Console Wars

[IHateMyJob2004]

I think you're mistaken there. Many people do buy multiple consoles from a given generation, just not necessarily when the console launches. It wasn't uncommon to find an OG Xbox next to a PS2, nor uncommon to find a 360, PS3, and Wii in the same household, near the end of their respective life cycles.

Granted, that might not make much difference in the console's overall success if people are waiting until the second or third hardware sku to purchase one.

None of my friends in my entire lifetime have ever had 2 competing consoles. When I was in college and earlier, my friends didn't have silver spoons in their mouths. As an engineer, my peers that have kids obviously won't waste the money. And even then, those that can blow money on two consoles (single engineers), don't.

Dual consoles let you play platform exclusives on occasion, you get the "better version". In the Genesis Versus SNES days, people that liked NHL hockey, preferred the Genesis. But those on SNES could still get a less quality version of it while getting lot of loved titles like the Mario series.

 

[Bateluer]

None of my friends in my entire lifetime have ever had 2 competing consoles. When I was in college and earlier, my friends didn't have silver spoons in their mouths. As an engineer, my peers that have kids obviously won't waste the money. And even then, those that can blow money on two consoles (single engineers), don't.

I work with several people, none of whom make over 50K/yr, that own both a PS3 and an Xbox 360, and a few own Wiis as well. But none of them bought both when they launched. Some bought the PS3 near launch, others the 360. When the prices on the other dropped considerably, they picked one up. And the Wii was almost an impulse buy from the get go.

Several of them have purchased either an XB1 or a PS4, depending on their preference. Every one of them has stated they will purchase the other eventually, when the price drops and the game library can warrant it.

Its very common to own multiple game consoles.

 

[cmdrdredd]

Yeah I always had, as well as my friends...both consoles. That was until there were 3 and then we didn't buy the Sega Saturn but I bought a dreamcast just before it died out. Then I got the Xbox and ended up with all 3 for a while. Back to two now (PS4 and XB1).

 

[theLION]

Just bought the book and can't wait to read it.

Back in the day, my entire family was part of the Nintendo camp. We all had the Nintendo, then moved onto the Super Nintendo - except my one cousin who decided to purchase the Sega Genesis. We gave him so much crap for that move - he even cried a few times because of us haha.

Back then it was either one or the other because our parents weren't willing to buy 2 consoles nor were we willing to save long enough to buy another console. Of course at that time, we had no desire to purchase the other console.

I'm very much looking forward to reading about a huge part of my childhood.

 

[cmdrdredd]

I ended up with both because my father purchased the Genesis at launch for my x-mas present when I asked for a new NES game. He figured we should move up to the next system instead. I got the SNES about a year or so after it launched from my grandfather after he read the box and it said something about "rich 3D graphics" and he wanted to see that. I guess I got lucky.

 

[mmntech]

If anybody is still looking to pick this up, Amazon has it for $5 on Kindle.

 

[Sonikku]

In the 2011 report, only 18% of gamers were under the age of 18. When mobile devices got counted in the 2012 report the number jumped to 32%. In that stat alone it is clear that consoles no longer have the mindshare monopoly they had with children in the 90's. This 32% stayed stable through the 2013 report, so it was accurate. The numbers for the sexes didn't change too much either, so it wasn't females skewing the numbers.

Dang. No wonder Nintendo is in trouble. This paints console gaming as a past time that will at best last as long as our generation before promptly running out of gas. Although truthfully it is likely far before then.