Can the Big Three's History Help Predict the Future?

Written by kube00, Erik Kubik Monday, 06 June 2011 23:00

While everyone is wondering who is going to win E3 this year, now is a good time to take a look back in time to see how the Big 3 won and lost gamer's devotion to their consoles.

In the past, Sony has done some amazing things. Gamers and non-games alike were wowed with the innovation Sony put into electronics like the disc man and Walkman. Gamers were blown away by the PS2 and PSX. The PlayStation 1 ushered in the age of CD-based games the right way. With the PlayStation 2 gamers received a humongous game library, and a great deal of solid franchises. There was also online play, and a game console that successfully doubled as a DVD player right out of the box. How’s that for innovation?

Sony’s PSP was also ahead of its time. Gamers had never experienced a handheld system this powerful. But unfortunately the systems’ other flaws created difficulties for Sony. And although the PlayStation 3 is a great system and introduced people to Blu-Rays, someone else gets the credit for being more innovative this generation. Microsoft gets a nod with the polished online entertainment system that is XBL and the Kinect. However, Nintendo is probably the most innovative this generation. They took a big gamble with the motion controls and casual gaming, and it paid off.

Looking back in past generations, gamers can reflect and acknowledge Nintendo shined in the late 1980s through the 1990s. The NES and SNES were great examples of forward thinking consoles. They were both great success with hardware and software. For many of us in that video game generation Nintendo defined the 1980s and the 1990s.

However, Nintendo was not so lucky in the next two console generations as their console success diminished. Granted the N64 pushed 4 person multiplayer and 3D graphics but it wasn’t enough. The once giant Nintendo was second to Sony’s Playstation 1. A CD-based system that had greater storage space, FMV, and a massive game library. Nintendo in the 6th generation finally moved away from cartridges with the release on the Nintendo GameCube. While the PlayStation 2 and Xbox focused on playing DVDs and having online play, the Gamecube largely ignored these popular innovations for whatever reason. Despite having a decent game library with the Gamecube, Nintendo fell to third during the last generation of consoles.

But Nintendo came back with the Wii and blew away everyone’s expectations. Hardcore gamers and the casual gaming family own Wiis these days. Nintendo has out sold both the 360 and the PS3 by several million units. Nintendo turned their act around. The question is, who is going to wow gamers in the next generation?