Half-Glass Gaming [Episode 42] : Bare-Knuckle Slobberknocker
After some bad French and Shakespeare non-jokes, the gang talks about Julian and Josh’s birthday gifts. Both of those guys had birthdays in March, and they got matching 49″ TVs in celebration. So what video games were used to christen those new HD screens? Fallout 4, Zombi, Diablo III, Disgaea 5, and, of course, Star Wars Battlefront.
After the break, we take a look back at the console wars, starting with Big, Evil Nintendo vs. the world. When Sega entered the fray, they came in with guns blazing and aimed straight at Nintendo (Nintendon’t, as Sega called them). How do you come back against Mario? Well, by inventing fake processing technology (AKA Blast processing) and introducing the world to Sonic the Hedgehog (who began his life as the Japanese everyman, Mr. Needlemouse).
The battle didn’t slow down when Sony entered the market either. After Sony double-crossed both Sega and Nintendo, they launched the PlayStation, and with that came Crash Bandicoot’s challenge against Nintendo. (We’ve got more on the Crash Bandicoot vs. Nintendo ad campaign in this Retrovolve article.)
Eventually, Sega drops out, Microsoft drops in, and the battle rages on.
Our detailed history is not to be missed, folks.
Retrovolve Staff
At Retrovolve, we love discussing, studying, and playing retro games, though not necessarily in that order.
Thanks Wirta for using my submission for the image, even if only in the body of the description. When I think of console wars I think of World War I trenches, bloody carcasses and Terminator skulls.
“I bite my thumb sir, but I do not bite my thumb at you”
– Jamie Kennedy
I couldn’t let your beautiful art go unseen by the masses. It’s truly a masterpiece.
Great episode! I have to say that Nintendo must be one of the most interesting topics in the history of gaming. I’m always shocked by what you have to say about them.
Thanks again for listening! Yeah, Nintendo’s shady dealings are some of my favorite things to talk about!
I have fond memories of Nintendo but I quite enjoy listening to what you dig up.
I’m a little sick of console wars at this point. But this was an interesting episode. I wonder how Sega and Nintendo would have done if there weren’t console wars.
I wish Sega would go back to making consoles again. I saw a Dreamcast 2 hoax a few months back and got real nostalgia vibes. At the very least they could port the full Dreamcast library to Steam.
Honestly, I agree with you. My understanding and experience was that Sega consoles were, if not better than the competition, then at least as good. And in the case of the Dreamcast and some aspects of the Genesis, they were ahead of their time. Even the Genesis add-ons weren’t…well, okay, they were terrible, but they were terrible more because they made things clunky and almost no one wanted to buy a console and then a bunch of almost-consoles in order to play a tiny number of games.
– The Reverend
I wish Sega would go back to making consoles again. I saw a Dreamcast 2 hoax a few months back and got real nostalgia vibes. At the very least they could port the full Dreamcast library to Steam.
I knew about the Super NES CD add on but I had no idea that Sega almost worked with Sony. I think Sega could of recovered from the 32x if that deal went through.
OOF. The 32X. Man, I had a Sega CD, and that was bad enough. The 32X was a joke!
Nintendo should use the mob to make people buy a Wii U, lol.
Nintendo should use the mob to make people buy a Wii U, lol.