Started By
Message
locked post

Sega Saturn

Posted on 10/29/10 at 8:31 pm
Posted by Paul Allen
Montauk, NY
Member since Nov 2007
77702 posts
Posted on 10/29/10 at 8:31 pm
How come it never took off?


This post was edited on 10/29/10 at 8:32 pm
Posted by NewGuy01
Internet
Member since Nov 2008
4243 posts
Posted on 10/29/10 at 8:40 pm to
At the very first E3 in May 1995, Sega's President Tom Kalinske committed a blunder of epic proportions long before Steve Jobs made it cool -- he announced that the "Saturnday" was a ruse and it was available that very day in select retailers. Of course, this announcement caught most major retailers off guard (Wal-mart for one) and aside from availability in those few stores, the console was scarce. In one fell swoop, the video game industry and retailers were shocked at Sega's ridiculous move. And to make matters worse, third-party developers didn't know about Sega's real launch date, meaning games weren't ready, and the Saturn's pricepoint -- $399 -- was $100 more expensive than the Playstation. After trying to rebuild relationships with KB Toys and other retailers who refused to even launch the Saturn, Sega's console quickly become the also-ran in the industry, trailing far behind the Nintendo 64 and Playstation. LINK
This post was edited on 10/29/10 at 8:41 pm
Posted by Muppet
Member since Aug 2007
50512 posts
Posted on 10/29/10 at 8:40 pm to
A couple of main reasons:

1. It was difficult to develop for, and most companies were busy churning out games for the Playstation and N64.

2. Sega's plan to get a head start on sales over the Playstation failed because not only was it significantly more expensive than the latter at launch, but some of the retail stores that were not chosen to carry it at launch decided to never sell the Saturn or its games just to get back at Sega.

Other than that, it just didn't have a market niche here in America. Sonic was their entire brand and even it didn't have the popularity of the classic Nintendo franchises. And the Playstation was praised as the system for adults/ mature gamers.
Posted by Paul Allen
Montauk, NY
Member since Nov 2007
77702 posts
Posted on 10/29/10 at 9:05 pm to
overall failure? the same thing that happened to Neo Geo right?

Posted by Bunsbert Montcroff
Phoenix AZ / Boise ID
Member since Jan 2008
5729 posts
Posted on 10/29/10 at 9:45 pm to
quote:

the same thing that happened to Neo Geo right?

if i remember right the neo geo console was 500 dollars and games were 100.
Posted by Caplewood
Atlanta
Member since Jun 2010
39418 posts
Posted on 10/30/10 at 12:41 am to
I miss my dreamcast
Posted by NewGuy01
Internet
Member since Nov 2008
4243 posts
Posted on 10/30/10 at 8:42 am to
quote:

I miss my dreamcast


I would destroy you in Ready 2 Rumble. Just sayin.
Posted by Alabama Slim
Team Massie
Member since Jul 2007
10659 posts
Posted on 10/30/10 at 11:22 am to
quote:

I miss my dreamcast


NHL2K, oh how I miss thee
Posted by thirday413
Baton Rouge, LA
Member since Sep 2004
490 posts
Posted on 10/30/10 at 11:17 pm to
Shenmue, Blue Stinger, Crazy Taxi, etc. Oh and VMU's
Posted by Tmon225
Member since Jun 2009
7256 posts
Posted on 10/31/10 at 2:53 am to
quote:

Sonic was their entire brand and even it didn't have the popularity of the classic Nintendo franchises


Bull fricking shite, by the time Sonic 2 came out SEGA had the market majority in consoles (Genesis vs SNES) in America.
Posted by Paul Allen
Montauk, NY
Member since Nov 2007
77702 posts
Posted on 10/31/10 at 4:57 pm to
Genesis sold more than SNES, no?

Posted by Muppet
Member since Aug 2007
50512 posts
Posted on 10/31/10 at 5:03 pm to
A more accurate statement would be that it didn't have the staying power of the other franchises.

Sonic games for the Genesis largely sucked. Sonic 3 was really where a lot of people began to abandon the franchise.
Posted by Paul Allen
Montauk, NY
Member since Nov 2007
77702 posts
Posted on 10/31/10 at 5:16 pm to
The Saturn didn't feature many marquee games as the Genesis and SNES did, just a failed concept IMO.

Posted by Tmon225
Member since Jun 2009
7256 posts
Posted on 10/31/10 at 5:39 pm to
quote:

Sonic games for the Genesis largely sucked. Sonic 3 was really where a lot of people began to abandon the franchise.


Again, bullshite.

Sonic 3/Sonic&Knuckles is still regarded as the best game of the Sonic franchise.

What hurt sonic was the lack of a marquee game between Sonic 3(1994) and Sonic Adventure(1999 Dreamcast).

And then SEGA proceeded with less than stellar 3d sonic games.
Posted by Muppet
Member since Aug 2007
50512 posts
Posted on 10/31/10 at 5:53 pm to
quote:

Sonic 3/Sonic&Knuckles is still regarded as the best game of the Sonic franchise


Regarded by whom?
Posted by Caplewood
Atlanta
Member since Jun 2010
39418 posts
Posted on 10/31/10 at 5:58 pm to
NFL2K, Vikings. Slaughterhouse
Posted by Muppet
Member since Aug 2007
50512 posts
Posted on 10/31/10 at 6:07 pm to
Again, I didn't say Sonic 3 was a terrible game. Its level design was inferior to that of the first two main titles. But I know fans of Sonic 1 and 2 who say that Sonic 3 was the point of initial fatigue for them. The fact that there was no marquee title until they ushered in the "3D era" (failure) didn't help matters, as you said.
Posted by Marciano1
Marksville, LA
Member since Jun 2009
19749 posts
Posted on 10/31/10 at 11:17 pm to
Sega Genesis
Posted by Tennessee Jed
Mr. SEC Rant
Member since Nov 2009
17909 posts
Posted on 11/1/10 at 10:46 am to
3D0 is the best forgotten console
Posted by GNARgrove59
Wop Bop
Member since Jul 2010
959 posts
Posted on 11/1/10 at 4:53 pm to
quote:

I would destroy you in Ready 2 Rumble. Just sayin.


I would love to get a tourney going on this game. Twas the shiiiit
first pageprev pagePage 1 of 2Next pagelast page

Back to top
logoFollow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News
Follow us on X, Facebook and Instagram to get the latest updates on LSU Football and Recruiting.

FacebookXInstagram