For the unaware, before Sony launched PlayStation to take on Nintendo and eventually drive Sega out of the console business, they were working with Nintendo on a console to take on Sega. Jon Fingas writing for Engadget:
While it’s evident that Sony had the largest role in the machine, this was very much a collaboration — you’ll find a mix of both Nintendo and Sony chips in this prototype, on top of the occasional third-party component.
In hindsight, it’s not that hard to imagine why the machine never went forward. Just looking at PlayStation and N64, you’ll find two very different consoles and since then, the approach of the two companies towards gaming has only widened.
Ben also suspects that this PlayStation wouldn’t have fared well even if Nintendo and Sony had put their differences aside. Although it would have had a much faster CD drive than the Sega CD (a whopping 2X!), it otherwise wouldn’t have been any more powerful than the cartridge-only Super Nintendo. That would have put it on par with Sega’s rival unit, or even slightly behind.
I for one hope that Ben is able to repair the machine and get it to, if anything, just boot up. It would be absolutely fascinating to see what comes on screen when the Nintendo PlayStation boots up.
Discuss:
Do you think a partnership between Nintendo and PlayStation could have lasted?
You must be logged in to post a comment.