It would be interesting if someone wrote a detailed history of Sony, Apple, Nintendo, and Microsoft, specifically dealing with the interplay between the companies over the last 15-25 years. How they've collaborated, learned from each other, imitated each other, fought each other tooth-and-nail, and produced practically all of the most successful consumer electronics and software of the last quarter century.
"[Our former customers] are unable to find software which they WANT to play."
"The way to solve this problem lies in how to communicate what kind of games [they CAN play]."
Satoru Iwata, Nintendo President. Only slightly paraphrased.