Do all failed consoles from the 90s deserve there rep?

[jay_red]

*Just my opinion here, please feel free to correct me if necessary*


All of the consoles that started to come out in the 90's seems kind of like the crash of the 80's, where since one company did very well (Nintendo) everyone was making a console to cash in as well (3DO, CD-i, Jaguar, TG-16, Playstation etc.) Where many of these consoles had superior hardware, they lacked the software and name recognition that Nintendo and Sega had at the time.

Some of the consoles had the identity crisis too, where the 3DO and CD-i wanted to be more than just a game console, but ultimately failed at being much more (Jack of all Trades, Master of none). And I'm sure this confused consumers to a point. You also can't ignore the price, the 3DO being the most obvious example. I am sure back in the early 90's many parents laughed at any x-mas list that included a $700 "toy", and even the later models that came down in price didnt help, what did the SNES and Genesis cost back then, something like $199 I believe?

The software was very lacking on the 3do, I owned one shortly about a year ago, and got a bundle with a good mix of games. What I was treated to was a bunch of horribly acted FMV and terrible load times. After it sat on my shelf for a while, I realized that I only had it around as a conversation piece, and decided it needed to go to someone that would appreciate more than I.

To answer the OP's question, yes, I feel that the many failed consoles of the 90's deserve their rep, they didnt fail because of bad timing similar to the Saturn or Dreamcast, but because they were inferior at providing good quality gaming experiences (with a few exceptions on each system, I'm sure)

[weaponepsilon]

Some are and some aren't. Certain ones were not well received, but had their charm for the library available to them. Others were a complete mess for what they were. There is a glimmer of hope in some of these old systems because the hardware wasn't properly realized and homebrew scene is starting to catch on.

[corn619]

A lot of the failed consoles of the 90s may have not been bad systems, but always lacked in one area. It always comes down to game quality. Some previous posters said that they lacked 3rd party support, but I think it has everything to do with 1st party support. None of Nintendo and Sega's competitors had the awesome 1st party talent that Nintendo and Sega were wielding.

Sometimes though, its just that the console just plains sucks. Look at Sega with all those afterthought garbage add on consoles that no one bought. And yes, the 32X and Sega CD sucked and had some of the most boneheaded flaws ever designed into a console. They most definitely deserve there rep......IMO of course.

[RyaNtheSlayA]

A lot of the failed consoles of the 90s may have not been bad systems, but always lacked in one area. It always comes down to game quality. Some previous posters said that they lacked 3rd party support, but I think it has everything to do with 1st party support. None of Nintendo and Sega's competitors had the awesome 1st party talent that Nintendo and Sega were wielding.

Sometimes though, its just that the console just plains sucks. Look at Sega with all those afterthought garbage add on consoles that no one bought. And yes, the 32X and Sega CD sucked and had some of the most boneheaded flaws ever designed into a console. They most definitely deserve there rep......IMO of course.

The Sega CD wasn't a failure though. It wasn't a booming commercial success, but a moderate one.

[BoneSnapDeez]

"Failure" can mean many different things. The 3DO, TG16/CD, and Sega CD were failures in this country despite having libraries of excellent games. They were victims of poor marketing and pricing issues.

On the other hand, the Jaguar/CD, 32X, and CD-I have bad games (or inferior ports, at least) and bad hardware. Absolute failure across the board.

[Redifer]

yah! comes to show you that cant spell right a failed console!

Honestly that is NEC's fault for choosing such a bizarre name. I rarely ever see it spelled correctly because people know the spelling is messed up so they have to take a guess in which way it is messed up.

But just in case anyone is wondering, the correct way to spell it is: TurboGrafx-16

[BoneSnapDeez]

yah! comes to show you that cant spell right a failed console!

Honestly that is NEC's fault for choosing such a bizarre name. I rarely ever see it spelled correctly because people know the spelling is messed up so they have to take a guess in which way it is messed up.

But just in case anyone is wondering, the correct way to spell it is: TurboGrafx-16

When I was a kid, I avoided the console for that reason. It sounded so gimmicky and stupid. Of course now I realize what a mistake I made.

[sheath]

The Genesis and SNES were both below $130 when the 3DO launched at $700 if I recall.

I don't think failing to sell into the mass market should label a game console, or more specifically its game library, a failure. That moniker should only be leveled on a platform based on the quality of its games. Really, what do we care if the company that made the console lost money if we can play dozens or hundreds of games we find worth playing?

[o.pwuaioc]

The Genesis and SNES were both below $130 when the 3DO launched at $700 if I recall.

I don't think failing to sell into the mass market should label a game console, or more specifically its game library, a failure. That moniker should only be leveled on a platform based on the quality of its games. Really, what do we care if the company that made the console lost money if we can play dozens or hundreds of games we find worth playing?

Because then the judgment becomes even more subjective.

[elmagicochrisg]

On the other hand, the Jaguar/CD, 32X, and CD-I have bad games (or inferior ports, at least) and bad hardware. Absolute failure across the board.

32X wasn't thàt bad...