Console Launches Good And Bad

Another interesting feature from 1up: rundowns and scores for console launches from the last twenty years. From the article: "The DS, on the other hand, is hardly the system one would have expected from its launch. The system's U.S. debut was a dull thud, with the one truly notable title being a port of Super Mario 64 with compromised control and jaggier graphics. (It also popularized the lamentable concept of "launch windows.") Chalk this up to the fact the developers only learned about the system's existence half a year before its debut. Fortunately for early adopters, the system has gone on to accumulate a killer lineup."

Comments

More opinion than fact.

[MeanderingMind]

The article is interesting at best. While reviewing all the previous major console launches is a good idea, the result here is about 70% opinion and 30% fact. Instead of presenting us with much in the way of information, we have some vague statements about hype and retail shipments, followed by arbitrary statements as to how well the launch went, and how the system fared thereafter.

Anyone who ever tries to call any console a success or any other console a failure (beyond being immediately branded a fanboy) will ignite whatever medium used into arguments about how Nintendo profited on the Gamecube, Microsoft didn't even want to with the Xbox, and how Sony dominated.

I can already hear the weapons being armed.

Um wait

[FidelCatsro]

How can the Xbox 360 launch get 4 stars and a 1up .. It hasn't been launched yet . Talk about jumping the gun a little , it is still pre-hype .

Re:Console Releases...

[Dehumanizer]

Agree with most of it, except for the last part: Nintendo doesn't target "kids". It targets "everyone".

People still make the mistake that "if it hasn't got sex or violence, it must be for kids". But games aren't like those toys that say "ages 3-6", which a 10-year old will probably find too simple and boring.

This guy said it better than I probably could.