The Video Game Wars Part 1: Nintendo Vs. Sega

Nintendo was on top of the world and no one was there to show that there was an equal. Sega got involved and introduced their 1^st system called the Master System. The only thing I can recall with it is that it was suppose to be the competition to the NES. Nintendo was #1 so far in the Video Game Counsels when it came out. There were many notable franchises that got its start with them such as Mario, Zelda, Megaman, Castlevania, Ninja Gaiden to name a few. Some of the franchises are still alive today currently in the more advanced systems. Nintendo was an 8-bit system, which at the time was very high in graphics. The Master System was also another 8-bit system and had games also made with them like Nintendo as well. Sega would introduce a character Sonic The Hedgehog, which was suppose to Sega's answer to Nintendo's Mario.

The Nintendo itself had 2 different models. The original model was where the games would have to put inside the cartridge horizontally. The other called the NES 2, which was modeled after the SNES. The controllers were very much in the way of innovation. Notable controllers such as the Zapper, Turbo Max, Power Pad, and NES Advantage were some of their systems controllers outside the default ones of course. Nintendo also had its share of bad controllers while trying to create a new era of game play. The Power Glove was for instance an example of this. While the goal was to create a new dimension of game play, it really was rather frustrating.

The next step in the Sega Evolution would be the more known system the Sega Genesis. It was designed initially to compete with Nintendo's next system the Super Nintendo though ironically competing with the NES due to the fact that the Super Nintendo wasn't even out. It is the more famous system than the previous one and a slogan that states, "Genesis does what Nintendon't." I believe it was to try to show up Nintendo due to it having 8-bit graphics. Sega had 16 bit and had some good games with it like Sonic of course, along side Altered Beast, Castlevania Bloodlines, and Bio Hazard Battle.

Nintendo had the next console the Super Nintendo, which like the Genesis had 16-bit graphics. Sega boasted "Blast Processing" which is supposed to make the game loads faster. The Super Nintendo retained its major franchises like Mario and Zelda with classic titles like Super Mario World, Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, and of course had a couple Castlevania games like Super Castlevania IV and Castlevania: Dracula X. With the Super Nintendo, it did have one add on that did come out called the Super Game Boy which allowed you to play Game Boy games on the Super Nintendo as long as you put it inside the Super Nintendo. There was suppose to be a CD add-on to the Super Nintendo and it was being developed 1^st by Sony then by Phillips but fell through due to disputes. Sony would later make the Playstation and Phillips would attempt to get in the console mix with the CD-I Phillips.

Sega had a CD add on and it was the Sega CD. The goal was to experiment with technology and it had an attempt to use full motion video for some games like Jurassic Park. The product was expensive and technology was not quite as advanced as it is currently today. I don't think it was a bad idea to try it out and see if it works but maybe with more advanced technology it would have worked. To keep the Genesis alive, the 32X was created and it had like the Sega CD it's own library. It could play regular Genesis games but it was not bought as much. The main reason for that had to do with the Sega Saturn coming out pretty soon.

The Saturn was out and was the 1^st system out in the Next Generation consoles. Nintendo was in development with their latest project the Nintendo 64. Nintendo attempted to enter the 3D World and some of the main franchises with it like the Mario and Zelda Franchises. The Saturn had Sonic still and it was a true 32-bit system. The N64 had a new feature that could be added like an expansion giving you 4 Extra MB of RAM and would be needed for such games as Majora's Mask and Donkey Kong 64. Also, there would be a Rumble pack that could be added to give a Rumble Feature that would become a standard in today's systems. This would be the last system that Nintendo would use cartridges. Nintendo didn't want to go to CDs mainly due to loading times I do believe that was the reason. Nonetheless, the system was actually pretty decent.

The Sega Saturn decided to go into the CD realm and try to make games with it. Along the time as well, Sony would decide that it was time to release the Playstation which is another story and will be continued in part 2 of the Video Game Wars series. All in all, the game times for this was really fun and it still is. No matter which system was better in this round, the real winners were the people buying the systems themselves.