Down the road... Gamecube - Sega Saturn...

[Mianrtcv]

Just kicking this thought around in my head. I enjoy both the Sega Saturn and my Gamecube. Both in a sense remind me of the other. They have quality U.S. titles. They are decent machines for their period. However both experience a similar placing in console history, IMO. For me the theme of this topic is a comparison of both consoles. Not speaking in terms of specifications, but terms of where each unit succeeds and fails.

My Saturn. What can I say that has not been said in bold or italics before. I have a core of titles I enjoy. The system was short lived, yet fun. If you were an import player, it was a bit more fun. I do have a few decent imports. Some I got into, others I more or less got as collection pieces.

My Gamecube. I enjoy my Resident Evil's, Animal X-ing and many others. I actually use my gameboy player too.

For both consoles I can say I find both controllers to be capable and easily usable. I have found both to be reliable and sturdy. That said, you know I will have a follow-up where I tell you one or both died. I also see both game catalogs as fairly similar. They have titles that can be stellar, yet both missed out on plenty of releases that could have affected its lifespan.

Just wondering for those who own and play both, what do you think?

[Ed Oscuro]

I don't really like the poll options...so I'm going to refrain from voting.

Anyway, they're different. I don't know, but comparing different systems from different decades has always seemed ill-advised. The public's perception of gaming has changed enough, for example, that you can't discuss this topic without bringing up that big change. Other changes - i.e. the non-ineptness of all three gaming companies - prove that other underlying assumptions have to be made to show that the Saturn's role in Sega history will be a model for Nintendo's upcoming bout. Not so..! Nintendo's future hasn't been written yet, but I certainly wouldn't discount them from the race.

[Mianrtcv]

I always am hesitant to do polls. Never pleased with options myself.

That aside, I was not implying Nintendo was going the way of Sega. This is strictly Saturn compared to Gamecube.

As far as the publics perception of gaming, that would be a thesis and a thread of its own barely related to the issue of both systems. Perception of gaming affects the whole picture. This, again is more a view of two home console systems. The picture of gaming is different obviously and when bridging a gap as such will always evolve.

As far as a comparison of systems from different times in history, why not? You can compare basics such as market share, game catalogs, third party development, and so on and so on.

We compare wars, plagues and all manner of different events and technologies. Why not consoles?

[cityside75]

The biggest difference I see is that the Saturn left Sega in financial ruins with a lot of the major executives out of their jobs. The conventional wisdom is that Nintendo has done pretty well with the Gamecube financially even though its sales left something to be desired.

I think that Sega lost sight of what they did best to some degree with the Saturn. I think Nintendo knows what they do best and are focusing on that.

[sabre2922]

Although most gamers on this board realize what a great console the Sega Saturn was it was a near disaster for Sega (it did better in japan than U.S.) financially but it was a culmination of the add-ons released for the Genesis -Sega CD was a moderate success but the 32X was a Joke- and the terrible marketing,early release=One game for almost 3 months O_O and no real direction of the Saturn that really did Sega in as a console develeloper/publisher.

The Gamecube is a WHOLE different story in that while not a HUGE success it still did fine for Nintendo and sure as hell didnt hurt them financially.

Now I think I understand what the topic is about since they are both looked at as underdogs and both are greatly underapreciated systems by the casual gaming masses and yeah I also prefer the Saturn over PSX the Dreamcast over any of the current gen consoles and I luv the Gamecube even though I dont have one at the moment I plan on getting another one soon.

[kedawa]

The two really have very little in common, and in some ways are exact opposites.

The Gamecube has one of the most well balanced and elegantly designed architectures of any console, ever, and it's relatively easy to develop for.
The Saturn, on the other hand, is a mess internally, and is incredibly difficult to program for.

The Gamecube followed a pattern of decreasing market share which began with the N64.
The Saturn is the successor to the wildly successful Genesis/Megadrive.

The only parallels that I can see between the two is that both experienced greater success in japan than they did in other territories, but to very different degrees.

I think the Saturn is more comparable to the PC Engine than the Gamecube, at least in terms of sales and relative technical muscle.

[Sothy]

Interesting.

Obviously the fate of the Revolution is the fate of Nintendo at this point.

At the very least they need to maintain dominance of the handheld market to stay around.

I see similarities to Sega at this point but Nintendo obviously has a better future "hardware wise".

What a world though if both Sega and Nintendo are relegated to making software for Sony and Microsoft hardware.... Who woulda known?