| super_etecoon said: It is amazing how this generation has unfolded in such a short time. A year and a half ago I think most people were looking at a Sony/Microsoft battle and wondering who was going to get the Nintendo spoils when they went third party a la Sega. To be having this conversation at all is remarkable. The comments about Sony coming out with big hitters in 2008 is valid, but I believe that if we consider last generation the same thing could have been said about another down and out competitor. So many thought that Nintendo could compete (not win) last generation, if they released some amazing titles. "Just wait until Mario comes out. Metroid will own. Smash Bros is teh amazin!" But regardless of Nintendo's great first party titles and even some third party success (Resident Evil) Nintendo failed to make a dent on Sony's stranglehold. I don't believe this had to do with games. Can anyone deny the quality titles that were on the other two (three...DC anyone) systems. The XBOX and Gamecube were great systems (with advanced hardware) but couldn't shake Sony from its throne. Granted, Sony was out for a full year, but I don't think it was this that made them win. It was public opinion and excitement about the next generation of gaming. That now lies in Nintendo's hands this time around. |
The best example is actually N64/PS1. Nintendo had Mario64, Zelda: Ocarina of Time and Goldeneye, all three of which are considered to be among the best games of all time for any platform, they presumably had "brand loyalty" from their NES and SNES days (I quote this simply because I don't think it's nearly as important as some make it out to be), and yet they were trumped by Sony. Once the PS1 had momentum, all the things I just mentioned didn't slow the PS1 down.
In other words, as you've noted, we've seen this trend in history before. Historically speaking, when one console gains momentum like this, it never looks back. There's a first time for everything, though.
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