When does a generation end?

[Alby_da_Wolf]

ironmanDX said:

Alby_da_Wolf said:

When a new generation is born, usually the previous one doesn't suddenly die: so we can rightly say that when at least one console of new generation is released the previous one just isn't the latest anymore, but it one doesn't end, either, a generation ends when its sales become insignificant.

 

Edit: Aura7541 and I guess others too already wrote similar concepts before me.

We didn't say it died. As soon as the WiiU came out everyoes ps360's and Wii's didn't blow up. Comparing living things to gaming consoles is fairly odd.

Then let's not compare them. But if some consoles of the old gen keep on being produced and selling significant numbers it doesn't make any sense to say that gen ended, it makes sense to simply call them "last gen" or "previous gen" as opposed to "new gen" or "latest gen".
When a new gen is released, the previous one can either end, if it doesn't sell anymore, or if it's still produced and keeps on selling, just cease being the latest gen, plain and simple. Not to mention that if as soon as the new one begins, the previous gen is declared ended, what should we call the consoles belonging to it and still selling? "Undead gen"? OTOH, when production ends but they still sell until supplies run out, then I'm fine to declare the whole gen ended.

BTW, declaring a gen ended as soon as the first competitor releases a new one could lead to the paradox of a totally failed console, but launched early and replaced early, to be declared its gen's winner if competitors, even infinitely more successful lifetime, aren't launched in time to outsell the failed console before its successor is launched.