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When Consoles Lose, Everyone Wins

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the dreamcast-4-eva dept.

Ground Glass writes "Does the traditional knowledge that 'history is written by the winners' hold true with consoles? Perhaps, but there's more to it than that. Sometimes, systems that fail do so because their most salient concept was one no one was ready for - these provide future 'innovations'. Sometimes their loudest message was one only a niche group would ever want to listen to - they provide much needed perspective. In an early medium, the failures are the ones questioning what a game should be. It's no wonder the winners keep writing their ideas back in."

7 of 100 comments (clear)

  1. On Nintendo's side... by RyoShin · · Score: 4, Funny
    Perhaps, but there's more to it than that. Sometimes, systems that fail do so because their most salient concept was one no one was ready for - these provide future 'innovations'.
    So we'll see the Virtual Boy again!
    1. Re:On Nintendo's side... by EnsilZah · · Score: 5, Funny

      Screw the Virtual Boy.
      I want a PipBoy 2000.

  2. What? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    In an early medium, the failures are the ones questioning what a game should be. It's no wonder the winners keep writing their ideas back in.

    Was this submitted by Nietzsche?

    1. Re:What? by WilliamSChips · · Score: 2, Funny

      Nietzsche is God.
      --The Dead

      --
      Please, for the good of Humanity, vote Obama.
    2. Re:What? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

      Therefore God is dead. Finaly proof against the inteligent design kooks.

  3. Waitaminute... by thatguywhoiam · · Score: 2, Funny
    So if the article's premise is correct, and the failures are the most interesting consoles to have... and the mainstream ones are the least interesting...

    I guess I'm getting a PS3 after all!
    (ducks)

    BTW, this comment from the article: 'Who would have ever thought that Mattel's unlikely Power Glove would become a prototype for Nintendo's primary controller?'

    Um... everybody? I sure did. It was a freaking VR glove! I swooned when I saw that thing! Like the Wii Remote.... er. oh. hm.

    --
    If Jesus wants me it knows where to find me.
  4. Re:Dreamcast by Lord+Kano · · Score: 2, Funny

    I don't live everywhere. I'm only talking about the places that matter.

    LK

    --
    "Hi. This is my friend, Jack Shit, and you don't know him." - Lord Kano