Why I Purchased an Atari VCS Over a PlayStation 5
By Daniel Sumpton | Misfit Media Columnist
It was a dry Friday night, 7:32PM on the 20th of August 2021 to be exact. I sat in my uncomfortably hot and dim room, the only light source being from my computer screen. I remember checking EB Games, then JB HI FI, then back at EB Games again. A drop of sweat rolled down my cheek (there was probably no sweat involved, but it adds to the high-stake scenario), the pressure for deciding built up. Finally, I purchased an Atari VCS instead of waiting for a PlayStation 5. But why? Why did I buy an Atari VCS over the much sought-after PlayStation 5? It was actually quite simple…
Purchasing a PlayStation 5 is either too expensive, or impossible.
At the end of the PlayStation 4’s lifespan, I had already started migrating over to a gaming PC, and was enjoying the games I had on my computer, so I wasn’t in a hurry to grab a PlayStation 5 in the first place. I definitely wanted one, and thought for sure I was going to buy one, I just was not in a hurry. Many months past after the PlayStation 5’s initial launch and it was still near impossible to get my hands on if I didn’t want to pay a scalper. My Steam library grew, and my interest in a PlayStation 5 didn’t. In fact, my interest shrunk. It will most likely take an excruciatingly long amount of time before the PlayStation 5 is readily available, and by then, all the games on my Steam Wishlist will be released and purchased. I struggle to find an upside for the system after that alone…
The Atari VCS offers a novel experience.
Recently, I have been playing my Nintendo Switch frequently. My current game of choice is The Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword HD, and I have been playing it with the motion controls for the Joy Cons. Most importantly, I have been having a blast. When I finally move away from playing a mainstream series on my computer, I am typically looking for something unique. Something that I couldn’t possibly do in front of my PC monitor. Using the classic Joystick on my 4k television in the living room is going to a lot of fun. It will be something unique from my friends to do when they come over.
I’m not really sure what I would do with a PlayStation 5 anymore.
With all my attention for single player and online experiences turned to the PC, the PlayStation 5 would be nothing more than a symbol of what was once in my interests. I mean, online lists for PlayStation 5 exclusives still list “Atro’s Playroom,” due to its lack of experiences unique to the system itself. If it’s not on my PC, Nintendo Switch, or my Atari VCS, it’s probably not worth spending $600 for. My Atari VCS comes with 100 games pre-installed and a thousand more games ready to stream. It’s not much, but at least it’s something.