Definition of a 'Gen' in Gaming and The Anomaly of Gen 2

[2Quick]

Salnax said:
If gen 2 gets split in half, we should also have a Gen 4.5 for the early 90's. The 16-bit era began in 1987 and 1988 with the PC Engine and Genesis, so certain systems released from 1991 to 1993 stand out in terms of power and types of technology used, especially CD-ROMs. These include the Neo Geo, 3DO, Jaguar, CD-i, Pippin, and arguably the 32X.

I believe the term "generation" implies the existence of a healthy market. Since the Atari 5200 and Colecovision failed to create that kind of market, they are grouped with generation 2, and are considered a failure to make the true leap. Likewise, the 3DO and Jaguar failed to ever be part of a healthy console market, and are thus not considered part of the 5th gen proper.

The borderline between being a part of a healthy or failing market is a bit hard to make out. Though the Dreamcast sold well, one can argue that its 1998 release and short lifespan make it as much of a 5th generation console as a 6th generation console.

Ultimately though, the entire concept of a console "generation" is more psychological than actually based on hardware. Generations describe what other consoles a system was competing with on the market and in the minds of consumers. The reason the Atari 5200 is considered part of the second generation is that it was never able to find its own spot, not already taken by 70's era machines.

I have never thought of a Generation 4.5 before... I usually considered Neo Geo to be in 4th Gen and the others to be in 5th gen (Neo Geo almost falls outside of the whole definition of a Gen though, with its long active lifespan), and the other consoles to be in fith Gen (maybe it was 2d vs 3d graphics or catridges vs CDs)  I will have to reconsider this in the future.  

4.5 might also not have been well established because it pretty much consists of all newcomers to the console world (atari being the exception).  It is much easier to define a gen based upon the mainstream consoles of the time and their direct competitors.  since these consoles fall in between  the 16 bit era (SNES and Genesis) and the 32/64 bit era (saturn, playstation, N64), and dont fit in really well with either of them,  its harder for them to be classified.  

I agree that the 5200 was unable to find its unique niche, but I feel as though the ColecoVision definitely was able to.  In Gen 2A it was 2600 versus Intellivision, inGen 2B it was 5200 Vs ColecoVision.  If a game system in securely established to be of a certian Gen, does that make its direct competitors also  in the same Gen?