Why did Microsoft succed where Sega failed with Saturn and Dreamcast?
Sega had a very successful run in the 16 bit era with the Genesis, much as Microsoft did in the 6th gen with the original Xbox. Perhaps, they even had a better showing against the Super Nintendo than the original xbox did against the PS2. For much of the 16 bit gen, they certainly slugged it out toe to toe with their biggest rival in the game's industry. So, why did Saturn fail to keep the fans they had earned in the 16 bit era? People always talk about the rushed release and high price of the Saturn when it was launched. However, I feel that there was some other reason the Saturn just didn't catch on. The 3DO had launched with a higher price tag than Saturn and was starting to establish itself as a major console in 1995 following the release of Gex and Street Fighter II for the system. So, I don't see why Sega's Saturn was unable to do likewise and continue to at least be a third pillar of gaming during the 32 bit era. I know I bought my Saturn Day One. It might be that the Saturn failed to establish itself because of a lack of high quality games on the system, but Astal, Nights, and the Panzer Dragoon Saga did establish themselves as cult classics on the failed system. It still remains a msytery to me why Saturn failed to do better than it did.
Much like 360 jump startet the current gen with its launch in 2005 a full year before Wii and PS3, the Dreamcast jump started the 6th gen with its launch in the Autumn of 1999, and over the next year it had a lineup of games released that have to be considered to be among the greatest lineup ever released for a console in one year's time and especially during a launch year. I would say the games that appeared on Dreamcast between its launch in 1999 and the beginning of 2001: Titles like Resident Evil: Code Veronica, Phantasy Star Online, improved versions of Rayman: The Great Escape, and the Tony Hawk games when those series were huge, Shenmue, Skies of Arcadia, Grandia II, Sonic Adventure, Jet Set Radio, Samba De Amigo rate right up with there with the best year's for any console in history and that they were almost all better than any exclusives that came the 360's way between its launch in 2005 and the end of 2006 (with the possible exception of Gears of War), yet the Dreamcast failed to establish itself despite its incredible lineup of games whereas the 360 has gone on to establish itself as the dominant HD console worldwide and the second best selling console this gen.
Why did Microsoft and 360 succeed where Sega failed with Saturn and Dreamcast?
