The (usual) historical curse of console #3 for Game companies/division

[mike_intellivision]

Mr Khan said:
The resemblance is a little eerie too, in that many are saying that Microsoft is in the best position moving into the next generation (which is not without merit. They have a foot in the door of the casual market and yet retain the publisher goodwill that will keep third party games coming), much as how Nintendo or Sony were in strong positions going in to the 5th and 7th generations respectively.

In the Saturn's and 7800's case, however, the writing was really on the wall. The 7800 was too-little-too-late on Atari's part, after they realized that they could sell actual consoles again, while the awkward life and death of the 32X helped to scuttle the chances of a smooth transition. Sega had squandered their Genesis momentum well before the Saturn moved in.

The 7800 would have been competitive had it been released when developed and test marketed -- 1984.  Instead, it got dumped from a warehouse and handmedowns after the NES jump started the North American gaming market.

The Saturn was plagued by Sega decisions leaving a bad taste in gamers mouths before (32X), during (premature launch) and after (pulled from the market) its life.

Intereesting that no one besides Nintendo has made it past four consoles. (Atari would have five if you included home computers: 2600, 5200/400-800 series, 7800, Jag, ST).  (The 5200 was essentially a keyboardless version of the 400-800 series computer).

 

Mike from Morgantown