Page 1 of 12 1234511 ... LastLast
Results 1 to 20 of 240

Thread: Biggest failure of a console

  1. #1
    Insert Coin (Level 0)
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Boondocks
    Posts
    121
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default Biggest failure of a console

    I was just thinking the other day, what console, of all of them, was the biggest failure for a company.

    You can answer that if you want, and you can answer these too if you want.

    Biggest failures in the 1970's, 1980's, 1990's...
    Biggest failures for Nintendo, Sega, Sony, Atari, NEC, Commodore.........etc...

    By failure I mean, ruined the reputation, caused a great deal of financial trouble, sold horribly compared to the competition...

    My personal opinion, I think the worst disaster for any system ever, would probably have to be either the Sega 32X or the Jaguar. Both hurt their respecitve companies' reputation.
    "The expenses of the government reach EVERYBODY"
    -Calvin Coolidge (30th President of the U.S.A.)

  2. #2
    Crono (Level 14) Sonicwolf's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    Abbotsford, BC, Canada
    Posts
    6,610
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts
    PSN
    Sonicwolf359

    Default

    The Jaguar killed Atari's already damaged reputation AND ruined the company once and for all. I would have to say, because of that, the Jaguar is the single biggest company-affecting failure in the industry, ever.
    DERP

  3. #3
    Retro game console modder bacteria's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Hampshire, UK
    Posts
    189
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    (I think these are correct)?...

    DreamCast was the straw that broke the camel's back for developers when Sega dropped the DreamCast after a couple of years, like they did with their previous consoles.

    The VirtualBoy destroyed the career of the GameBoy inventor at Nintendo.

    Adam computer killed Coleco.

    The popular Atari 2600 which gained great profits originally, bankrupted Atari after the '83 crash, which was mainly due to such bad 2600 titles being churned out in the first place - so it brought about its greatness, and own defeat.

  4. #4
    Banana (Level 7) walrusmonger's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    NYC
    Posts
    1,513
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts
    Xbox LIVE
    walrusmonger
    PSN
    walrusmonger

    Default

    [QUOTE=bacteria;1729216](I think these are correct)?...

    DreamCast was the straw that broke the camel's back for developers when Sega dropped the DreamCast after a couple of years, like they did with their previous consoles.
    QUOTE]

    Dreamcast wasn't a failure, it has an awesome library and was way ahead of its time.

  5. #5
    Cherry (Level 1) Astrocade's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    NC
    Posts
    206
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    The Konix Multisystem was such a failure that it didn't even come out.

    The Pippin was a rare failure for Apple.

    The 32X did little but piss off the populace.

    The 5200 was Atari's first real misstep.

    The Jaguar CD killed not only itself, but the Jaguar too.

    The Phillips CDI was a massive failure for everyone involved.

    With Nintendo it's a tie between the Famicom Disc Drive, the Virtual Boy, and the N64 CD add-on.

  6. #6
    Strawberry (Level 2) dendawg's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2004
    Location
    A van down by the river
    Posts
    502
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts
    Xbox LIVE
    hawtxdawg360

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by bacteria View Post
    Adam computer killed Coleco.
    Not quite. Adam killed Colecovision, but not Coleco itself. They had Cabbage Patch Kids to fall back on.
    Don't go away mad....just go away!

  7. #7
    Insert Coin (Level 0) ConsoleAddict's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Posts
    107
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    The Atari 5200. This console could have been something very special but the bad controllers, the lack of support from Atari and the some other odd design quirks doomed it. I thought the graphics and sound were good and some games were better on the 5200 than the CV but all its flaws killed it.

    That's my pick. The 5200 was expected to be a contender. A console like the 3D0, the Atari Jaguar or the Virtual Boy was destined to fail even before it hit the market.

  8. #8
    Ghostbuster
    Greg2600's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    Soprano Land, NJ
    Posts
    3,967
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    9
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    62
    Thanked in
    57 Posts
    Xbox LIVE
    Greg2600

    Default

    5200 and Colecovision had a lot of potential, got killed by the crash. Both systems have large followings now though, and still sold a large number of units, accessories and games at that time. They are like the Dreamcast, short life span, but they have lived on gloriously for sure.

    The 7800 was more a failure than the 5200 or Colecovision if you ask me. It got trounced by the SMS and NES, and people were still buying well more 2600 games than 7800 as the 80's moved to the 90's.

    32X was a failure, yes.

    Hard for me to say things like the 3DO, Amiga 32CD, Turbo Grafx CD, CD-i are big failures simply because I don't think anybody really expected much of them. You could go into most toy stores and never even see them. We hardly knew they existed.

    Jaguar was a failure, big time, CD or not. We all were thinking, woah 64 bit this thing will look incredible! Then saw it and had quite the chuckle.
    Virtual Boy was a failure for sure in the same vein. We all expected something incredible, and got something lousy. Actually, Neo Geo also, because the price was so expensive it was a complete joke. My friends and I had yet another chuckle on that one.
    Last edited by Greg2600; 06-02-2010 at 08:20 PM.
    The Paunch Stevenson Show free Internet podcast - www.paunchstevenson.com - DP FEEDBACK

  9. #9
    Pac-Man (Level 10) Rickstilwell1's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Posts
    2,802
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    2
    Thanked in
    2 Posts
    PSN
    TheGameCollector

    Default

    I think the RCA Studio II was one of the biggest flops of all time. The Fairchild was far more advanced and people saw it as a joke.
    [quote name='Shidou Mariya' date='Nov 17 2010, 10:05 PM' post='4889940']
    I'm a collector, but only to a certain extent.
    Not as extreme as Rickstilwell though.[/quote]


  10. #10
    Insert Coin (Level 0)
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Posts
    71
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    [QUOTE=bacteria;1729216](I think these are correct)?...

    DreamCast was the straw that broke the camel's back for developers when Sega dropped the DreamCast after a couple of years, like they did with their previous consoles./QUOTE]



    The statement is not accurate. Sega had no intention of bringing out another console after the Dreamcast. Sega was done with consoles, why would developers be bitter? Sega's relationship with developers died with the Dreamcast.

    It makes more sense that developers would be more bitter about the Sega CD, 32x and Saturn.

    "The Pippin was a rare failure for Apple."

    I could be mistaken here but I believe the the Pippin was a failure for Bandai.

    If I am not mistaken Apple merely licensed the tech, and had no role in manufacture. I think Apple walked away unscathed financially and Bandai only got burned. But I could be wrong here..

  11. #11
    Pear (Level 6) retroman's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    MD
    Posts
    1,278
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    7
    Thanked in
    7 Posts
    Xbox LIVE
    retroman20/retroman21
    PSN
    retroman13

    Default

    I don't think the virtul boy helped nintendo any..

  12. #12
    Insert Coin (Level 0) ConsoleAddict's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Posts
    107
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    Ehhh, the Atari 7800 was never going to amount to anything once the Tramiels pulled the plug on it in 1984. I doubt it was going to sell in 1984 anyway. Nothing like having a next gen console with sound effects straight outta 1979.

  13. #13
    Insert Coin (Level 0)
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Posts
    71
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by retroman View Post
    I don't think the virtul boy helped nintendo any..

    Interesting about the Virtual Boy is Gunpei Yoko did not want it released at the time. He felt it was not ready.

    Nintendo go ahead and realease it anyway and Yoko is basically so shamed he left the company.

  14. #14
    Insert Coin (Level 0) Red Baron's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Posts
    66
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    One thing the Virtual Boy had was a bitchin' Terminator-style commercial, though.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhbpBMzjE1A

    That bit alone was enough to get me excited for it. Too bad the actual product was kind of underwhelming..

    Edit: Just noticed this was during their 'Play it Loud' catchphrase days.. That was my favorite one for some reason. Loved seeing their ads along those lines plastered over issues of Nintendo Power.
    Last edited by Red Baron; 06-02-2010 at 09:40 PM.

  15. #15
    Arcade Card Compatible Custom rank graphic
    todesengel's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    River Ridge, LA
    Posts
    1,206
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    1
    Thanked in
    1 Post

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Astrocade View Post
    With Nintendo it's a tie between the Famicom Disc Drive, the Virtual Boy, and the N64 CD add-on.
    The FDS wasn't a failure, it sold quite well even though piracy became a problem with it. Also the N64 never had a CD add-on, your thinking of the 64DD which was a disk drive add-on like the FDS but used basically Zip disk's for software.

    As for biggest failure of a console I'd say the Jaguar even though I do like the system. I think it was just too little too late for Atari at that point to make a comeback.

  16. #16
    Insert Coin (Level 0) Gavica's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Posts
    158
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    easy, The Phantom

  17. #17
    ServBot (Level 11) tom's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2002
    Location
    USA & RUSSIA
    Posts
    3,681
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    2
    Thanked in
    2 Posts

    Default

    a powercut

    But seriously, compared to sales in Asia and USA, the NES was a huge failure in Europe, with only 1.5 mill units sold here by 1992 (source: Game Over)
    Last edited by tom; 06-02-2010 at 11:38 PM.

  18. #18
    ServBot (Level 11) GarrettCRW's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Location
    Las Vegas, NV
    Posts
    3,700
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts
    Xbox LIVE
    GarrettCRW
    PSN
    GarrettCRW

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Astrocade View Post
    With Nintendo it's a tie between the Famicom Disc Drive, the Virtual Boy, and the N64 CD add-on.
    The Famicom Disk System was a modest financial success for Nintendo before piracy and things like battery-backed saves and 128K (and greater) games came out for the NES and Famicom. Also, a great deal of the more popular games started life on the FDS. Both NES Zeldas, Metroid, Castlevanias 1 and 2, SMB2j, Doki Doki Panic, the Lolo series, and Zanac all started out on the FDS.
    Webmaster of the Cartoon Review Website!
    http://www.cartoonreviewsite.com

    My sale thread

  19. #19
    Apple (Level 5) Arkhan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    Neptune
    Posts
    1,155
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts
    PSN
    TurboArkhan

    Default

    I am going to have to go with the Jaguar and it's meager library, stupid controller, crapshit CD attachment, and cheesy marketing.

    not to mention its pretend powerful hardware.
    Aetherbyte: PC-Engine and more homebrew

  20. #20
    Pac-Man (Level 10) Custom rank graphic
    buzz_n64's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    San Diego, CA
    Posts
    2,378
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    1
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    2
    Thanked in
    2 Posts
    PSN
    buzz_retro64

    Default

    70s
    Fairchild F

    80s
    Microvision
    Entrex Adventurevision

    00's
    Nokia N-Gage
    Nuon

    90s
    Apple Pippin
    Philips CD-i
    Last edited by buzz_n64; 06-03-2010 at 01:36 AM.

Similar Threads

  1. Biggest success as a console?
    By migo in forum Classic Gaming
    Replies: 108
    Last Post: 06-29-2010, 10:03 PM
  2. What console had the biggest cart boxes?
    By madman77 in forum Classic Gaming
    Replies: 37
    Last Post: 02-28-2007, 03:20 PM
  3. 32x Failure? :(
    By Cauterize in forum Technical and Restoration Society
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 07-11-2006, 09:40 AM
  4. Xavix, Biggest gaming console failure?
    By Muscelli in forum Classic Gaming
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 02-19-2005, 12:00 AM
  5. Best early to mid 90's failure
    By rscaramelo in forum Classic Gaming
    Replies: 15
    Last Post: 06-14-2004, 11:32 AM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •