf_cubed'']pointless wall of text[/QUOTE] [QUOTE=''the-very-best'']Good thread, people won't read unless you space it out a bit more though. Do it when you're on your PC.Anyhoo, I think everyone's got a little bit of fanboy/girl in them, no matter whether or not they own all systems. You're gonna have a preference to one even if you don't realise it. And it's a good thing too, otherwise we wouldn't have System Wars... that's a good thing...right? :P[/QUOTE]I see what you mean.Anyway, the best solution is to just buy both ABC and XYZ, and if possible 123. If it really is not an option, then really, I am sure that your choice of system has enough games to enjoy. Personally, I can't even get to all the good games of any one system, let alone the rest.
Great read.



Just needs some spacing :).
[QUOTE=''the-very-best'']Good thread, people won't read unless you space it out a bit more though. Do it when you're on your PC.Anyhoo, I think everyone's got a little bit of fanboy/girl in them, no matter whether or not they own all systems. You're gonna have a preference to one even if you don't realise it. And it's a good thing too, otherwise we wouldn't have System Wars... that's a good thing...right? :P[/QUOTE]i agree. I doubt there's really such thing as a true manticore, everyone has a little bias.
TC, a walk and some fresh air will do you good once and awhile. Try it.
[QUOTE=''air_wolf_cubed'']pointless wall of text[/QUOTE] more or less
This is how BlackBond goes about buying a console. BlackBond sees game. BlackBond wants to play game. BlackBond buys console to play game. The name or brand of said console does not matter. It never has and it never will.I wanted more Fighters so about years back I picked up a Dreamcast.I wanted to play the feature version of Madden so I bought a 360.I wanted to play Zelda TP and later on Super Smash Brothers Brawl so I bought a Wii.I want to play BlazBlue Calamity Trigger and FFXIII so I will buy a PS3I'll never understand the whole worrying about purchase or worrying about what console is better ect thing. Because I could care less which console is better. I only care about the games I want to play and so I buy them. Only problem is that I need said system to play said game. Hence why I buy systems.
Wow, this was actually a good read, i really wasnt expecting that because of the no spacing.
[QUOTE=''Serbiam'']TC, a walk and some fresh air will do you good once and awhile. Try it. [/QUOTE]

Flameage?

Whats that got to do with the topic?
[QUOTE=''Cesar_Barba''][QUOTE=''air_wolf_cubed'']pointless wall of text[/QUOTE] [QUOTE=''the-very-best'']Good thread, people won't read unless you space it out a bit more though. Do it when you're on your PC.Anyhoo, I think everyone's got a little bit of fanboy/girl in them, no matter whether or not they own all systems. You're gonna have a preference to one even if you don't realise it. And it's a good thing too, otherwise we wouldn't have System Wars... that's a good thing...right? :P[/QUOTE]I see what you mean.[/QUOTE]no its just that all the big words threw me off :)

tl;dr
I have all three consoles and i have to say i favor one of the consoles over the rest.My reason for that is because that particular console has the features that i want in a game machine.The other two i enjoy on occasions but really wish they had the features of said favorite console.Personally i dont think these reasons make me a fanboy,its all about my personal preference.I think fanboyism comes a lot from nastalga,or growing up playing a certain brand of console and enjoying the games of the past.Fanboys love franchises they grew up with and for the most part theres nothing wrong with that,its when u let yourself become consumed with a certain console or game that u reject anything new that comes along that could possibly hurt what your nastalgic about.Im not saying that just because u enjoy a series that it makes u a fanboy,its when u feel the need to look at something else and admit that it could possibly be better.Another reason for fanboyism is because not everyone can afford to buy every console that comes out so they feel the need to defend there console to the death because they want it to be the machine that succeeds so that they dont feel like there missing out on something else.Its ok to not be able to buy every console that comes out and to be honest i dont think every gamer can.At one time in my life i could barley afford to buy one console and i understand the thinking behind someone wanting there choice to be the one to be the successful console in the market because i want that system to have shelf life to justify my purchase.I dont mind it when people want there console to be the winner,its when people get so defensive over it that it makes them come on here,or any other website and write angry posts over another system,or just post pointless little facts that might make another console look bad.Fanboys can get really out of control and its very annoying at times but most of it is human nature to be a fan of something and defend there personal favorite.Also i want to apologise for the bad grammer im typing this in a hurry.
You could at least have used the Enter key loudharley...
[QUOTE=''linkthewindow''][QUOTE=''Serbiam'']TC, a walk and some fresh air will do you good once and awhile. Try it. [/QUOTE] Flameage? Whats that got to do with the topic?[/QUOTE]you'll be amazed.
I know exactly what you mean. I just bought a PC with a phenom processor and i'm trying to find info about it that makes it good for games. I also do the same for my XBOX 360 against the PS3! Ha, finally a wall of text that expresses my thoughts concerning console wars lol.