390°

Sony – Following Nintendo's Lead Since 1994

It's not quite an industry secret, but it also isn't exactly widely known either. Back in the early '90s we were almost presented with a console that would have changed the landscape of gaming as we know it: the SNES-CD. It could have dominated the gaming industry for years and crafted a fruitful relationship between Sony and Nintendo that for all we know could still be ongoing. However, it was not meant to be…

iGAM3R-VIII4035d ago (Edited 4035d ago )

The partnership that Sony and Nintendo have are amazing. Sony did in a sense follow Nintendo which helped Sony grow and become what and where it is now like what Nintendo were back in the day. But the thing is that Sony went above and beyond Nintendo and showed them how to realy do it and the thing is, they did something Nintendo couldn't do.

"It’s pretty obvious that the SNES controller was the basis for the PlayStation’s." I do not really agree with this because there is quite a big difference between the two. The same with the PSP and other devices.

Nevertheless, Sony did kind of follow Nintendo but I would say they didn't really follow it in the way this article made it.

Yodagamer4035d ago (Edited 4035d ago )

The original ps1 controller was basicly the snes with extra shoulder buttons and a grip. It makes sense as the ps1 was essentially a beefed up snes attachments. It even felt like the proper successor to the snes to me. It had all that awesome variety that the snes had, which is why i loved it. @jimbobwahey, you are aware i'm speaking of the original Ps1 controller the one WITHOUT analog sticks. Why am i getting disagrees, would someone like to explain? it's common knowledge that the work from the snes cd went on to become the playstation 1.

jimbobwahey4035d ago

Sony set the industry standard when they introduced dual analog sticks as a method for traversing 3D worlds back with the original dualshock.

All we see Nintendo do these days is play catch up to Sony and Microsoft, and they do such a sloppy job of it that nobody is buying their latest console.

SilentNegotiator4035d ago

"you are aware i'm speaking of the original Ps1 controller the one WITHOUT analog sticks"

And? He brought up the industry standard that Sony, the supposed follower, created, that Nintendo used in their next system (Gamecube) and came back to AGAIN with their latest console.

Yodagamer4035d ago

So basicly he brought up something that had nothing to do with my comment. I'm not disagree with him, but i simply wasn't talking about the dualshock. Btw it was introduced on the dual analog controller :P

SilentNegotiator4035d ago (Edited 4035d ago )

I'm aware that it didn't launch along side the Ps1. It simply doesn't matter.

You claimed that the Ps1 controller was "essentially a beefed up snes" controller. He mentioned that Sony created a controller that set the standard for 3D-designed games that has lasted over a decade...it was also a Ps1 controller, regardless of when it launched.

Yodagamer4035d ago

And yet this conversation was about the original controller so yea it does matter because the comment was about the original plain controller, not the dual shock.

darthv724035d ago (Edited 4035d ago )

had the analog stick with the N64. sega released their 3d pad and sony came up with the dual analog which later became known as the dual shock 1. They were all roughly around the same time as each other

that isnt to say we would never eventually have gotten the twin stick configuration we know today. plus it really shouldnt matter who did it first. what matters is that we got it and from then on it became a standard.

regardless of the layout, the xbox got a variant of it. The PC's had them as well. The only real black sheep was the dreamcast because it only had the 1 analog stick. But that was more of an evolution to the saturn 3d pad anyway.

We can all thank atari (I would imagine) for starting us off with a stick and button combination that lead to the eventual release of more button controllers.

In my controller collection, i have (at least) 1 of every controller known to the console market. Some were comfortable and others not so much. Since it is the controller that is the main part of how we enjoy a platform, some would say it is THE most important part of the platform.

If you arent comfortable using the controller then you arent going to be comfortable playing the games for the platform. No matter how graphically impressive they may be.

As to the "original" ps1 controller, yeah it matters as it too was part of that evolutionary change in controls back in the day. Its comparison to the SNES controller is very common because the button layout was so similar. But they added the contours to the controller to make it nice to hold and added 2 extra shoulder buttons.

Many may not even have gotten a PS1 with the original controller anyway. I dont know the percentage but there was a point to where the dual shock became the pack in and from then on every system sold came with one. No-one ever looked back at the regular controller again. sort of how Sega swapped out the genesis 3 button later on with the 6 button controller.

MikeMyers4035d ago

PS Vita/PlayStation 4 Interconnectivity

Sorry but Sony was marketing that before the Wii U even came out. They are just perfecting it with the PS4.

Of course companies will copy, improve and innovate on past products. Some are obvious in the article while others are simply the evolution everyone expected.

Nate-Dog4035d ago

@MikeMyers: Nintendo had been marketing the interactivity between the controller and TV / console quite a while before Sony decided to go down that route with the PS3 and PSVita. Just because the WiiU wasn't released when Sony advertised it doesn't mean anything. If Sony marketed the colour changing light on the back of the controller but Nintendo made a new controller in the next 2 months with that added feature does that mean Nintendo did it first?

SilentNegotiator4035d ago (Edited 4035d ago )

@Yoda

There's no reason that the conversation couldn't expand other than you wanting to avoid very much related topics from weakening your argument.
Sony changed gaming interfaces with the Ps1.

@Darth

No one is saying that Ps1 "invented analog". Dual sticks wouldn't have "just" happened if someone hadn't brought the walk/camera method of dual sticks to gaming.

pepsilover_20074035d ago (Edited 4035d ago )

With that logic Silent, you could very well be changing the subject, because while they are related it was about the original controller, just to avoid the original argument. He never disagreed with you, so that claim is unwarranted.

SilentNegotiator4035d ago (Edited 4035d ago )

It isn't "changing the subject" to not ignore the later half of Ps1's history in a conversation about PS1 controllers just because Yoda has decided that the internet cannot expand the discussion, even in immediately relevant topics (a controller on the exact same console of discussion and leading the industry).

KwietStorm_BLM4035d ago

A beefed up SNES attachment?? The first PlayStation was in another universe from anything prior, especially cartridge based. I know all about the failed partnership, and I'm more than thankful that it didn't work out, but the system stands on its on as a while lot more than a beefed up attachment.

darthv724035d ago (Edited 4035d ago )

"Dual sticks wouldn't have "just" happened if someone hadn't brought the walk/camera method of dual sticks to gaming." Sure they would. Companies had been toying with the use of analog controls long before the "walk/camera" use. Even colecovision used an analog stick. Difference between then and now is refinement. PC's used analog controls primarily for flight control games and the console market was going after that same precision which digital controls just couldnt do. It was a natural progression of control input.

in any case....Over the years there have been only 4 instances where the pack-in controller was eventually replaced for something better.

1) The genesis had the 3 button replaced with a 6 button.

2) PS1 original was replaced with the dual shock

3) xbox original (duke) was replaced with a smaller "S" type (more of a physical change than functional change)

4) PS3 sixaxis was replaced by the dual shock 3.

Every other console ever released had started and finished their run with the same controller. Now there were other controllers released for those systems but they never changed out the initial controller for a different one.

Okay, technically the NES top loader did get the dog bone shaped one but that really doesnt count because that was a total redesign of the system itself.

shoddy4035d ago

They also follow bluray and online 3d movie

SilentNegotiator4035d ago (Edited 4035d ago )

@Darth

That's absurd. The change to dual sticks (and the function of the movement/camera method of control that came with it) is absolutely nothing like some additional buttons that do nothing to change function (other than there being more buttons to press) or a slight change in controller shape. MAYBE the six-axis if it had actually been used past 2007...that is a change in control FUNCTION, as was controlling characters with one stick and the camera with the other. THAT was revolutionary to game design and THAT was what Sony brought us during the 5th generation that changed how we played 3D games forever.

nunley334035d ago

I love sony and they've been the real innovators this generation but they have copied ninty numerous times. Does anyone remember the rumble pack? And now sony puts a speaker on it's PS4 controller, where did they get that idea from? I'm not knocking sony too much for these, i'm glad they diid it and we're all better off for it. Ninty did invent analg controll but the dual shock was a natural evolution of it and MS copied the design and put their own spin on it. Every good idea one company creates, the others will put out their own version of it.

BOLO4035d ago

jimbob...MOAR ANALOGS = Innovative? Puuuleease.

gamefiles4031d ago

lol sony riding nintendos wanker all these years.
how pathetic that sny copied wiiU with the game-pad feature. fuken shame

+ Show (15) more repliesLast reply 4031d ago
dedicatedtogamers4035d ago

Sony paved their own way.

Nintendo sold 62 million NESs. The next gen, they sold 50 million SNESs.

The next gen, the PS1 comes out and Sony sells over 100 million systems while the N64 sells 33 million.

Yeah, sure looks like Sony was just "following" Nintendo by surpassing all of their console sales by an easy 40+ million...

MasterCornholio4035d ago (Edited 4035d ago )

And the PS2 sold over 155 million units while Nintendos gamecube only sold 20 million.

Now that was just embarrassing.

However Nintendo did a much better job with the Wii in comparison to Sony with the PS3. With the Wii selling 99 million and the PS3 selling 77 million.

TongkatAli4035d ago

I love me some facts in the evening.

Mr_Writer854035d ago

Really? Much better?

99 - 70 = 22

100 - 33 = 67

155 - 21 = 134

So the Wii has so far sold 22millon more then PS3 no were near what the previous Sony consoles out sold Nintendo, and the only reason that the gap is even that big is because the Xbox 360 took a large bite out of Sony's market share.

I doubt the gap will ever close, but expect that 22million to be less in 3 years time when the PS3 is no longer supported (they are still only into their 7th year of its 10 year span, and Sony have a rep of supporting their old consoles).

The Wii won this gen, but not as big a margin as when previous gens.

Tzuno4035d ago

You know that old movies with kung fu when the master train their apprentice and in the end the apprentice beat the master? Well Sony-nintendo is like that now. :) hachyyyyaaaa!!! Still i love the Snes Nr 1 console in my heart.

GamersRulz4035d ago

"Sony was blind-sided by Nintendo’s move. Not only did they renege on their collaborative deal, they then partnered with Sony’s biggest competitor. Ken Kutaragi would not be deterred, however. He presented an idea to his superiors at Sony with the logic of “if you can’t join them – beat them.” A few years later the real deal came to fruition, the Sony PlayStation was born."

Nintendo regrets this move to this day. Lol

Oner4035d ago

I'm sure everyone would agree they do.

But imagine if they didn't do, what they did? Who knows what kinds of games we would be playing (or not, by the same token)! Their "bad" choice helped push the modern gaming culture and arena to what it is today...and I for one and happy for their "mistake".

I mean think about it ~ if Nintendo had no real rivals back then would we be playing titles like Uncharted, Halo, Gran Turismo, CoD, Heavy Rain etc. etc. etc. today? Or would they have been just more primitive in technology thus shaping a different style/type of gaming/programming and so on?

JamieL4035d ago

@ SilentNegotiator
Geez man, admit you were wrong and move on. He was talking about the "ORIGINAL" ps1 controller, and that’s it. Nothing else, even when you butted in with your "counter argument" he acknowledged you point was right, but that wasn't what he was talking about. You're just one of those people that can't be wrong. Well this time you were "DEAD WRONG", admit it and move on. Fighting so hard to make sure you "win" the argument regardless of the fact your wrong says a lot about you, and makes you look real bad.

All those post and “Oh, no I'm not wrong, everyone else is” is all I heard.

BullyMangler4035d ago

you : Sony went above and beyond Nintendo and showed them how to realy do it and the thing is, they did something Nintendo couldn't do.

me: but nintendo STILL WINS (:

DarkHeroZX4031d ago

"But Nintendo still wins"

says no one anywhere.

BullyMangler4031d ago

DarkHeroinXP

let me know when you find Doctor Emmet Brown?

okay? ha!

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 4031d ago
whateva4035d ago

More like they showed Nintendo how to do it right.

Zodiac4035d ago

Sony has actually sold about 400 million consoles, but Nntendo has sold over 650 million, so they are indeed following, not leading.

The one who sells most is leading, and the one who sells less is following.

whateva4035d ago

I said Consoles not Consoles & handhelds, Sony is in the lead when it come to Home Console sells

skipper4035d ago (Edited 4035d ago )

Nintendo and Sony are my choices for games. I think this time around Microsoft has their work cut out for them. It is all about the games for me. I don't have time in my life for 3 consoles and PC. So for me It will once again be Nintendo and Sony. After my second Ring Of Death in one year I sold my Xbox games and picked up PS3 (I already had Wii). That is how it will remain for me...UNLESS Microsoft blows my mind somehow.
Sony and Nintendo copy/learn from each other and that is not such a bad thing.

Neonridr4035d ago

I had a Wii and 360 last generation. This time around I think I am going Wii U / PS4. That way I get my 1st party Nintendo titles, but then I don't miss out on the great Sony exclusives. The only IP that Microsoft has that I am interested in the least is the Alan Wake Series (Love those games). Other than that, Gears of War and Halo are completely stale, and I can get multiplats on the PS4 this time around.

Neonridr4035d ago

It's crazy to think of what this world would be like had the SNES CD actually happened... Makes your head spin to think of where we would be now in the video game industry..

KwietStorm_BLM4035d ago

Can't even imagine it. A large number of games wouldn't even exist, and Microsoft, if they still had stepped in, would basically be in control of the market, outside of the regular Nintendo audience. Although it's a possibility that Sega would still be around too.

rainslacker4035d ago (Edited 4035d ago )

MS was venturing into the console market before they released the Xbox. They were partnered with Sega, and helped fashion the Dreamcast to be what it was. The DC even ran Windows CE as it's operating system. It's hard to say where MS would have ended up had Sega not had to pull out of the console market.

I often look back on those days...as I was around back then and got old enough to really understand this stuff...and think to myself what if. When I think like that I always come away happy with the way things turned out, because even though this gen has been overly frustrating as a gamer, the games for the past 3 generations have been really amazing compared to gens prior to them.

Neonridr4035d ago

That doesn't change the fact that this article is true. Sony was originally contracted to make the SNES CD addon, but the deal fell through...

Show all comments (72)
80°

Nintendo's Massacre Of The 3DS And Wii U Is Finally Complete, Regrettably

Hanzala from eXputer: "The cruel hammer of Nintendo has fallen. Farewell, 3DS and Wii U, you surely brightened my life and many others; you won't be forgotten."

280°

Xbox's Preservation Step Sets A Much-Needed Example, Especially For Nintendo

Hanzla from eXputer inquires: "If Xbox can care about preserving its games and legacy, what exactly is wrong with Nintendo, trying to kill game preservation single-handedly?"

purple1015d ago

Ahh yes the good old game preservation of saving all your games to a removable hhd on the Xbox 360, taking it round your mates house, setting up multiple tvs to
Be met with “save data corrupted, please re download”

Or how about removing 360 games
From the store
, download them now or else, and, better hope to god that save data doesn’t corrupt, or it’s lost for ever

Nice one ☝️

Zeref4d ago

It's better than what Nintendo and Playstation is doing. It might not be perfect but at least they are TRYING. Unlike the others.

DarXyde4d ago

Trying? Take off the blinders for a moment, mate.

1. A failure to preserve games is just that: a failure to preserve games. Don't try to sugarcoat it: NO ONE is doing it properly. Better than awful is nothing to write home about.

2. At the time of this comment, isn't it the case that you need an internet connection to play Xbox games even if you buy physical discs that are hardly in circulation anymore? I don't have a Series X and I can't verify, but I think that is correct. I'm fairly certain you can at least play PS5 games at version 1.0 (not much of a win really when many games require day one patches). I think Microsoft's all digital, licensing approach is by far more aggressive than anyone else's. They really try to push you to game pass where you lose your entire library by umm.... Skipping a month of payments.

I don't think anyone is doing it right whatsoever. Don't get me started on Nintendo, who goes after anyone looking to preserve their games better than they ever would with extreme litigation.

Don't be a simp for any of these companies. Get it together.

PhillyDonJawn4d ago (Edited 4d ago )

@DarX never speak on Xbox again. You lost all credibility with your internet connection comment. Smh you have 0 clue and misinformed yet speaking on something you don't no squat about.

Einhander19724d ago

What has Sony done exactly? You guys keep deflecting to Sony but I am not actually seeing any results, and ai am certain nothing that you can come up with even comes close to what Microsoft has done and what they have tried and failed to do, like tie all your disks to your account on xbone.

Microsoft removed their whole indie section when they moved to the xbone because they were going to only allow games on the service that came from a publisher, id@xbox started after xbone launched and it only exists because Sony embraced indie and Microsoft was forced to cancel their plans and reverse course.

And every single game that was part of games for windows live including disk games (I have gta 4 on disk that won't work) so hundreds of games that use that DRM no longer work unless the company themselves patched it out which of course very few did.

MrBaskerville4d ago

Not trying. Tried. they killed of the backcomp program years ago. They set something up again, but sounds like it's more of an attempt to save the current library on whatever they are planning next. With luck they save everything and more, but let's see. I could see them killing off parts of the OG xbox and 360 libraries. Can't imagine that they would allow us to play Forza 5-7 in the future.

With that said, I do like what they've done and really wish they could have done more.

shinoff21834d ago

Zeref

So killing off physical media is trying what exactly. Ms don't really give a fk if you think they do your kidding yourself.

Profchaos4d ago

They are not trying this team is established for forward compatability the team is. It interested in preserving Xbox or 360 games.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 4d ago
isarai5d ago

Is that why Hellblade 2 is digital only?

Zeref4d ago

Just because it's digital only doesn't mean you can't preserve it. Just put it on an external and you have the exact same functionality of what a disc does.

MrNinosan4d ago

Guess you're trolling, but if you actually think that's how it works, I'd recommend buying some braincells.

mkis0074d ago (Edited 4d ago )

Volitile vs nonvolitile data. A disc will not corrupt either. A drive can be corrupted.

Einhander19725d ago

This is just a scammy PR move to distract from the fact they are going digital only and trying to push streaming and subscriptions only.

No gaming company has pushed harder to remove ownership than Microsoft.

Without discs there is no preservation, preservation can't be done by the rights holders it can only be done by the consumers, anything else is a lie.

5d ago Replies(3)
Einhander19725d ago

Anyone remember xblig which Microsoft removed their whole 360 indie section removing hundreds of games from people?

5d ago
5d ago
Zeref4d ago

Do you know you can put your games on an external and preserve them that way? There are no benefits to discs. ZERO. Idk why some of you are still obsessed with them.

DarXyde4d ago

Because games like Persona 5 exist. It's STILL V1.00. On Playstation, that's a win because 1.00 is installed on the disc—no need to download anything.

If a game does not require any updates, it's all on the disc.

Extremely low bar in the modern era, of course. It's not much of a win by any stretch.

But for now, physical media does have a purpose, at least on Playstation.

Einhander19724d ago

That is factually not how game licensing works, try plugging your hard drive into someone else xbox, It's not going to work, and it won't work if the licensing servers ever go down.

Einhander19724d ago

Anyone remember games for windows live.

I have around a dozen games, some on Steam itself that will not work because Microsoft shut off the licensing servers.

BehindTheRows4d ago (Edited 4d ago )

I do. I STILL have games (Gears of War being the big one) I cannot access because Games for Windows LIVE is total garbage and no one has held Microsoft accountable.

Zeref4d ago (Edited 4d ago )

You don't have an Xbox apparently. Because you can 100 percent plug in your external and play games from it on any Xbox console lol. You just have to be logged in to prove ownership.

Chevalier4d ago

"You don't have an Xbox apparently. Because you can 100 percent plug in your external and play games from it on any Xbox console lol. You just have to be logged in to prove ownership."

Damn how many times do people got to explain your idiocy to you? You can take a copy of Persona 5 like someone used as an example and play that game on ANY console WITHOUT logging in which means I can lend the game to a friend without internet and they can play my game. Can you lend your hard drive to anyone without logging in for them to play? NOPE. That is a huge difference and if you think otherwise then sorry you're an idiot.

Tacoboto4d ago

"No gaming company has pushed harder to remove ownership than Microsoft."

Ubisoft is literally erasing games people bought from their libraries... My PS1-3 discs are useless on modern hardware. Nintendo's re-published and resold almost their entire Wii U library, and the eShop is completely dead with no BC mechanism in the Switch software. Microsoft publishes everything they make today day one on Steam and Xbox/Windows. Sony only brings to PC the titles they think you might want some years later and Nintendo won't even design a functional long-lasting joystick.

You're absolutely trolling and not serious if you think Microsoft today is the worst offender.

shinoff21834d ago

Yay steam

Not everyone fks with computers though. The disc is still the best way as a console player. Period.

Tacoboto4d ago

How do Sony and Nintendo feel about these discs from 2001-2013?

Don't be stupid, you know Xbox is the best at this today.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 4d ago
Hofstaderman4d ago

Nobody wants this. Sales or the lack of it in the case of XBOX is very telling. I wonder how the adorably all digital series X will fare. Adorably dismal perhaps?

crazyCoconuts4d ago

Only time will tell, but for from someone like me suspecting that Xbox is trying to gracefully exit the console market, that "forward compatibility" team is trying to get Xbox games playing on Windows PCs. I mean, it's nice that they're not planning on exiting with a "enjoy your games while the hardware still works" message, so that's nice. They still have a brand to protect via Microsoft so probably feel obligated to have a better exit strategy.

Xeofate4d ago (Edited 4d ago )

That is not their plan, their plan is to transfer users accounts to the cloud.

Phil Spencer himself said as much a few months back, plans could have changed but I think people are reading way too much into one statement where Phil said he would allow Epic on xbox because he wants to be able to sell xbox games directly on other platforms. Aka, instead of selling Sea of Thives through PSN he wants to have an xbox store to sell his games on PlayStation without giving PlayStation any money.

Again, it's extremely unlikely that Phil plans to put PC on xbox and licensing would prevent them from just giving out other publishers games purchased on xbox copies of thier games on PC, Microsoft does not own their games.

crazyCoconuts3d ago

The thing that doesn't align with the cloud strategy is the giving up on exclusives. You'd still need strong exclusives for cloud streaming - it's still a "platform" , just with a lower upfront hardware investment. I feel like they've learned what PS learned with PSNow long ago. We're not ready to stream games and it's only gonna lose them money to try at this point

FinalFantasyFanatic4d ago

I would love that, I'd buy up some of the Xbox games if they could run on PC, like the Rare Replay, Lost Odyssey and Dead or Alive Ultimate, probably a pipe dream though.

Show all comments (43)
90°

Nintendo's War Against Player-Made Content Will Hurt The Company In The End

Danish from eXputer: "Nintendo has historically gone against player-made content and emulation of its games. This has done much to harm the company's image."

XiNatsuDragnel11d ago

I agree nintendo hire some these folks to help in your games it'll help imo.

banger8811d ago

They need to stop announcing these mods and fan remakes until they're finished. Finish it, upload it, and then if Nintendo dmca's it tough shit. Once it's online, people can share it around, even if the original download gets taken down.

Jingsing10d ago

True, but most modders need constant admiration during the process to motivate them.

PRIMORDUS10d ago

Yup, once it's a torrent nothing can be done Nintendo is helpless at that point. But it would be wise if they just had a site on the dark web, it's also easy to use with Tor and no one will bother you.

mastershredder10d ago

This is all coming from the mouth of short-sighted fandom and grifting madness.
No.... it wont. There is a clear defined reason why they don't. This is nothing new. Make your own shi7 from your own original ideas especially if you are trying to capitalize of it it. Duh.

Yeah, hire people that have zero respect or understanding for an established process. Wow. Yep. Totally makes sense.

shinoff218310d ago

Those guys that made that sonic game got a gig from sega or something along those lines and that game was dope as hell. One of the best sonics as of late.