Post by rapidfire187 on Dec 22, 2011 20:45:31 GMT -5
That actually isn't too different from the norm. It's more noteworthy when the technically superior system actually does win. Mainly because the inferior console has a cheaper price or wider support.
SNES/Genesis - Two were about even in every category. The SNES was a little more powerful and a little more successful. This was about as dead even a race as any. Of course, there were a number of (vastly) superior systems out there but they flopped or were relegated to niche status because of their (vastly) higher cost.
Saturn/PSX/N64 - The original Playstation won out in spite of some better hardware under the N64 hood. Though those capabilities were never explored because of Nintendo's stubborn decision to keep to cartridges.
DC/PS2/Xbox/GameCube - PS2 wins this generation hands down despite the GC, Xbox, and even DC in some ways being technically superior.
Current gen - The Wii is definitely inferior to the 360 and the PS3, yet it's easily the most successful.
Portables - The DS is inferior to the PSP, yet it's the best selling portable video game console of all time, and the second highest selling console of all time behind the PS2.
Yea, I think you're right. I never really thought of it like that. The SNES was superior to the Genesis, but only slightly (and the only noticeable difference IMO was the sound quality). The PSX was arguably superior to the N64 because while the N64 had better graphical capabilities, the PSX had better sound quality and the ability to handle FMV (just look at the differences between the WWF Warzone versions). I agree though, Nintendo's decision to stick with cartridges was a big mistake. I don't think the Playstation would have stood a chance if Nintendo had went with CD's. They would have kept Square as an exclusive publisher for one...
How was the DC superior to the PS2 at all? Not being a smart ass, I'm genuinely curious. I know the Gamecube and Xbox were superior to the PS2, but the PS2 had a huge head start on those systems. I believe Xbox would have won out that war if they had been released all at the same time. Well, in America at least. I don't think Japan was interested at all.