Is it true that the least reliable consoles each gen were the most popular?

[Anarchist420]

I was thinking that during the Sega Saturn, Nintendo 64, and PS1 generation, the PS1 was the most popular and the least reliable (until the SCPH-7501/Dual Shock model came out).

During the following gen (PS2, Xbox, Gamecube), the PS2 was the most popular, but the least reliable, right?

Then, this gen, the X360 was less reliable than the PS3, and it was more popular as well.

Once the PS1 came out, you couldn't automatically count on consoles to be reliable anymore. Some since then (the N64, Gamecube, 1st Xbox) have been fairly reliable, but others (the DC, the X360, and PS2) have not been so reliable.

Why is it that some consoles aren't guaranteed to be reliable anymore?

 

[BassBomb]

Wii is/was more popular than XBOX360

 

[Fingolfin269]

Wii is/was more popular than XBOX360

I guess it depends on how you define 'gen'.

 

[gorcorps]

I guess it depends on how you define 'gen'.

Time defines a generation, not the tech involved.

 

[Malak]

How was the PS1 or PS2 unreliable? I owned both and never once had a problem. Quite a HUGE difference between any unreliability a console has had compared to the Xbox360 which was a lemon.

 

[Anubis]

the PS1 had over heating issues - which were often solved by simply running it upside down

the PS2 had issues with disc drives failing because of running vertical. also had laser scratching disc issues

my PS2 never had an issue and i ran it Vert for years and flat out abused it. i pulled it off the table more then once. my PS1 would over heat after about 8 hours of FF7 but thats about it

my launch 360 lasted 4 years before the CD drive died. never RRODed and i used to leave it on all the time

 

[coldmeat]

My ps1 is still going fine. I used it recently. My ps2 hardly works anymore, I get constant disc read errors. My 360 broke once, and has had problems with the hard drive ever since I got it.

 

[fatpat268]

How was the PS1 or PS2 unreliable? I owned both and never once had a problem. Quite a HUGE difference between any unreliability a console has had compared to the Xbox360 which was a lemon.

The PS2 had most of its issues due to the dvd drive. They've fixed most of it by the time they released the slim though.

 

[Wardawg1001]

I don't know much about reliability issues with previous gen consoles, but I don't see any correlation here with current gen consoles. The Wii is vastly more popular than the X360 or PS3, and afaik its a pretty reliable console (more reliable than PS3 even? I don't know). Where I do see a correlation is in the price vs. popularity of the consoles.

 

[BassBomb]

what if you thought about this by the other way around? more popular it is more problems iwll be exposed

 

[Anarchist420]

Where I do see a correlation is in the price vs. popularity of the consoles.

you're right, except the Gamecube was more expensive than the PS2 and Xbox and it was less popular than both.

 

[fatpat268]

I don't know much about reliability issues with previous gen consoles, but I don't see any correlation here with current gen consoles. The Wii is vastly more popular than the X360 or PS3, and afaik its a pretty reliable console (more reliable than PS3 even? I don't know). Where I do see a correlation is in the price vs. popularity of the consoles.

It's all about your definition of popular. The wii is vastly more popular with new games and young kids, but it also appeals to just about everyone. However, if you ask the average gamer who was heavily invested in the last generation (PS2, XBOX, GC) they're probably more interested in the 360 or PS3.

On the same note, the Wii's popularity is a bit artificial. Nearly everyone I know has a wii; nearly everyone I know has a wii collecting dust. It's a great novelty at first, and most people want to try it, but the majority of the gaming hours are probably on the 360 or PS3.

 

[KentState]

The Wii is relatively simple compared to the other consoles of this generation. The only piece that was not really proven was the controller which has been the most problematic piece.

 

[Malak]

the PS1 had over heating issues - which were often solved by simply running it upside down

the PS2 had issues with disc drives failing because of running vertical. also had laser scratching disc issues

my PS2 never had an issue and i ran it Vert for years and flat out abused it. i pulled it off the table more then once. my PS1 would over heat after about 8 hours of FF7 but thats about it

my launch 360 lasted 4 years before the CD drive died. never RRODed and i used to leave it on all the time

I had a first gen PS1 which I eventually gave away that never had any issues, and I still have the slim PS1. My PS2 never had issues but I never ran it vert, that was a gimmick and everyone knew it would cause problems. I have a fat PS3 which has never had a problem either. In my book Sony has had a pretty good track record for making my favorite console every generation, so I won't second guess them in the next gen.

 

[darkswordsman17]

you're right, except the Gamecube was more expensive than the PS2 and Xbox and it was less popular than both.

Not it wasn't. It debuted at $199 while the Xbox and PS2 started at $299. I think you might have meant less popular, as you agreed that popularity correlated with price, but then said the Gamecube was more expensive and less popular (which I think you meant less expensive and less popular).

The PS1 also had disc read errors.

 

[Wardawg1001]

you're right, except the Gamecube was more expensive than the PS2 and Xbox and it was less popular than both.

Maybe true. I guess it wasn't explicitly stated, but I confess I also know little about the prices (initial or ending) of previous gen consoles or their sales numbers.

It's all about your definition of popular. The wii is vastly more popular with new games and young kids, but it also appeals to just about everyone. However, if you ask the average gamer who was heavily invested in the last generation (PS2, XBOX, GC) they're probably more interested in the 360 or PS3.

On the same note, the Wii's popularity is a bit artificial. Nearly everyone I know has a wii; nearly everyone I know has a wii collecting dust. It's a great novelty at first, and most people want to try it, but the majority of the gaming hours are probably on the 360 or PS3.

I was strictly defining popularity by sales. Any other definition is pretty hard to prove. But I agree with you - a large part of the Wii's success was its huge target market, novelty, and of course its low cost as compared to the other consoles.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

cant pull the numbers on current generation until the next one hits. ps3 gonna keep catching up on sales. and yeah, wii most popular this gen.

 

[Wardawg1001]

You can pull numbers at any time. PS2 continued to sell quite well for a long time after PS3 was released so its not like you just end it as soon as the next gen comes out. The numbers are relevant regardless, even if they may not be the same in a few years.

 

[Malak]

The Wii is quite often a secondary console though. There have been statistics done to show that quite often the owners already had another console. There is significant enough difference between a Wii and other gaming consoles that it might not be fair to actually compare it to the others.

 

[Dankk]

you're right, except the Gamecube was more expensive than the PS2 and Xbox and it was less popular than both.

Not it wasn't. It debuted at $199 while the Xbox and PS2 started at $299.

This is correct. Gamecube was the cheapest of the bunch, kind of like how Wii is/was the cheapest of the current generation. Gamecube definitely wasn't the most popular of its generation though (that award goes to PS2).

That said, I love my old Gamecube. If you wanna talk about reliability, the Gamecube is a freaking rock. You can find videos on Youtube of people throwing it on the ground, dragging it on the road behind a truck, then turning it on and having it still work.

 

[kia75]

The least powerful system seems to be the most popular.

Look at the ps2, power-wise it was inferior to the Xbox or Gamecube, yet it was the most bought console at the time.

Look at the wii compared to the xbox 360\ps3. Hand's down its the least powerful of the systems, yet it the number one selling console.

 

[Oyeve]

The least powerful system seems to be the most popular.

Look at the ps2, power-wise it was inferior to the Xbox or Gamecube, yet it was the most bought console at the time.

Look at the wii compared to the xbox 360\ps3. Hand's down its the least powerful of the systems, yet it the number one selling console.

Thats because its all about the software. Last Gen the PS2 had the best sw lineup, this time its the Wii (yes, I have a Wii and DONT play it but the rest of the world apparently does) and the PS3 and 360 basically have the same games on each so I dont even think they count this time around.

 

[Deeko]

I've owned a lot of consoles. NES, SNES, PSX, N64, Saturn, Dreamcast, Gamecube, PS3, Wii. The only one I've had any reliability issues? You guessed it....the Wii.

 

[smackababy]

This is correct. Gamecube was the cheapest of the bunch, kind of like how Wii is/was the cheapest of the current generation. Gamecube definitely wasn't the most popular of its generation though (that award goes to PS2).

That said, I love my old Gamecube. If you wanna talk about reliability, the Gamecube is a freaking rock. You can find videos on Youtube of people throwing it on the ground, dragging it on the road behind a truck, then turning it on and having it still work.

They based the Gamecube after the Dreamcast. I dropped mine down some stairs with a game inside, and it still worked flawlessly. My friend had his in his house when it burned down; it got kind of warped from the heat, but ran just fine. That thing was a tank.