More importantly, is the Genesis + 32X a 5. gen console? It had two Hitachi SH2 32-bit processors and wasn't far of from the Amiga CD32, Jaguar or 3DO.

generation in a videogame is not technology. The videogame is entertainment not tech

So since you are just as entertained now as you were 30 years ago there is no generations in consoles right?

Does this look 3rd gen to you? I am counting at least 5 levels of blast processing here.

It's an add on. Same with N64DD and PlayStation VR and SEGA CD and Turbo CD.

It's gen 4.

The most definitive proff I can give you is that yamauchi pulled a ps1 *299* type reversal against the mega drive. Sega was hyping up it's new system when yamauchi too the community and investors "wait a few months, the super famicom is coming". This completely TANKED mega drive sales in Japan to the point that it never recoverd, the PC engine was the main competitor in Japan.

It's neither. Sega created their own generation by blast processing our minds out of our friggin skulls. SEGA!

All you need to know is that Genesis does what Nintendon't.

Sega Genesis has BLAST PROCESSING. Super Nintendo... doesn't.

Check. Mate. Nintendolts.

/s

Every console generation is defined by the technology of the day.

The 4th generation is defined by parallax effects and Mode 7.
The 5th generation is defined by 3D Graphics, FMV, CD quality Audio.
The 6th generation is defined by TnL (Fixed function vertex processing) DVD.
The 7th generation is defined by programmable pixel shaders, online gaming.
The 8th generation is defined by Tessellation, Deferred Rendering, Dynamic Lighting and Shadowing.
The 9th generation will be defined by Ray Tracing and Physics.

Obviously there are some overlaps here and there... I.E. 6th generation Xbox had programmable pixel shaders and online gaming like the 7th gen. - But it released later in the cycle and thus was able to take advantage of newer hardware developments brought forth by the PC.

Or the 7th gen Wii having a hardware feature set similar to the 6th gens Gamecube. - But Nintendo was shifting gears and opted to no longer chase newer hardware developments and opted to use outdated hardware designs whilst focusing on other aspects such as motion controls.

But in short, you can bet that every console generation is defined by technology to a very large extent as it generally takes years for there to be large shifts in hardware feature sets.

It is ok to say that technology defines a generation, but you have to pick the right technologies.  Many of the technologies that you listed are not really things that the average consumer would know about or care about.  What technologies did people care about?  In generation 5 people cared about the CD ROM.  That was the technology that defined that generation, and it was the reason Playstation won over the previously undefeated Nintendo.  3D graphics is also something people legitimately cared about (which you did list).  In generation 4, people generically cared about improved graphics and a six button controller.  Sega even admitted the importance of the six button controller by releasing one of their own later on.  The six button controller was important to fighting games, and that is why it was important technology to generation 4.

What was the important technology to generation 7?  Motion controls.  The Wii was the best selling console of generation 7.  Additionally, Microsoft and Sony admitted this was the important technology by releasing their own motion controls.  Motion controls is what defined generation 7 as well as online gaming (the latter of which you did list).

Technology can definitely define a generation as long as you identify the relevant technology.  And the technology doesn't necessarily have to make the hardware more powerful.  The Playstation had a weaker CPU than the N64, but at the time people cared far more about the CD ROM.