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What is it with consoles that usually make them so popular? Is it their graphical power? Their interestingly named processors? Or is it something a little less technical that everyone knows a little about - third party support?
Many people used to say that the Playstation was better than the N64 due to it's huge library of games, despite most of them being no better than SNES games. Although, this did mean you had more choice. There were about fifteen to twenty games released per month, only one or two would actually become popular titles, however this did make the Playstation look better in the games region.
This has also been said about the Playstation two, despite some of these people not realising how many games are coming for the X-box and GameCube. However, you can say the Playstation 2 is compatable with more games than any other console (except in the handheld region) as it is backwards compatable with all Playstation games.
So what does this mean now that we've got one of the largest and most popular videogames companies as a third party for each and every console? SEGA, who last year decided to allow all their development teams make games for the GameCube, X-box and Playstation 2, have become a major thirf-party developer and could in theory control the gaming market!
How can they do this? Well despite the Dreamcast doing so badly, even in comparison to the N64, there are a lot of SEGA fans out there worldwide. If one of the three console companies angered them at all, they could move some of their development teams elsewhere, create a sequel to one of their most popular games on the other systems and thus sway a lot of fans to those systems.
There are two companies here who you could say are pretty much vulnerable to this happening: Sony and Microsoft. Nintendo have signed contracts with SEGA (as well as Namco) to develop games for "Triforce" arcade boards. Though this doesn't mean that Zelda will soon be in the arcades, it means Sega and Namco will be using GameCube hardware in the arcades on specially build arcade machines. Shigeru Miyamoto is also in a joint project with Sonic Team to make a game which is yet to be named, but apparantly both parties are really happy to finally be able to work together. So really, unless Nintendo and SEGA have a major disagreement, Nintendo are pretty safe.
Microsoft could be considered as vulnerable, however they are the largest company in the world, and therefore don't have to worry too much about things like this happening. They may lose SEGA's support, but they only really need Sega to kcikstart the X-box into action with the gamers. For all Microsoft care, SEGA could go bankrupt and it wouldn't effect Microsoft too badly, especially when Microsoft could use an opportunity like that to buy out SEGA for a very low price.
So the most vulnerable are Sony. Ok, fair enough they have the biggest fan-base in the UK, but not necessarily the United States or Japan. Sony rely on third party support and SEGA are a massive booster to their side of the market. With fresh games coming from SEGA's minds, Sony have prolonged the eventual death of the Playstation 2 by probably a year or two, meaning they can make more money out of the system for a good while yet. However, if SEGA manages to make a lot of fans from Sony's machine, then all they need do is move those games to either the GameCube or the X-box, and chances are the fans will follow, thus reducing the consoles life, and dropping the number of Playstation 2 fans.
Ofcourse there is a chance of this happening on every machine. Each one has it's vulnerabilities and a company like SEGA could exploit these to their own advantage. Who knows if this will ever happen? It may not, and we may see Sega developing for the next set of consoles yet! Stay tuned to the gaming world and you'll find out. Just remember SEGA fans, you're favourite company has the power to get one over any console company they like.
Many people used to say that the Playstation was better than the N64 due to it's huge library of games, despite most of them being no better than SNES games. Although, this did mean you had more choice. There were about fifteen to twenty games released per month, only one or two would actually become popular titles, however this did make the Playstation look better in the games region.
This has also been said about the Playstation two, despite some of these people not realising how many games are coming for the X-box and GameCube. However, you can say the Playstation 2 is compatable with more games than any other console (except in the handheld region) as it is backwards compatable with all Playstation games.
So what does this mean now that we've got one of the largest and most popular videogames companies as a third party for each and every console? SEGA, who last year decided to allow all their development teams make games for the GameCube, X-box and Playstation 2, have become a major thirf-party developer and could in theory control the gaming market!
How can they do this? Well despite the Dreamcast doing so badly, even in comparison to the N64, there are a lot of SEGA fans out there worldwide. If one of the three console companies angered them at all, they could move some of their development teams elsewhere, create a sequel to one of their most popular games on the other systems and thus sway a lot of fans to those systems.
There are two companies here who you could say are pretty much vulnerable to this happening: Sony and Microsoft. Nintendo have signed contracts with SEGA (as well as Namco) to develop games for "Triforce" arcade boards. Though this doesn't mean that Zelda will soon be in the arcades, it means Sega and Namco will be using GameCube hardware in the arcades on specially build arcade machines. Shigeru Miyamoto is also in a joint project with Sonic Team to make a game which is yet to be named, but apparantly both parties are really happy to finally be able to work together. So really, unless Nintendo and SEGA have a major disagreement, Nintendo are pretty safe.
Microsoft could be considered as vulnerable, however they are the largest company in the world, and therefore don't have to worry too much about things like this happening. They may lose SEGA's support, but they only really need Sega to kcikstart the X-box into action with the gamers. For all Microsoft care, SEGA could go bankrupt and it wouldn't effect Microsoft too badly, especially when Microsoft could use an opportunity like that to buy out SEGA for a very low price.
So the most vulnerable are Sony. Ok, fair enough they have the biggest fan-base in the UK, but not necessarily the United States or Japan. Sony rely on third party support and SEGA are a massive booster to their side of the market. With fresh games coming from SEGA's minds, Sony have prolonged the eventual death of the Playstation 2 by probably a year or two, meaning they can make more money out of the system for a good while yet. However, if SEGA manages to make a lot of fans from Sony's machine, then all they need do is move those games to either the GameCube or the X-box, and chances are the fans will follow, thus reducing the consoles life, and dropping the number of Playstation 2 fans.
Ofcourse there is a chance of this happening on every machine. Each one has it's vulnerabilities and a company like SEGA could exploit these to their own advantage. Who knows if this will ever happen? It may not, and we may see Sega developing for the next set of consoles yet! Stay tuned to the gaming world and you'll find out. Just remember SEGA fans, you're favourite company has the power to get one over any console company they like.
Samos wrote:
> What really let Sega down was the lack of decent games.
No, it was the lack of awareness of their good games. A lot of the bargain bin stuff tended to come from other companies, or if it came from Sega it was a rushed Arcade port over.
Many of the Sega games themselves were really good, but there weren't enough people to play them. It was also at a time when people were changing their attitudes towards different types of games and Sega were still producing arcade games and trying to be innovative, which only works if enough people know about it.
Yes, Sega had a big hand in their own console's demise, but it was more through a lack of being pro-active about their sales and advertising than anything.
> What really let Sega down was the lack of decent games.
No, it was the lack of awareness of their good games. A lot of the bargain bin stuff tended to come from other companies, or if it came from Sega it was a rushed Arcade port over.
Many of the Sega games themselves were really good, but there weren't enough people to play them. It was also at a time when people were changing their attitudes towards different types of games and Sega were still producing arcade games and trying to be innovative, which only works if enough people know about it.
Yes, Sega had a big hand in their own console's demise, but it was more through a lack of being pro-active about their sales and advertising than anything.
What really let Sega down was the lack of decent games. If you look back at the release of the Dreamcast, you'll notice that a lot of games were great, and appealed to many, but then the good games list seemed to slide of Sega's agenda.
I think that Sega became too confusing. One moment they make a great game and the next minute they make a rubbish game.
Sega's best game series has to be Shenmue & Shenmue 2. If it wasn't for this game, the name 'Sega' would never be heard of again!
I think that Sega became too confusing. One moment they make a great game and the next minute they make a rubbish game.
Sega's best game series has to be Shenmue & Shenmue 2. If it wasn't for this game, the name 'Sega' would never be heard of again!
What amazes me is how SEGA, who are just as much a "kiddies" company as Nintendo, have not developed the reputation Nintendo have.
SEGA used to make just as many cartoon series' as Nintendo in the early 90's, they made just as cartoony games, and still make lots of Sonic games.
However, this is an advantage to SEGA.
SEGA can continue making Sonic The Hedgehog games with every fan still loving them, especially now they've made Sonic Advance on the Game Boy, they can revive the classic feel of Sonic The Hedgehog style games.
This also means that for the mean time, the can make sequels to all their classic games, and their newer games creating a large library of SEGA games for many consoles. And as I said before, if they need to, they can just move them to another console if and when Microsoft, Nintendo or Sony annoy them in any way.
SEGA have got the advantage in the market, but can also be a great assett to the main console developers. Bill Gates was quick to announce a speach publicising the deal he made with SEGA on the X-box website ages ago, and Nintendo have been really happy about making deals with SEGA, and Sony may have been forced into it, but will still benefit.
I just hope none of these companies take SEGA for granted.
SEGA used to make just as many cartoon series' as Nintendo in the early 90's, they made just as cartoony games, and still make lots of Sonic games.
However, this is an advantage to SEGA.
SEGA can continue making Sonic The Hedgehog games with every fan still loving them, especially now they've made Sonic Advance on the Game Boy, they can revive the classic feel of Sonic The Hedgehog style games.
This also means that for the mean time, the can make sequels to all their classic games, and their newer games creating a large library of SEGA games for many consoles. And as I said before, if they need to, they can just move them to another console if and when Microsoft, Nintendo or Sony annoy them in any way.
SEGA have got the advantage in the market, but can also be a great assett to the main console developers. Bill Gates was quick to announce a speach publicising the deal he made with SEGA on the X-box website ages ago, and Nintendo have been really happy about making deals with SEGA, and Sony may have been forced into it, but will still benefit.
I just hope none of these companies take SEGA for granted.
lol- Sonic and myself were just chatting about this!
Anyway, Sega's long terms plans are looking good. Over the coming year 50% of their games will appear on the PS2, with the rest equally shared about the rest of the console and arcade markets. In the long term, Sega hopes to be the 2rd biggest publisher (after nintendo) by the end of next year.
Ceratinly the company has the games to do this- they have strong titles in almost every genre, and the biggest in-house development team you could imagine (9 development teams, each bigger than a normal developer!).
However, what worries me is that Sega haven't capitalised on their massive resources. Rather than hit the games market hard with a string of quality titles, they just seem to be porting lost of arcade and dreamcast games at the moment. What they need is some huge original titles.
Finally, on the arcade front, Sega has well over half of the market cornered (and it's going up all the time). In fact, they should have about 80+% by the end of next year! If they could pull a massive comeback in the sector, they'll be the ones feeling the benefits.
Anyway, Sega's long terms plans are looking good. Over the coming year 50% of their games will appear on the PS2, with the rest equally shared about the rest of the console and arcade markets. In the long term, Sega hopes to be the 2rd biggest publisher (after nintendo) by the end of next year.
Ceratinly the company has the games to do this- they have strong titles in almost every genre, and the biggest in-house development team you could imagine (9 development teams, each bigger than a normal developer!).
However, what worries me is that Sega haven't capitalised on their massive resources. Rather than hit the games market hard with a string of quality titles, they just seem to be porting lost of arcade and dreamcast games at the moment. What they need is some huge original titles.
Finally, on the arcade front, Sega has well over half of the market cornered (and it's going up all the time). In fact, they should have about 80+% by the end of next year! If they could pull a massive comeback in the sector, they'll be the ones feeling the benefits.
I agree. Sega went from being a stuggling console developer to one of the most powerful and influential thrid party developers in the business. If they decide to make their games exclusive (as up to now they are appearing on all consoles) then they could really make a palpable difference in this 'war'. Funny, but despite their early rivalry in the early nineties since Sega went third party I always envisioned them joining forces with Nintendo
What is it with consoles that usually make them so popular? Is it their graphical power? Their interestingly named processors? Or is it something a little less technical that everyone knows a little about - third party support?
Many people used to say that the Playstation was better than the N64 due to it's huge library of games, despite most of them being no better than SNES games. Although, this did mean you had more choice. There were about fifteen to twenty games released per month, only one or two would actually become popular titles, however this did make the Playstation look better in the games region.
This has also been said about the Playstation two, despite some of these people not realising how many games are coming for the X-box and GameCube. However, you can say the Playstation 2 is compatable with more games than any other console (except in the handheld region) as it is backwards compatable with all Playstation games.
So what does this mean now that we've got one of the largest and most popular videogames companies as a third party for each and every console? SEGA, who last year decided to allow all their development teams make games for the GameCube, X-box and Playstation 2, have become a major thirf-party developer and could in theory control the gaming market!
How can they do this? Well despite the Dreamcast doing so badly, even in comparison to the N64, there are a lot of SEGA fans out there worldwide. If one of the three console companies angered them at all, they could move some of their development teams elsewhere, create a sequel to one of their most popular games on the other systems and thus sway a lot of fans to those systems.
There are two companies here who you could say are pretty much vulnerable to this happening: Sony and Microsoft. Nintendo have signed contracts with SEGA (as well as Namco) to develop games for "Triforce" arcade boards. Though this doesn't mean that Zelda will soon be in the arcades, it means Sega and Namco will be using GameCube hardware in the arcades on specially build arcade machines. Shigeru Miyamoto is also in a joint project with Sonic Team to make a game which is yet to be named, but apparantly both parties are really happy to finally be able to work together. So really, unless Nintendo and SEGA have a major disagreement, Nintendo are pretty safe.
Microsoft could be considered as vulnerable, however they are the largest company in the world, and therefore don't have to worry too much about things like this happening. They may lose SEGA's support, but they only really need Sega to kcikstart the X-box into action with the gamers. For all Microsoft care, SEGA could go bankrupt and it wouldn't effect Microsoft too badly, especially when Microsoft could use an opportunity like that to buy out SEGA for a very low price.
So the most vulnerable are Sony. Ok, fair enough they have the biggest fan-base in the UK, but not necessarily the United States or Japan. Sony rely on third party support and SEGA are a massive booster to their side of the market. With fresh games coming from SEGA's minds, Sony have prolonged the eventual death of the Playstation 2 by probably a year or two, meaning they can make more money out of the system for a good while yet. However, if SEGA manages to make a lot of fans from Sony's machine, then all they need do is move those games to either the GameCube or the X-box, and chances are the fans will follow, thus reducing the consoles life, and dropping the number of Playstation 2 fans.
Ofcourse there is a chance of this happening on every machine. Each one has it's vulnerabilities and a company like SEGA could exploit these to their own advantage. Who knows if this will ever happen? It may not, and we may see Sega developing for the next set of consoles yet! Stay tuned to the gaming world and you'll find out. Just remember SEGA fans, you're favourite company has the power to get one over any console company they like.
Many people used to say that the Playstation was better than the N64 due to it's huge library of games, despite most of them being no better than SNES games. Although, this did mean you had more choice. There were about fifteen to twenty games released per month, only one or two would actually become popular titles, however this did make the Playstation look better in the games region.
This has also been said about the Playstation two, despite some of these people not realising how many games are coming for the X-box and GameCube. However, you can say the Playstation 2 is compatable with more games than any other console (except in the handheld region) as it is backwards compatable with all Playstation games.
So what does this mean now that we've got one of the largest and most popular videogames companies as a third party for each and every console? SEGA, who last year decided to allow all their development teams make games for the GameCube, X-box and Playstation 2, have become a major thirf-party developer and could in theory control the gaming market!
How can they do this? Well despite the Dreamcast doing so badly, even in comparison to the N64, there are a lot of SEGA fans out there worldwide. If one of the three console companies angered them at all, they could move some of their development teams elsewhere, create a sequel to one of their most popular games on the other systems and thus sway a lot of fans to those systems.
There are two companies here who you could say are pretty much vulnerable to this happening: Sony and Microsoft. Nintendo have signed contracts with SEGA (as well as Namco) to develop games for "Triforce" arcade boards. Though this doesn't mean that Zelda will soon be in the arcades, it means Sega and Namco will be using GameCube hardware in the arcades on specially build arcade machines. Shigeru Miyamoto is also in a joint project with Sonic Team to make a game which is yet to be named, but apparantly both parties are really happy to finally be able to work together. So really, unless Nintendo and SEGA have a major disagreement, Nintendo are pretty safe.
Microsoft could be considered as vulnerable, however they are the largest company in the world, and therefore don't have to worry too much about things like this happening. They may lose SEGA's support, but they only really need Sega to kcikstart the X-box into action with the gamers. For all Microsoft care, SEGA could go bankrupt and it wouldn't effect Microsoft too badly, especially when Microsoft could use an opportunity like that to buy out SEGA for a very low price.
So the most vulnerable are Sony. Ok, fair enough they have the biggest fan-base in the UK, but not necessarily the United States or Japan. Sony rely on third party support and SEGA are a massive booster to their side of the market. With fresh games coming from SEGA's minds, Sony have prolonged the eventual death of the Playstation 2 by probably a year or two, meaning they can make more money out of the system for a good while yet. However, if SEGA manages to make a lot of fans from Sony's machine, then all they need do is move those games to either the GameCube or the X-box, and chances are the fans will follow, thus reducing the consoles life, and dropping the number of Playstation 2 fans.
Ofcourse there is a chance of this happening on every machine. Each one has it's vulnerabilities and a company like SEGA could exploit these to their own advantage. Who knows if this will ever happen? It may not, and we may see Sega developing for the next set of consoles yet! Stay tuned to the gaming world and you'll find out. Just remember SEGA fans, you're favourite company has the power to get one over any console company they like.