Which generation does the Genesis belong to? Gen 3 or 4.

[The_Liquid_Laser]

Pemalite said:

The_Liquid_Laser said:

It is ok to say that technology defines a generation, but you have to pick the right technologies.  Many of the technologies that you listed are not really things that the average consumer would know about or care about.  What technologies did people care about?  In generation 5 people cared about the CD ROM.  That was the technology that defined that generation, and it was the reason Playstation won over the previously undefeated Nintendo.  3D graphics is also something people legitimately cared about (which you did list).  In generation 4, people generically cared about improved graphics and a six button controller.  Sega even admitted the importance of the six button controller by releasing one of their own later on.  The six button controller was important to fighting games, and that is why it was important technology to generation 4.

What was the important technology to generation 7?  Motion controls.  The Wii was the best selling console of generation 7.  Additionally, Microsoft and Sony admitted this was the important technology by releasing their own motion controls.  Motion controls is what defined generation 7 as well as online gaming (the latter of which you did list).

Technology can definitely define a generation as long as you identify the relevant technology.  And the technology doesn't necessarily have to make the hardware more powerful.  The Playstation had a weaker CPU than the N64, but at the time people cared far more about the CD ROM. 

You are just reinforcing my entire point at the end of the day.

You've got the right idea, but the wrong details.