If the N64 had a CD-ROM Drive, would've Nintendo won the generation in sales?

[DarthMetalliCube]

Soundwave said:

DarthMetalliCube said:

I think the cartridge factor is pretty overrated when it comes to the N64's relative floundering compared to PS1. I think the weird controller played a role, the lack of diversity in and quantity of the library, and the fact that EVERYTHING had to be 3D just about played a significant role. Though I suppose you could make the argument that the console would have had more third party support (and thus more games) if Nintendo adopted the CD format. Still, ultimately the games are what matter, not so much the media. 

That makes no sense. The media matters when it prevents likely hundreds of games from being on the platform. 

If Nintendo had used CD-ROM the N64 would not have had any droughts and likely doesn't lose Squaresoft or Enix as there isn't much incentive for them to leave.

Sony has no chance if they weren't allowed to basically poach all of Nintendo's NES/SNES support and that only happens because of the format choice. 

Saturn had CD Rom. Hell 3DO, CD-i, and Neo Geo CD did. why weren't they successful?

Not that media format wasn't a factor, but it's a vastly overrated one. 

Sony was poised for victory regardless. Sega had completely shot themselves in the foot by the mid-90s and Nintendo's lack of software, steep prices, and harsh third party restrictions set the conditions for another company to swoop in and disrupt the industry.

Maybe the dominance wouldn't have been as significant but they still would have come out on top - between the low price for their hardware, far looser third party restrictions, and the massive quantity and diversity of the library. Third parties were looking for a console that they could play a larger role in and have more leverage and Sony offered that with the Playstation. Nintendo did not.