Comparative
Review (cont'd)
The Verdict:
By merely comparing the technical
statistics of the three consoles, the Dreamcast is clearly the most advanced and thus in
the best position to claim the top seat in terms of market share. It would also seem
as the most likely console to buy since its technological advantage would imply that its
life would be rather long. However, there are more other factors to be considered
when choosing which console is the best.
Developer Support
Developer support is important as it
determines how many game titles will be released for the particular console, which is
directly related to the system's popularity. The Playstation would never have risen
to fame without games like Crash Bandicoot or Final Fantasy 7, nor would the Nintendo 64
without Zelda: Ocarina of Time. To date, the Playstation has a game library of over
550 games, and the Nintendo over 100. The amount of games determines how busy the
gamer is playing, and the quality of the games determines how happy the gamer is with the
system. The happier the gamer is, the more he/she buys. The more the gamers
buy thus determines the popularity of the system.
Imports
All three contenders
have Japanese
headquarters, and those develop far more games than the headquarters and 3rd party
developers in the US. Every month, at least 30-40 new games are released in Japan
for the Playstation. The Nintendo 64 has less, and in the Saturn's prime their
Japanese games rivaled the Playstations. Nintendo 64's Zelda 64 was
originally Japanese, as was Final Fantasy 7 and Magic Knight Rayearth. If publishers are
willing to translate and even improve some Japanese imports, gamers will be all the more
happy. This will also help increase a system's fan base.
Smart Moves
A rather general area, and the most
important factor. Ranging anywhere from price cuts to new peripherals or even
game-based movies. These all help to give the gamers a sense of support, helping
them to believe they made the right choice. Satisfaction, in the war, is a must.
If you have a good system, but nobody is buying, take a price cut. If this is
not enough, check your games. Are they good enough? After all, the market must
be satisfied.
That done, which is the
best?
