It is true. People put a lot more work into things a while back. Now things just fall apart.

Well seeing how unreliable the hardware are this gen, they really need to test their system out multiple times to ensure us consumer that we aren't making the wrong choice by investing in their product. You still have a working Genesis? I also have a working one, and all it needs is a cotton swab to clean out the dust of the cartridge then everything is set to go. As for handheld, there is still problem with the broken DS hinges for people but mine is still in one piece. Oh and you will probably need some Circuits course if you want to maybe fix it yourself.

The hardware is so complicated copared to past generations that it's hard to keep everything working properly. Hopefully everything evens out. The PS2, after many revisions, finally got it right, but that wasn't until much later in the cycle.

kcwsk8 - I know there are probably more moving parts, more things to go wrong, but this means they shouldn't be releasing it yet. .

DarthMaul - All of my old systems (incl handhelds) are working. Only this gen for some reason. I treat them all with the same love The electronics course included quite a bit of circuitry, but this was awhile back now. I can't recall all of it.

Aberinkulas - Hopefully the new 360 and PS3 slims are built better and will stand the test of time.

Console heaven = recycling depot! well at least the outside of it goes to recycling, its ABS plastic (I think) so a fraction of your console will live on and be reincarnated as something else! (?).

Make sure to take out the PCBs (the all important soul) from the 360 and put it on display for those memories... as its FSB looks awesome and like nothing i've seen (yes nerdy me likes to collect chips) or you can try do something with it.. looks like its time to take out your multi-meter and have lots of fun. I am always for the idea like what Dell does by taking in PCs broken or not, put them into a recycling program and provide incentives for future purchases. It would work if consoles continue to provide backwards compatibility or continue to be this unreliable.

Yeah, my interest in consoles has waned too, what is worse is that I am Single, renting by myself in an apartment, only 22 with a good deal of spare time and space on my hands . Well at least I have a Wii but after finishing Little Kings story, Zack & Wiki and VC Zelda... the wii has since been dormant.

Though handhelds and small PC indie titles are slowly taking over my gaming.
Oh, speaking of small indie games, I know you love your point and click adventure games... have you checked out Machinarium?, such a brilliant game.

@illmatic87 - It's nice to think my PS3 could possibly be the product of old melted down Sega Master Systems I've been eying off Machinarium, with the PS3 in the repair shop, I think now would be the perfect time to try it out. Thanks!

That is one of the reasons I have limited myself to buying any of the newer consoles. I only have a Xbox 360 but I haven't booted it up for at least 5 months so I have no idea what I will be greeted with when I actually start playing it again(which shouldn't be until FFXIII). It's just sad how my fat ps2, which has been around since early 2000s, still works fine while Xbox's and PS3s are falling left and right. But with progress comes great failures to I guess.

I guess consoles aren't built strong enough to last anymore like the old days.

Long live the Wii!

Literally.

siberian142 - Fingers crossed its working for you when you fire up Final Fantasy!

Mattyrock - Nope, a real shame.

Foolz3h - Ahh, you noticed I didn't mention the Wii!? It lives on.

I got my Elite for $250 with a $50 rebate that I need to mail in actually. I'm totally stoked about that

I am with you. Portables are about the only thing I play these days.

cell_dweller - Nice price. If I'm forced into a replacement PS3 I only hope I can find it at a decent price as well.

Jude - If the portables picked up some more quality RPGs, I probably wouldn't bother with consoles.

Just how unlucky are you? I can understand the 360 i have a friend who has had 5, i went through 2....but the PS3 as well? You are truly cursed my friend. Cursed.

Hence why i lub mai PC ^___^ Nowdays, consoles are becoming more and more like PCs so they have inherited more of the pitfalls as well. At least with a PC it's easy to replace a faulty part. I have to agree though that Nintendo have done well to avoid this crap as much as possible.

Yeah, I know. Whatever happened to quality craftmanship? This generation of gaming has been more troublesome than ever, because you just can't rely on the consoles anymore. Even Wii owners have been experiencing more problems than they're used to. This is what happens when you make consoles with more moving parts, more complicated circuitry, and systems that need to have constant updates.

You could try a cd cleaner in the PS3. May or may not work.. but its a cheap way to try. They don't make things like they used to, that's for sure. Plastic reader eyes instead of glass.. they cloud over time and stop working.

All the newer things seem to fall apart. I have appliances that have run for 10 or more years without problems, and stuff that I buy now break down in a year. Reliability is reducing .

AzelKosMos - Heck yeah, totally cursed!

selbie - Yes, all praise to Nintendo for durability .

JustPlainLucas - Updates are something that are beginning to bug me. I lived without them in the past and while it's nice to have things patched now, it is a little too often. I just want to turn my game on and play. Not wait 20 mins for the latest patch for something they should have taken care of before releasing.

GunnyHath - I gave that a shot. No luck unfortunately. It is off at the repairers now. Hopefully back soon

paul939 - So I may have to blow like mad into my NES to get it to work, at least it works, right?