I decided to make this thread due to almost everyone being a graphics whore now. Do I like good graphics? Of course.... However, graphics shouldn't be the main focus of gamers. Game-play, controls, and play balance should rank higher than graphics. Graphics can add a lot to the gaming experience yet you can have a very beautiful graphical game play terrible. Anyways, I just wanted to point out that the most powerful system has never won a generation for home console and handheld in their respective generations. Main reason? I would have to say price due to the higher technology probably prevented most from not selling more (sure there are exceptions like the N64 being cheaper launch price than the PS1, however the games for N64 were more expensive). I remember back in the 16-bit era when I thought Neo Geo was a very bad ass system. Who has 200-300 to drop on every game and pay $650 when it first came out? Not many people did... Same case can be made for the Game Gear, PS3, 3DO Interactive Multiplayer, PSP, etc... You can make your system all powerful but if it puts the price out of league with consumers then your system is limping out of the gate. I know it isn't only about price that sets systems up for success or failures (there are a lot of other areas such as game libraries, battery life, etc) but it can't help coming out with a $500-$700 system.
So by demanding the most powerful system possible for the time (which a lot of gamers are guilty of these days) gamers are setting themselves for prices in the $500-$700 range. I would rather see that systems at least stick to the $200-$400 range. If you are going to drop $700 for a home console system then you might as well build yourself a gaming PC. Also, if manufacturers have to produce these power machines then they either have to sell them at very high price or take losses on systems sold. Selling systems for a loss isn't very good business practice. If the system doesn't take off and you sold them for a loss then good luck on making your money back from game royalties.
Most of what I discussed is pretty basic common knowledge for people that have grown up with the Atari 2600 or NES. However, I believe the younger generations need to wake up and realize where they might being leading the video game industry.
