Book review: Console Wars
I've recently read the book "Console Wars: Sega Vs Nintendo - and the Battle that Defined a Generation" by Blake J. Harris. It mainly focuses on the 16-bit era of gaming in the USA, explaining how Sega grew to take over 50 percent of the market from a very dominant Nintendo at the time.
The book is well written and explains a generation which I grew up with, not only from the perspective of consumers, but what actually happened behind the scenes on the business side of the war. I love the way the book explains meetings that took place and decisions within them, with actual dialogue. Told in a way that makes yo feel like you're there in the room when it happened.
The book is well written and explains a generation which I grew up with, not only from the perspective of consumers, but what actually happened behind the scenes on the business side of the war. I love the way the book explains meetings that took place and decisions within them, with actual dialogue. Told in a way that makes yo feel like you're there in the room when it happened.
There are a lot of amusing scenes in the book, especially from Sega's side of the table, as they were really doing their best to topple Nintendo's 95% market share from the NES era. There's less behind the scenes talks from Nintendo, reflecting the company's more closed environment.
It's impressive reading how Tom Kalinske and his handpicked crew at Sega, managed to completely change a market around and actually become the the leading company in the US. From being almost nothing, to a huge phenomena, and then again seeing the fall as they approach the disastrous Sega Saturn launch.
It's impressive reading how Tom Kalinske and his handpicked crew at Sega, managed to completely change a market around and actually become the the leading company in the US. From being almost nothing, to a huge phenomena, and then again seeing the fall as they approach the disastrous Sega Saturn launch.
Likewise, it's interesting to see how Nintendo changes from being a non-rigid, conservative company and slowly having to adapt to compete with Sega in a more modern and aggressive fashion in this era.
If you're an 80's kid like me and grew up playing videogames as a child in the early 90's, battling out in the school yard about who was best of Sonic and Mario, this is a great read. For younger generations interested in the history of gaming, it it should appeal quite well, as this 16-bit generation builds the foundation for how both Sony and Microsoft raised to fame late on.
It also illustrates how Sega modernised a lot of marketing for the industry, which still today is a formula being used.
If you're an 80's kid like me and grew up playing videogames as a child in the early 90's, battling out in the school yard about who was best of Sonic and Mario, this is a great read. For younger generations interested in the history of gaming, it it should appeal quite well, as this 16-bit generation builds the foundation for how both Sony and Microsoft raised to fame late on.
It also illustrates how Sega modernised a lot of marketing for the industry, which still today is a formula being used.
