Microsoft has absorbed about 130 businesses. Of them, perhaps 30 have any semblance of a presence at Microsoft today, and less than a dozen retain their independence from the Microsoft over-corporation as their own independent stuido.

I don't see the problem. Atleast not in gaming. Sure they had to close Ensamble studios... But otherwise rest of their development teams have had great critical and commercial success.

Bungie is still Bungie.

Rare is still being invested in to despite it not delivering hits like they used to.

Turn 10 still makes solid Forza games.

Lionhead is still kicking ass.

It wouldn't pay off for MS to demolish Sega and make them in to a shadow of them former selves as they are now.

Ahh then that was unfortunate. Too bad Sega didn't have the foresight to see how far they'd have fallen by today. If so they would have definately signed that bottom line.

It was a lose-lose situation for Sega, really. If they went with Microsoft, they lost their independence and risked being reduced to nothingness during one of the many corporate downsizings that had destroyed almost a hundred MS-absorbed companies before that. If they resisted, they had to compete with Microsoft on top of Sony (who was already crushing them). It's fine and dandy to pretend that things would have been better if Sega joined Microsoft, but it's unlikely that either company would have benefited much at all from it.

Fair enough, but then, they will be remembered as a great and talented company, instead they went, well we know the story.

Comments on those posted -- then I will pose one of my own in a separate post.

1. What if Xbox 1 was a joint between Sega and Microsoft?
Sega name helps in Japanese market and decreases skepticism for those in other markets. It also means that many Sega titles associated with other consoles never happen (no Sonic ports or new games, no Crazy Taxi ports or new games, no Skies ports, etc.)

2. What if Snes CD addon was released for the Super Nintendo by Sony and Playstation never got to exist as we know it?
Sony would all but own Nintendo by virtue of the agreement it wanted Nintendo to sign. The Nintendo Playstation 4 by Sony would be a big hit.

3. What if Sega never released the Saturn, but instead released a beefed up 32x/segaCD/genesis machine all in one ?
It still would have confused people as to why all the different hardware. And it would have fallen quicker to Sony.

4. What if Final Fantasy 7 was not a PS1 exclusive but a multiplat title?
Saturn survives, Sega survives. Race is much closer.

5. What if Wii did not have motion controls and was another regular system made by Nintendo?
No one really cares about another third-place Nintendo console, especially one with limited graphics. The GC2 halts production in early 2009 and Nintendo focuses on DS and software -- becoming a third-party like its chief rival from the classic days Sega had to do a few years before. Zelda HD and Mario 256 HD are expected to be a holiday hit in 2010.

Now for my puzzler

What happens if Atari does not pull the 7800 from store shelves in 1984 -- so it is still there when the NES makes it US debut and plays games with which American audiences are more familiar?

Mike from Morgantown

@ mike_intellivision

Great opinions about those 5 what ifs. Those would be my guesses as well. You know your gaming history alright. More-so than me as I have no idea how your Atari What if would reflect on gaming in 1984. Could have worked for Atari, but considering the best gaming started coming from Japan with exlcusive nintendo agreements, Atari may have been shafted again.

What if Atari went ahead and distributed nintendo entertainment system in the US like nitnendo asked them to?

Great thread...

1) I think it would have had the same fate as actual original Xbox. The SEGA brand (While fans always remained loyal) became a bit watered down following the released of Sega CD + 32X + Saturn + Dreamcast... The newer SegaXbox would have been too soon after the release of the Dreamcast, and would still lose out to the PS2)

2) This is something that would have changed everything. I believe the companies would have merged after the SNES era, forming a new system. Sony Tech Dollars and Nintendo Franchises and innovations would be an amazing system. How much would it have changed? The PS1-N64 I believe would have sold more then the original PS1 did by itself, swamping the competition. As for the PS2-GC, I think it would have knocked MS out very quickly as well. The main change would be this generation, A Sony / Ninty merger would be the clear winner, but I also believe that Apple would enter the console market if there were only two competitors.

3) it almost happened (At least the 32X / Gen part. The Sega Neptune... ) It wouldn't have helped. The 32X was released in 1994 (One year out from the PS, and 2 from the N64) Gamers already were getting glimpses of Battle Arena Toshinden, Ridge Racer, and video of Mario 64 in magazines.)    A fully supported 32X mostly had accelerated ports of games you could get on SNES, and Genesis. Although NBA Jam looked much better on 32X, it didn't want to make anyone shell out the extra $150. Sega should have never released the add-ons, and stayed par for the course, and switched all R&D to the Saturn. Their Add-Ons broke their bank. Too bad. Love the Sega

4) Originally it was an N64 title, and tehre are pics available using FFVI characters as a demo. The fact is, that title was a goldmine, and Hiroshi Yamauchi from Nintendo may be the biggest reason they did not get it, sealing Ninty's fate (until the DS happened!) If the title went multoplat, it may have hurt Square, but one can argue that Sony's rise would not have been as quick. This is a really good "What If?" I still think Sony would have won hands down.

 5) Nintendo would have some good games, the system would sell the same as the GC, and they would most likely biow out of the home console market. They would however continue to dominate handhelds. That business is solid.

And now: More What Ifs???

6) What if Nintendo had merged with Sega?

7) What if Apple entered the Home Console market at the same time with MS in generation 6?

8) What if the Virtual Boy actually succeeded? What handhelds would be released today?

9) What if there was no videogame crash in the early 80s? Who'd still be around?

@Thrillhouse

7) What if Apple entered the Home Console market at the same time with MS in generation 6?

I think Apple would have been blown out by PS2, GC and Xbox. People dont realize how hard it was entering in to the console market in the 6th generation. PS2 was rediculously overhyped and developers made games for it because of that. GC had the standard nitnendo franchises as well as some great exclusives and the nintendo brand name. Microsoft was willing to lose money...and build on their strenghts...online, Direct X, PC console compatibility.

As far as I know, Macs have never been gaming machines and Apple has very little experience with gaming in general. They would have depended on 3rd parties more than anyone. And I don't think they would have stood for losing billions like MS did to get their foot in the door.