For those who follow the console wars like a soap opera (and, in many ways, it is), you may want to take a breather
and look to the past for some perspective. 1up has written a very long an impressive write-up on the Sega
Saturn. Entitled Sega Saturn: the Pleasure and the Pain, 1up's article chronicles the events leading up to it,
the launch itself, and the aftermath. Most notably, it shows how corporate decisions can lead to a downfall of a
console, as the Saturn struggled from a surprise launch date with very few games for the first six months of release,
and a price point that was set too high. Essentially, Sega's decision to make an early release helped Sony more
than anything.
What is relevant today is how these mistakes may repeat themselves in this generation. So Microsoft, keep giving
out strong titles even after launch. Sony, watch your price point. And Nintendo, tell us something about
your console that we can criticize you for more than just being too private. Oh, how I do miss playing Dragon
Force and Nights…
[Thanks, bandersnatch]
