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Let's forget all of this 'which console will be the best' for a minute and look at it from a different angle. The Dreamcast almost certainly won't be around as a format when the XBox and GameCube are up and running (safely assuming neither falls flat on it's face). This leaves three to choose from, but will the console market support three different formats?
Look back at the Saturn, PS and N64 (released in that order). The Saturn came and kicked out the Megadrive and the PS kicked out the SNES (alright I admit that's not strictly accurate but you get the idea).
Then along comes the N64 and effectively hammers one of, if not the, final nail into the Saturns coffin, accelerating it's downfall. To paraphrase a popular expression of today it was 'goodbye' to the weakest link.
Next up is the Dreamcast. Goodbye N64. Although it seems to be having one of the longest swan song periods of them all.
The PlayStation 2 comes along and, in succeeding the PS1 (not killing it though, thanks to backwards compatibility) and defeating the Dreamcast, leaves us with only one healthy system.
The XBox (assuming this is actually released first and, knowing Nintendo, it will be) will come along and clear up the leftovers, leaving out two system market again. When it comes to the GameCube it may not be so clear as to which two will survive. In its history, the games market has never allowed more than two systems to dominate at any one time. Why should this change now. Of 'The Big Three' there is only room for two.
To finish the post title, two's company, three's a crowd - who's likely to be the weakest link? Remember, it's votes that count, not how many answers they get right or wrong.
I know which one I'd like to be voted off.
Look back at the Saturn, PS and N64 (released in that order). The Saturn came and kicked out the Megadrive and the PS kicked out the SNES (alright I admit that's not strictly accurate but you get the idea).
Then along comes the N64 and effectively hammers one of, if not the, final nail into the Saturns coffin, accelerating it's downfall. To paraphrase a popular expression of today it was 'goodbye' to the weakest link.
Next up is the Dreamcast. Goodbye N64. Although it seems to be having one of the longest swan song periods of them all.
The PlayStation 2 comes along and, in succeeding the PS1 (not killing it though, thanks to backwards compatibility) and defeating the Dreamcast, leaves us with only one healthy system.
The XBox (assuming this is actually released first and, knowing Nintendo, it will be) will come along and clear up the leftovers, leaving out two system market again. When it comes to the GameCube it may not be so clear as to which two will survive. In its history, the games market has never allowed more than two systems to dominate at any one time. Why should this change now. Of 'The Big Three' there is only room for two.
To finish the post title, two's company, three's a crowd - who's likely to be the weakest link? Remember, it's votes that count, not how many answers they get right or wrong.
I know which one I'd like to be voted off.
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Neither myself nor tony wrote off Sega - just the Dreamcast. Sega themselves have said they won't play a part in the future hardware market.
Just because the GBA will be relatively cheap doesn't make it a direct competitor. I'm not saying it won't be big success and far outsell the others - but isn't that largely because of the way it differs from them rather than how it is better than them?
As for a portable PSone, why bother? It's too late in it's life for that to be a success. If it was portable when Sony were raving about it's link up capabilities it would be more appealing.
It will never have the 'play anywhere' aspect of a handheld while you still need an external controller and power supply.
Also, if you don't have any input in choosing Gameaday, surely that is all the more reason for you to be eligible for it - still not with this though.
As for a portable PSone, why bother? It's too late in it's life for that to be a success. If it was portable when Sony were raving about it's link up capabilities it would be more appealing.
It will never have the 'play anywhere' aspect of a handheld while you still need an external controller and power supply.
Also, if you don't have any input in choosing Gameaday, surely that is all the more reason for you to be eligible for it - still not with this though.
Tony and Kipper both seem to have written off Sega.
How can you write off a company that to all intents and purposes started off mass gaming?
The Saturn didn't quite kill off the Megadrive, the Saturn was a flop from the start, Sega knows that, but the DC is an unparalleled success story, despite all the ups and downs, the negative press and the next gen consoles being released.
Sega have vehemently denied the recent press reports about going full time on software development and ignoring hardware. Going on past trends, I would not be surprised to see Sega launch then next next-gen console. In time honoured history, having been the first manufacturer to do so, Nintendo, Sony and now Microsoft will then take the Sega 256-bit machine and then create their own, but Sega will lead the way.
Sega and Nintendo, remember, are the only two companies in this market that specialise purely in gaming, they have not diversified yet into other products, and both are world renowned in what they do.
Sony and Microsoft always have their other main products to fall back on so it would be a lot easier for them to drop out of the industry in some respects.
The PS2 did not kill off the DC, if anything the botched launch actually increased demand for Sega's console, and this new lease of life could lead to greater things from Sega in the future.
Only time will tell....
How can you write off a company that to all intents and purposes started off mass gaming?
The Saturn didn't quite kill off the Megadrive, the Saturn was a flop from the start, Sega knows that, but the DC is an unparalleled success story, despite all the ups and downs, the negative press and the next gen consoles being released.
Sega have vehemently denied the recent press reports about going full time on software development and ignoring hardware. Going on past trends, I would not be surprised to see Sega launch then next next-gen console. In time honoured history, having been the first manufacturer to do so, Nintendo, Sony and now Microsoft will then take the Sega 256-bit machine and then create their own, but Sega will lead the way.
Sega and Nintendo, remember, are the only two companies in this market that specialise purely in gaming, they have not diversified yet into other products, and both are world renowned in what they do.
Sony and Microsoft always have their other main products to fall back on so it would be a lot easier for them to drop out of the industry in some respects.
The PS2 did not kill off the DC, if anything the botched launch actually increased demand for Sega's console, and this new lease of life could lead to greater things from Sega in the future.
Only time will tell....
SNIPER wrote:
> now are you tony who gave me that challenge or what?
The one who issued the challenge to you was the silly brained Tony, and the one tonight is the sensible brained Tony.
Despite attempts to Clone the Tone, which have resulted in me having two brains as per above, there is indeed:
Only one Tony
I am the only Tony
There are no phoney Tonies.
> now are you tony who gave me that challenge or what?
The one who issued the challenge to you was the silly brained Tony, and the one tonight is the sensible brained Tony.
Despite attempts to Clone the Tone, which have resulted in me having two brains as per above, there is indeed:
Only one Tony
I am the only Tony
There are no phoney Tonies.
SmokedKipper wrote:
> Are you getting my hopes up just so you can knock me down again?..
Just stating the facts - I have nothing whatsoever to do with choosing the winners.
> Are you getting my hopes up just so you can knock me down again?..
Just stating the facts - I have nothing whatsoever to do with choosing the winners.
now are you tony who gave me that challenge or what?
I don't agree
PSone had been made into a semi-portable machine. How long before it goes fully portable.
Game Boy Advance will rival the main consoles for your spending power. Reason, it's a cute gadget that plays great games. This is a first. All the previous colour hand-helds been lumpy, thirsty or short on software.
The new genre of consoles will be split three ways and this will weaken them. Game Boy Advance will outsell all three combined.
We're looking at a culture shift here.
PSone had been made into a semi-portable machine. How long before it goes fully portable.
Game Boy Advance will rival the main consoles for your spending power. Reason, it's a cute gadget that plays great games. This is a first. All the previous colour hand-helds been lumpy, thirsty or short on software.
The new genre of consoles will be split three ways and this will weaken them. Game Boy Advance will outsell all three combined.
We're looking at a culture shift here.
tony wrote:
> Smokey - winning a couple of weeks ago has no effect on your chances
> of winning again. Honest.
Are you getting my hopes up just so you can knock me down again? If so I congratulate you on your evilness - truly a man after my own cold, black heart.
I think you should be allowed to win though - but not with this. In the words of the theme tune to The Littlest Hobo 'maybe tomorrow'....
> Smokey - winning a couple of weeks ago has no effect on your chances
> of winning again. Honest.
Are you getting my hopes up just so you can knock me down again? If so I congratulate you on your evilness - truly a man after my own cold, black heart.
I think you should be allowed to win though - but not with this. In the words of the theme tune to The Littlest Hobo 'maybe tomorrow'....
> Sony - PlayStation 2 and PSone
> Nintendo - Game Cube, Game Boy Advance and Game Boy
> Microsoft - PC and Xbox
PSOne software can (and will) continue to exist in the form of the PS2 but, although it won't die in terms of software for a long time, it won't exist as hardware forever.
The GameBoy (normal and Advance) can't really be compared to the others because they aren't in direct competition with each other. Most GameBoy owners are either very casual gamers or own a major system anyway and I think that will continue to be the case.
I was only talking about consoles so the PC can't be included. Besides it is an ever-evolving platform and can't really be categorized into 'generations' like consoles are.
There are three, but there can only be two. Which two? Only time will tell, my children....
> Nintendo - Game Cube, Game Boy Advance and Game Boy
> Microsoft - PC and Xbox
PSOne software can (and will) continue to exist in the form of the PS2 but, although it won't die in terms of software for a long time, it won't exist as hardware forever.
The GameBoy (normal and Advance) can't really be compared to the others because they aren't in direct competition with each other. Most GameBoy owners are either very casual gamers or own a major system anyway and I think that will continue to be the case.
I was only talking about consoles so the PC can't be included. Besides it is an ever-evolving platform and can't really be categorized into 'generations' like consoles are.
There are three, but there can only be two. Which two? Only time will tell, my children....
Surely Tony's biggest and best post to date... could this be the one?
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