"What If" moments of the gaming industry...

[mike_intellivision]

Comments on those posted -- then I will pose one of my own in a separate post.

1. What if Xbox 1 was a joint between Sega and Microsoft?
Sega name helps in Japanese market and decreases skepticism for those in other markets. It also means that many Sega titles associated with other consoles never happen (no Sonic ports or new games, no Crazy Taxi ports or new games, no Skies ports, etc.)

2. What if Snes CD addon was released for the Super Nintendo by Sony and Playstation never got to exist as we know it?
Sony would all but own Nintendo by virtue of the agreement it wanted Nintendo to sign. The Nintendo Playstation 4 by Sony would be a big hit.

3. What if Sega never released the Saturn, but instead released a beefed up 32x/segaCD/genesis machine all in one ?
It still would have confused people as to why all the different hardware. And it would have fallen quicker to Sony.

4. What if Final Fantasy 7 was not a PS1 exclusive but a multiplat title?
Saturn survives, Sega survives. Race is much closer.

5. What if Wii did not have motion controls and was another regular system made by Nintendo?
No one really cares about another third-place Nintendo console, especially one with limited graphics. The GC2 halts production in early 2009 and Nintendo focuses on DS and software -- becoming a third-party like its chief rival from the classic days Sega had to do a few years before. Zelda HD and Mario 256 HD are expected to be a holiday hit in 2010.