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Soundwave on 12 May 2025
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firebush03 said:
Norion said:

Well no compared to the Switch there's also the fact that the PS2 didn't get a big boost from a major pandemic and that gaming itself was a lot less popular decades ago as I mentioned so while total popularity isn't as high it was more popular among gamers at the game which counts for at least something. The NES's total of just under 62m isn't anything special nowadays but it was absolutely incredible for the time like how there's an argument that the PS1's total is more impressive than the PS4's considering the different circumstances.

Again I do mostly agree since the Switch and especially the DS getting to 150m as quickly as they did compared to the PS2 is a big deal so would pick the DS as the most impressive in terms of hardware sales but would likely give it to the Switch when including software. I just don't think it's as lopsided as you're making it out to be when taking every factor into account.

I’d argue the Switch is by far the most successful system from a hardware perspective. (From a software perspective? It’d be very close btwn PS2 and Switch…though if we want to impose a(n arbitrary) restriction to exclusive or first-party, then def Switch.) The fact that Switch could ship through 150mil without dropping MSRP is quite impressive, compared to DS & PS2 which had both dropped near or below 1/3rd of their OG MSRP by year 8. Gaming is much more mainstream today than it was during 2001-2012, so DS/PS2 have that on Switch, but maintaining a steady price far outweighs how ever mainstream gaming has become imo.

…but regardless, this is a pretty silly argument. So, I’ll see myself out of here after this comment. I encourage others to follow suit.

It's kinda iffy because the gaming population really exploded in the mid-2000s and at least for home consoles hasn't really seen a huge bump since then. 

Like sure more people play games overall, but huge portions of that are basically smartphone/tablet only and/or Steam/PC only. 

There's also much more general entertainment competition these days with streaming services like Netflix, teenagers spending hours and hours on social media apps like Instagram and Tiktok, Youtube, etc.etc. In the 2000s entertainment options were much more limited. Your phone did this:

And having an iPod that basically just played music was incredible to people. 

Today your smartphone can entertain you for hours on end, not just gaming but social media, video, you name it. The Switch competes in a much more crowded entertainment landscape.