Alternate history: Sony don't join the console race

[SvennoJ]

RolStoppable said:

SeaDaVie said:

How does being in the EU help with importing of goods manufactured in Asia? The benefits of the EU were in interacting with other EU countries primarily.

The Wii was also a super important part of the historical market growth, a system that introduced gaming to a way more casual audience that Sony had ever reached. Why is that even relevant though, it’s not like the 2 are mutually exclusive facts or something.

Also, we’re talking about a 130% growth rate, that’s not something that just happens naturally without some seismic shift.

The European single market is this seismic shift because all sorts of goods became cheaper, meaning that Europeans could afford more of everything.

Let's look at Gameboy sales: https://www.neogaf.com/threads/nintendo-historical-shipment-data-1983-present.701305/

Up to and including the fiscal year ending March 1995, shipments had reached 15.32m. The PS1 launched later in 1995 and the GB's remaining life until March 2003 aligns quite closely with the lifecycle of the PS1. During that timeframe the GB shipped an additional 27.29m which constitutes growth of ~80% despite the inclusion of a slow period that lasted from April 1995 until the launch of the GB Pocket revision in 1996.

The late 1990s changed video game consoles in Europe from a luxury to a commodity. But you wouldn't know, because you aren't old enough to have been there.

Looking at those gameboy sales, does seem the Playstation marketing gave it a boost

Japan looking at shipment change%

1989  released
1990  183%
1991  230%
1992  72%
1993  84%
1994  58%
1995  108%  
1996  88%
1997  286%
1998  148% 
1999  112%
2000  88%
And further decline

GameBoy had 2 peaks, the regular life cycle and then a big boost as gaming expands and becomes more accepted for older kids.
The same pattern is in the USA, 1996-1997 the slowest year, then quickly picking up while PS1 gains popularity.

Japan bottomed out 1995-1996 March, PS1 released December 1994
USA bottomed out 1996-1997 March, PS1 released September 1995


Of course Pokemon also came out around that time (1996) with the pocket revision, so that also majorly boosted sales. But it sure helped that carrying a Gameboy around in High school was no longer just for nerds.


It all worked together, rising tides lift all ships kinda thing. PS1 marketing was definitely part of the rising tide.