Each of the big three's greatest contribution to gaming, and why

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My personal picks:

Nintendo: The standards and framework they established in games like Super Mario Bros, The Legend of Zelda, Metroid, Mario 64, Ocarina of Time, etc would shape the industry for decades to come. It's almost impossible to find a game made today that doesn't share DNA with Nintendo's pioneering works.

Sony: Expanding the audience for gaming

Microsoft: Establishing the template for the modern games console; standardized parts and architecture that are easy to develop for, with onboard storage.