Retro: The Console Wars, Circa 1990

Ah, the console wars in 1990. Such a simpler time, for simple consoles. The biggest worry was if you should spend $100 on a Nintendo or not, or hold out for the uber-powerful 16 bit Sega Genesis. But wait! Nintendo’s super system is just around the corner, and it’s just as powerful.

Man, watching this video really shows what has happened to the industry in the last 18 years. Pretty wild.

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I write about samurai girls and space marines. Writer for Smooth Few Films. Rooster Teeth Freelancer. Author of Red vs. Blue, The Ultimate Fan Guide, out NOW!

14 thoughts on “Retro: The Console Wars, Circa 1990”

  1. War. War never changes.

    It’s funny to see “OMG Nintendo might die out because Genesis has 16-bit games!” You’re going to have to wait a little over a decade to really see Nintendo in it’s dark days, people.
    And gotta love that 90’s fashion.

  2. Oh man… the good times.
    Jus funny if you think that these consoles where once hot, and makes me think what the future will bring.

    [quote comment=”2858″]
    And gotta love that 90’s fashion.[/quote]

    lol shoulder pads FTW!

  3. Howard Phillips the Nintendo Gamemaster said its the games its the games its the games Im sure he’s stopped saying that since the wii has outsold the xbox 360 and the ps3 every month for 2 years now

  5. I love how under each kids name it says “Nintendo Player.” and the interview half way through with “Tom Kalinske” all the women does is shake her head and look pissed. Even though Nintendo is selling insanely well I look forward to the day that Microsoft or Sony claims the throne.

  6. “nintendo is a very very strong company, and so far its competition hasnt been more
    than a blip on the screen.”

    Im a little younger than some of you. I was raised on the SNES… As soon as sony’s Playstation came out, I converted. Once I got old enough, I obviously went to PC.

    survival of the fittest. Super Mario will always hold limitless nostalgia for me (I re-purchased a SNES, F*** the WII), but aside from reliving my childhood, Nintendo just never made the cut for me. ( aside from borrowing an N64 to play Goldeneye… amazing)

  8. [quote comment=”2858″]War. War never changes.

    It’s funny to see “OMG Nintendo might die out because Genesis has 16-bit games!” You’re going to have to wait a little over a decade to really see Nintendo in it’s dark days, people.
    And gotta love that 90’s fashion.[/quote]
    Ha. The war never changes bit of your post made me lol, for real.

    Who would have thought that the console wars would escalate to the mania that they are now? It’s funny that they never had to factor “loyalty” to a console into the mix back then.

  9. Forgive me for being young, niave and only introduced to games when they gained the futuristic dimension no.3, but 1.Nintendo made hardcore games? 2. Nintendo really fell like that only to re-dominate the gaming industry with a hardcoreless attitude? 3. Clothes = EPIC FAIL

  11. Times looked bad… 8 bit games don’t do it for me. In fact any console pre N64 and PS1 i cant play. But thats prolly cuz it doesn’t mean anything to me.

  12. [quote comment=”2885″]Times looked bad… 8 bit games don’t do it for me. In fact any console pre N64 and PS1 i cant play. But thats prolly cuz it doesn’t mean anything to me.[/quote]

    Grr….

  13. Ah the 90’s back when I was a still a wee little gamer glued to my old gameboy, man I loved that thing. Think i lost it though.

  14. BEHOLD THE POWER OF THE 16BIT

    That really really brings me back…I’m too young to remember the good old nes days, i was a sega genesis guy..I do remember my parents playing tetris on gameboy back in the day tho…

    anyone else here would kill for a system to cost 100 dollars?

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