With this console generation coming to an end, us gamers can look back on what has been amazing at times and frustrating at others.
The promise of shiny new consoles with better graphics and games, multimedia centres that will change the way you live and digital streamlining are great. But will you buy them?
Consoles have come into the picture with great promise but fizzled out for whatever reason. Lets take a look back on those fallen warriors of gaming’s past.
This list is not about the sales, while that contributes to these consoles being on the list, it is more about how gamers remember these consoles.
10) Apple Pippin
While this console was not great, had very little support and almost no one bought it, the Apple Pippin was the first console to implement online capabilities to the home console market.
The system itself is a mess; Apple did not have the reputation in 1995 as it does now. The awkward controller, mixed with a lack of games and the fact that the Internet was not ready for the console experience made people stay away.
9) Zeebo
One of the most interesting consoles on this list, Zeebo was released in 2008 as an affordable console with inexpensive content, using a digital distribution method.
While not big in North America or Europe, Zeebo found a niche in developing countries, and is even considered in many circles as the 4th big console this generation.
Despite its lack of success on this continent, companies such as Capcom, Activision and Ubisoft have shown a ton of support for this console.
8 ) Sega Saturn
What really was the final nail in the coffin for Sega, the system doomed the Dreamcast before it had a chance to live. The console was plagued with many issues that kept gamers away.
A 2D powerhouse, Sega did not anticipate the jump to 3D to happen so quickly. While the Saturn does have 3D games, it was hard to develop for, making many 3rd party publishers weary of making games for it.
It also left a bad taste in the mouths of gamers being released a year after the 32X. This was a huge slap in the face to those who invested in the lacklustre add on, which lead to the doom of the console.
With that being said, the Saturn still had some amazing games such as Nights: Into Dreams and Penzar Dragoon.
7) Atari Jaguar
The Atari Jaguar will go down in history as one of the biggest console flops in history. The Jaguar was going to be Atari’s return to the home market. Once being the king of the mountain, Atari fell hard after the videogame crash.
The “first 64 bit” console in a time when games were 16 bit, seemed enticing, however it was a bit of a stretch.
The console had some good games like Tempest 2000 and Alien vs. Predator. Even if it was one of Atari’s big failures, they went out with a bang.
6) Panasonic 3DO
One of the most powerful systems of its time, the 3DO was one of those systems trying to compete with Nintendo and Sega.
However, that power came with a high price tag and a limited library. Despite producing some of the most beautiful games of that generation, the 3DO could not compete with cheaper consoles with a wider variety of games.
5) Turbografx 16
Released in 1989 to compete directly with Nintendo and Sega the Turbografx 16 could not gain footing in the market.
Regarded as one of the best consoles ever made in some circles, the Turbografx 16 had very little 3rd part support but boasted some high-end titles such as, Splatterhouse and Bonks Adventure.
4) Colecovision
While this console actually gave Atari a run for its money back in the 80’s, this console will forever live in obscurity in the minds of gamers for the fact that Coleco could not continue with their popularity after this system.
Gamers would have had to choose between arcade smash hit Donkey Kong or a terrible port of Pac Man. But Coleco planned ahead having an Atari 2600 add on, the Colecovision was a hot commodity but once the videogame market crashed, Coleco fell and fell hard.
3) Sega Master System
Nintendo vs. Sega will go down as one of the best heavyweight console-maker grudges in the history of gaming. However, while the two giants fought for your quarters in the arcade, the war on the home front did not start off in Sega’s favour.
Nintendo was smart when it launched the NES; they made sure that 3rd party developers were only making games for Nintendo. The Master System struggled because of this, but that didn’t stop Sega from making games such as Alex Kidd in Miracle World, Shinobi, and Fantasy Star.
2) Neo Geo
SNK’s foray into home gaming was glorious. The one of the most powerful consoles on the market at the time was not set to go head to head against the Super Nintendo Entertainment System and the Sega Genesis, rather it gave gamers an alternative to what was on the market.
SNK went for bleeding edge arcade ports. It was widely regarded as the “rich kids console” but it was truly intended for top of the line arcade games.
Having a line up which consisted of Metal Slug and Magician Lord, the Neo Geo was a solid system with the second longest life cycle behind the Atari 2600.
1) Magnivox Odyssey
The first home console predated the Atari Pong by almost 3 years. However, a confusing marketing campaign held the system back.
At the time, Magnivox also had success as a TV manufacturer; many people did not buy the system because they thought it would only work on Magnivox brand TV’s. While they did try to reverse this mindset, it was too late.
The console used plastic overlays for your television screen acting as the colours. The best way to describe it is a board game on your TV.
For what it did for the industry, this console deserves to be remembered, even if it did not sell well.
