Most recent edit on 2005-10-28 16:50:02 by EschaTon
Additions:
Console wars have been going on since the beginning of video gaming. Currently, when one thinks of video games, Sony’s PlayStation brand is the first to come to mind. Before entering the console market, Sony was already an electronics giant. Sony was not always the video game giant it now is, and many have forgotten about and scoff [this is an improper usage of "scoff"] companies that have paved the way for this juggernaut. With the rise of Sony, video gamers have witnessed the downfall of the once mighty Sega, and the current slump of the former console king, Nintendo.
Sony first ventured into the video game market by signing a contract to [with] Nintendo. Nintendo employed Sony to develop a CD-ROM add-on to the Super Nintendo after its release in 1991. This contract was short-lived, and the peripheral never surfaced under the Nintendo name, due to Sony’s “cleverly-worded agreement that allowed them to license all SNES CD-based games.” (Sony PlayStation) After breaking the deal between the two companies, Sony released two hundred PlayStations that were multimedia entertainment units and played Super Nintendo game cartridges. (History of Sony PlayStation) Once Sony pulled the plug on the original PlayStation, they began development on a console named PlayStation X.
[There needs to be more of a connection here. Did the PSX become the playstation we know and love?]
Released in 1994 for $299, the PlayStation became a hit among video gamers. The PlayStation made use of inexpensive CD-ROM based games, sharp graphics, and an amazing financial background [?? what do you mean here?]. Since Sony was already a marketing giant in the electronics field, they were able to provide a great deal of support for their new venture. With this great wealth, Sony was able to create contracts with some of the biggest third-party developers around. They made contracts with companies such as Square, Capcom, Electronic Arts, and Konami. Since Sony provided these companies with a great deal of money, the PlayStation gained access to earlier releases and exclusive titles.
The push for the PlayStation intensified. Contracts with big companies and a powerful marketing campaign, reminiscent of Sega in its heyday, helped Sony trudge on. Two words would solidify Sony’s place in the console war: Crash Bandicoot. Crash Bandicoot, a creation of Naughty Dog and licensed by Sony, would soon become Sony’s mascot, just as Nintendo has Mario, but even more like Sega has Sonic. The world was first exposed to Crash in a “television commercial about a guy dressed up in a big orange animal suit standing outside of Nintendo of America's headquarters shouting at the building through a bullhorn.” (SegaBase- Kamikaze Console) In the commercial, which blatantly stole from Sega’s Genesis “bad-ass” marketing campaign, Crash challenged “plumber boy,” also known as Nintendo’s Mario, to a showdown. This faux showdown between the furry orange bandicoot and the well-known plumber would prove to change video game history.
The PlayStation had shoddy competition from Sega’s Saturn and Nintendo’s N64. Since the PlayStation used inexpensive CD-ROMs for its games and the N64 still used expensive cartridges, cost oriented gamers made the switch from the Big N to Sony. Likewise, Sega, who managed to fail to release a proper football game in 1996, and Nintendo, whose motto of quality over quantity simply wasn’t true, could not match Sony’s third-party support [I don't understand your statement about Nintendo. How was that motto not true? Further, how does this untruth relate to your argument.]. Total worldwide console sales shows [sales is plural] that Sony’s PlayStation had won the console war. The PlayStation sold well over 50,000,000 units, the N64 sold 32,000,000 units, and the Saturn sold roughly 9,000,000 units. (Total Worldwide Console Sales)
With the current state of video game hardware, many people wonder where it will head next. It is odd seeing console wars without a console from Sega, and only time will tell before another company follows in Sega’s footsteps [hasn't Microsoft done this with the XBOX?]. The next generation of consoles, PlayStation3, XBOX 360, and Nintendo Revolution, will provide an interesting look at the face of video games. Sony is hoping to remain victorious in the war; whereas Microsoft is gaining more support for its consoles, and Nintendo is hoping to once again revolutionize the way we play video games. This next round will prove whether or not Sony has what it takes to stay on top.
[Interesting analysis. I think it is lacking in answering "why," though. This paper shows how Sony's better understanding of the realities of the industry helped them to come out on top, but really fails to illustrate why Nintendo and Sega didn't. Also, if you were interested in expanding this analysis for a final project, I would be interested in seeing you talk about the Atari Nintendo Colleco wars in the late 80s and how the next generation promises another struggle between Nintendo, Microsoft, and Sony. It might also be interesting to consider why the XBOX was less successful when compared with the PS2, despite both companies occupying similar outside positions when launching their products.]
Deletions:
Console wars have been going on since the beginning of video gaming. Currently, when one thinks of video games, Sony’s PlayStation brand is the first to come to mind. Before entering the console market, Sony was already an electronics giant. Sony was not always the video game giant it now is, and many have forgotten about and scoff companies that have paved the way for this juggernaut. With the rise of Sony, video gamers have witnessed the downfall of the once mighty Sega, and the current slump of the former console king, Nintendo.
Sony first ventured into the video game market by signing a contract to Nintendo. Nintendo employed Sony to develop a CD-ROM add-on to the Super Nintendo after its release in 1991. This contract was short-lived, and the peripheral never surfaced under the Nintendo name, due to Sony’s “cleverly-worded agreement that allowed them to license all SNES CD-based games.” (Sony PlayStation) After breaking the deal between the two companies, Sony released two hundred PlayStations that were multimedia entertainment units and played Super Nintendo game cartridges. (History of Sony PlayStation) Once Sony pulled the plug on the original PlayStation, they began development on a console named PlayStation X.
Released in 1994 for $299, the PlayStation became a hit among video gamers. The PlayStation made use of inexpensive CD-ROM based games, sharp graphics, and an amazing financial background. Since Sony was already a marketing giant in the electronics field, they were able to provide a great deal of support for their new venture. With this great wealth, Sony was able to create contracts with some of the biggest third-party developers around. They made contracts with companies such as Square, Capcom, Electronic Arts, and Konami. Since Sony provided these companies with a great deal of money, the PlayStation gained access to earlier releases and exclusive titles.
The push for the PlayStation intensified. Contracts with big companies and a powerful marketing campaign, reminiscent of Sega in its heyday, helped Sony trudge on. Two words would solidify Sony’s place in the console war: Crash Bandicoot. Crash Bandicoot, a creation of Naughty Dog and licensed by Sony, would soon become Sony’s mascot, just as Nintendo has Mario, but even more like Sega has Sonic. The world was first exposed to Crash in a “television commercial about a guy dressed up in a big orange animal suit standing outside of Nintendo of America's headquarters shouting at the building through a bullhorn.” (SegaBase- Kamikaze Console) In the commercial, which blatantly stole from Sega’s Genesis “bad-ass” marketing campaign, Crash challenged “plumber boy,” also known as Nintendo’s Mario, to a showdown. This faux showdown between the furry orange bandicoot and the well-known plumber would prove to change video game history.
The PlayStation had shoddy competition from Sega’s Saturn and Nintendo’s N64. Since the PlayStation used inexpensive CD-ROMs for its games and the N64 still used expensive cartridges, cost oriented gamers made the switch from the Big N to Sony. Likewise, Sega, who managed to fail to release a proper football game in 1996, and Nintendo, whose motto of quality over quantity simply wasn’t true, could not match Sony’s third-party support. Total worldwide console sales shows that Sony’s PlayStation had won the console war. The PlayStation sold well over 50,000,000 units, the N64 sold 32,000,000 units, and the Saturn sold roughly 9,000,000 units. (Total Worldwide Console Sales)
With the current state of video game hardware, many people wonder where it will head next. It is odd seeing console wars without a console from Sega, and only time will tell before another company follows in Sega’s footsteps. The next generation of consoles, PlayStation3, XBOX 360, and Nintendo Revolution, will provide an interesting look at the face of video games. Sony is hoping to remain victorious in the war; whereas Microsoft is gaining more support for its consoles, and Nintendo is hoping to once again revolutionize the way we play video games. This next round will prove whether or not Sony has what it takes to stay on top.
Edited on 2005-10-28 16:38:46 by EschaTon
Additions:
Console wars have been going on since the beginning of video gaming. Currently, when one thinks of video games, Sony’s PlayStation brand is the first to come to mind. Before entering the console market, Sony was already an electronics giant. Sony was not always the video game giant it now is, and many have forgotten about and scoff companies that have paved the way for this juggernaut. With the rise of Sony, video gamers have witnessed the downfall of the once mighty Sega, and the current slump of the former console king, Nintendo.
Sony first ventured into the video game market by signing a contract to Nintendo. Nintendo employed Sony to develop a CD-ROM add-on to the Super Nintendo after its release in 1991. This contract was short-lived, and the peripheral never surfaced under the Nintendo name, due to Sony’s “cleverly-worded agreement that allowed them to license all SNES CD-based games.” (Sony PlayStation) After breaking the deal between the two companies, Sony released two hundred PlayStations that were multimedia entertainment units and played Super Nintendo game cartridges. (History of Sony PlayStation) Once Sony pulled the plug on the original PlayStation, they began development on a console named PlayStation X.
Released in 1994 for $299, the PlayStation became a hit among video gamers. The PlayStation made use of inexpensive CD-ROM based games, sharp graphics, and an amazing financial background. Since Sony was already a marketing giant in the electronics field, they were able to provide a great deal of support for their new venture. With this great wealth, Sony was able to create contracts with some of the biggest third-party developers around. They made contracts with companies such as Square, Capcom, Electronic Arts, and Konami. Since Sony provided these companies with a great deal of money, the PlayStation gained access to earlier releases and exclusive titles.
The push for the PlayStation intensified. Contracts with big companies and a powerful marketing campaign, reminiscent of Sega in its heyday, helped Sony trudge on. Two words would solidify Sony’s place in the console war: Crash Bandicoot. Crash Bandicoot, a creation of Naughty Dog and licensed by Sony, would soon become Sony’s mascot, just as Nintendo has Mario, but even more like Sega has Sonic. The world was first exposed to Crash in a “television commercial about a guy dressed up in a big orange animal suit standing outside of Nintendo of America's headquarters shouting at the building through a bullhorn.” (SegaBase- Kamikaze Console) In the commercial, which blatantly stole from Sega’s Genesis “bad-ass” marketing campaign, Crash challenged “plumber boy,” also known as Nintendo’s Mario, to a showdown. This faux showdown between the furry orange bandicoot and the well-known plumber would prove to change video game history.
The PlayStation had shoddy competition from Sega’s Saturn and Nintendo’s N64. Since the PlayStation used inexpensive CD-ROMs for its games and the N64 still used expensive cartridges, cost oriented gamers made the switch from the Big N to Sony. Likewise, Sega, who managed to fail to release a proper football game in 1996, and Nintendo, whose motto of quality over quantity simply wasn’t true, could not match Sony’s third-party support. Total worldwide console sales shows that Sony’s PlayStation had won the console war. The PlayStation sold well over 50,000,000 units, the N64 sold 32,000,000 units, and the Saturn sold roughly 9,000,000 units. (Total Worldwide Console Sales)
With the current state of video game hardware, many people wonder where it will head next. It is odd seeing console wars without a console from Sega, and only time will tell before another company follows in Sega’s footsteps. The next generation of consoles, PlayStation3, XBOX 360, and Nintendo Revolution, will provide an interesting look at the face of video games. Sony is hoping to remain victorious in the war; whereas Microsoft is gaining more support for its consoles, and Nintendo is hoping to once again revolutionize the way we play video games. This next round will prove whether or not Sony has what it takes to stay on top.
History of Sony PlayStation.
http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/bl_playstation.htm∞
SegaBase- Kamikaze Console.
http://www.eidolons-inn.net/segabase/SegaBase-Saturn(Part2).html∞
Oldest known version of this page was edited on 2005-10-18 20:13:10 by MenosElOso []
Page view:
Console wars have been going on since the beginning of video gaming. Currently, when one thinks of video games, Sony’s
PlayStation is the first console to come to mind. Before entering the console market, Sony created various electronic, much like the ones they create today, and they were already electronics giants. Sony was not always the video game giant it now is, and many have forgotten about and scoff companies that have paved the way for this juggernaut. With the rise of Sony, video gamers have witnessed the downfall of the once mighty Sega, and the current slump of the former king, Nintendo.
Sony’s first venture into the video game market was with a contract it had with Nintendo. Nintendo employed Sony to develop a CD-Rom add on to the Super Nintendo after its release in 1991. This contract was short-lived, and the peripheral never surfaced under the Nintendo name, due to Sony’s “cleverly-worded agreement that allowed them to license all SNES CD-based games.” (Sony
PlayStation) After breaking the deal between the two companies, Sony released two hundred
PlayStations that were multimedia entertainment units and played Super Nintendo game cartridges. (History of Sony
PlayStation) Once Sony pulled the plug on the original
PlayStation, they began development on a console named
PlayStation X.
Released in 1994 for $299, the
PlayStation became a hit among video gamers. The
PlayStation made use of inexpensive CD-ROM based games, sharp graphics, and an amazing financial background. Since Sony was already a marketing giant in the electronics field, they were able to provide a great deal of support for their new venture. With this great wealth, Sony was able to create contracts with some of the biggest third-party developers around. They made contracts with companies such as Square, Capcom, Electronic Arts, and Konami. Since Sony provided these companies with a great deal of money, they treated themselves to earlier released and exclusive titles.
The push for the
PlayStation intensified. With contracts with big companies and a powerful marketing campaign reminiscent of Sega in its heyday, Sony trudged on. Two words would solidify Sony’s place in the console war: Crash Bandicoot. Crash Bandicoot, a creation of Naughty Dog and licensed by Sony, would soon become Sony’s mascot, just as Nintendo has Mario, but even more like Sega has Sonic. The world was first exposed to Crash in a “television commercial about a guy dressed up in a big orange animal suit standing outside of Nintendo of America's headquarters shouting at the building through a bullhorn.” (
SegaBase- Kamikaze Console) In the commercial, which blatantly stole from Sega’s Genesis “bad-ass” marketing campaign, Crash challenged “plumber boy,” also known as Nintendo’s Mario, to a showdown. This faux showdown would prove to change video game history.
The
PlayStation had somewhat shoddy competition from Sega’s Saturn and Nintendo’s N64. Since the
PlayStation used inexpensive CD-ROMs for its games and the N64 used expensive cartridges—many priced upwards of $80—cost oriented gamers made the switch from the Big N to Sony. Likewise, Sega, who managed to fail to release a proper football game in 1996, and Nintendo, whose motto of quality over quantity simply wasn’t true, could not match Sony’s third-party support. Total worldwide console sales shows that Sony’s
PlayStation had won the console war. The
PlayStation sold well over 50,000,000 units, the N64 sold 32,000,000 units, and the Saturn sold roughly 9,000,000 units. (Total Worldwide Console Sales)
With the current state of video game hardware, many people wonder where it will head next. It is odd seeing console wars without a console from Sega, and only time will tell before Nintendo goes the same route. The next generation of consoles,
PlayStation3, XBOX 360, and Nintendo Revolution, will provide an interesting look at the face of video games. Sony is hoping to remain on top of the war, Microsoft is gaining more support for its system, and Nintendo is hoping to once again revolutionize the way we play video games. This next round will prove whether or not Sony has what it takes to stay on top.
Works Cited
Sony
PlayStation.
http://www.cyberiapc.com/vgg/sony_ps.htm∞
History of Sony
PlayStation.
http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/bl_playstation.htm∞
SegaBase- Kamikaze Console.
http://www.eidolons-inn.net/segabase/SegaBase-Saturn(Part2).html∞
Total Worldwide Console Sales.
http://journal.pcvsconsole.com/?thread=14306∞