To a certain extent, the constant discussion on whether the Wii belongs in the same generation as the PS3 or XBox 360. This made me start thinking about how a generation should be defined, rather than how it was defined, and I came up with the following generational structure:

Generation 1:
Characteristics: Built in games, simple 2D graphics, sold at profit, no third party publishers

1.1) Magnavox Odyssey, Atari/Sears Telegames Pong, Coleco Telstar

Generation 2:
Characteristics: Games sold seperately, dawn of third party publishers, 2D graphics, focus on mascot characters

2.1) Atari 2600, Magnavox Odyssey 2, ColecoVision,  Matel Intellivision
2.2) Nintendo Entertainment System, Sega Master System
2.3) Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Sega Genesis/Megadrive, TurboGraphix 16, Neo Geo

Generation 3:
Characteristics: Games sold seperately, third party publishers become dominant force in the industry, 3D graphics, focus on cinematic gaming

3.1) Sega Saturn, Sony Playstation, N64
3.2) Sega Dreamcast, Sony PS2, Microsoft XBox, Nintendo Gamecube
3.3) Microsoft XBox 360, Sony PS3

Generation 4:

4.1) Nintendo Wii

The reason I have not bothered to define the characteristics of the fourth generation is because there is currently only one console inside of it, and therefore it is impossible to say what will be common characteristics for most consoles in the generation.

Now, if you think that this is a decent definition to how consoles fit into generations, do you think that the upcomming consoles will become generation 3.4, 4.2 or 5.1?

Edit: I just realized I put this in the Nintendo forum rather than the Gaming forum.

*sigh*. So tell me, what does a console have to have to get into the 4th generation? Motion control, correct?

P.S. Nice job with posting it in Nintendo forums, now I could only wonder whom this thread was meant to appeal to... 

So motion control makes Wii into a new generation?

So the other two have to copy Nintendo to be apart of your 4th generation?

motion does not make a gen, at best its an offshot of 3, and there are no 4th gen

I like the establishd generation order

1st: Maganaovox, Pong
2nd: Atari 2600, ColecoVision
3rd: NES, Master Syste,
4th: SNES, Genesis
5th: N64, Playstation
6th: Gamecube, Xbox
7th: Wii, Playstation 3

While i don't necessarily agree, how many threads have we had claiming the Wii wasn't part of this generation because it doesn't have the graphics of PS3 or Xbox360? Is this any different, i don't really think so. I do however expect a similar response in this thread from the HD owners as the Wii owners gave in the "Wii is not part of this generation" threads.

No he is just saying that the 360 and PS3 both fall in the 3rd generation category while the Wii doesn't(making it a new generation). As for the qualifications to get into the 4th generation he said there aren't any as of now since there is only 1 console in it, which is in it due to not fitting in any of the others. If another console doesn't fit the others then it will also go into the 4th generation and you have the qualifications by comparing the Wii and the X console. So you guys just misinterpreted what he is saying. I think it makes perfect sense.

Edit: Also who said anything about Motion Controls? The Wii doesn't focus on cinematic gaming so that already makes it not fit in the 3rd generation category making a 4th one. I beleive all of the qualifications have to be met for it to fit in a generation.

HappySqurriel is getting flamed fast. So guys, what if it is about games that expand the achievements into the real life. Or games that anyone is able to play.
In any case, i don't think there's nothing to argue about PS360 being last gen. The value difference needs to be explained anyway.

well i can see that because prior to this gen. hardware, had been the definition, and fx, i mean look nintendo even named one console 64 to show it pushed 64bits... honestly, i dont feel any console is really 7thgen they are all still sixth, graphics have just not advanced enough, and the ii is doing its own thing

So your not being biased at all?

And the ps3 has no motion control, and online gaming matters not.


Wii=best