Alternate history: Sony don't join the console race

[SeaDaVie]

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.

According to all available data, including GDP figures, price indexes and standard of living, life in the 90’s Europe did not change significantly from the period before nor did conditions improve at a faster rate compared to the periods after. You wouldn’t know any of that though, because you were too busy looking at gameboy sales data to defend your made up theories that you’re trying to pretend resulted in a growth rate of 130%, like that’s some sort of normal event. You’re being ridiculous and not arguing in good faith. It’s clear you’re biased and not capable of a reasonable and balanced analysis of the facts. 

I’m actually 41(not 31, my account age was a typo) and live in Europe, so I do in fact remember. I was 12 when the PlayStation released, in first year of high school, and witnessed first hand the seismic shift in attitudes. The release of the PlayStation in Europe was the single most important event in the history of the video game market here, and will never be surpassed. Or, you know, being in the EU meant the price of cheese fell by 3 pence so 30 million people, who’d never previously owned a console, went out and bought a £299 PlayStation. It’s probably a 50/50.

Also, the fact that the Gameboy’s sales pick up at the exact moment the PS releases, rather than 2 years earlier when the seismic event of the single market formed is kind of weird, no? Maybe it just took people 2 years to realise cheese now cost 3p less.

Last edited by SeaDaVie - on 15 July 2025