The Next-Gen Outlook: Sony Vs. Nintendo Vs. Microsoft

[StIoachim]

This made me think about something... (please correcft anyting if it's wrong)

N64 vs PSX
Why did PSX won, even if it was more expensive initially ??
-Lots of games, because of an affordable devkit/media
-The games were not-so-expensibe (most people blamed CD vs cartridge)
-You can play "backup" games easily (probably the most important reason xD)

[Fluffy]

Was the Saturn THAT expensive? I remember buying it in summer 1996 for 1990 france (around 300€)

As I said, the Saturn was released with a price of $399 --At least, that's what Wikipedia said -- if there's anyone who knows that this is wrong, speak up. XD... and yeah, compared to the N64 at $199 and the PlayStation at $299, $399 seems like a lot of money.

So back then (rounding up)...
N64 = $200
PlayStation = $300
Sega Saturn = $400
...The losing system? The most expensive of the three, being at least $100 more expensive than the 2nd most expensive available

And now (rounding up)...
Wii = $250 (no more than)
XBox 360 = $300 or $400
PS3 = $500 or $600
...The losing system? Who knows, but the PS3 is still $100 more expensive than the premium 360 package...

Obviously, price is not the deciding factor, otherwise the N64 would have won, and the Gamecube would be the winner. Of course, with the N64, games could cost around $80 sometimes, whereas PlayStation games didn't cost more than $50 most times.

...with the exception that the Dreamcast is actually GOOD and affordable with a library of great titles at cheap prices.

No, I 100% agree, I LOVED my Dreamcast, I really, honestly did. I said that because the Dreamcast was a promising system that just...failed, unfortunately. 

And yeah, those are probably the reasons the PSX won over the N64.. It was just easier and more cost-efficient to produce games for it, so more developers made more games for it, and a system's games library seems to be a HUGE factor in whether it's successful or not. Another reason I have high hopes for the Wii, I mean, not only backwards compatible with the Gamecube, but the whole virtual system-thing. One word: AWESOME. If the price is right, of course. That's also why the 360 makes me wanna punch a wall -- I have read too many letters and complaints that XBox games just didn't work on the 360. I think one person complained that Barbie Horse Adventure worked perfectly, but that Tenchu: Return From Darkness had many an issue. I think since then the issue's been corrected. Let's hope the PS3 doesn't have the same backwards compatibility issues that the 360 does.

[Fluffy]

I dunno if anyone else checked out the other thread on the board, but the Wii is now officially $250. I guess we'll have to wait and see how things develop in the coming months, but right now, for me at least, Nintendo is at the top. They're delivering what they promised, and that's all we ever ask for, isn't it? ^_^

[Fluffy]

I guess maybe this is a dead topic... I've now posted the last three posts, but... According to www.pcworld.com, reporting from the Tokyo Game Show, the price of the PS3 has gone DOWN! O.O ...But only in Japan: "The cheapest of two versions of the console will cost $427 in Japan, said Ken Kutaragi, president of Sony Consumer Entertainment in a speech at the show on Friday morning." ...=\ Now why isn't the price drop taking effect in North America as well? ...That's really quite disappointing.

[Datschge]

The price drop is completely meaningless anyway considering at the release date in Japan Sony will only offer 100.000 units altogether (with likely less than 50% of them being the "now cheaper!!!" basic version). I'm at a loss of words describing how completely ridiculous I find this.

[Goshi]

And now (rounding up)...
Wii = $250 (no more than)
XBox 360 = $300 or $400
PS3 = $500 or $600
...The losing system? Who knows, but the PS3 is still $100 more expensive than the premium 360 package...

The Saturn actually kicked ass in Japan though. It only failed in english speaking reasons. Reasons to why you ask?

Because the Saturn kept all the cool games within Japan, the bastards!!!

But this a good way to compare anyway, since chances are the PS3 will become insanely popular in Japan just like the way tthe Saturn did. Although the Wii is appealing Japanese gamers as well.