comparing and contrasting documentation
Given the material covered in Module 3 (Hardware) and Module 4 (Software), your personal experience, and our good friendreliablesources, provide a well-formatted MS Word document (with citations) that provides a framework for comparingtwo different computing solutions for both hardware and software issues. [Hint: Such a document would most likely include an introduction paragraph, a table comparing individual characteristics, and a conclusion paragraph.]
For example, you might want to compare an iPhone X with an iPhone 7, or an iPhone X with a Galaxy 7, or a PS4 with an XBox, or an Apple Air with a Razer Blade Stealth.
Considerationsmightinclude:
# of (or importance of) exclusivesoftware products available for that system
backwards compatibility for “old” materials from previous systems
cost of the system
compatibility of the system with supporting services (such as the cell phone network, gaming community,or preferred app store)
availability of support for the system
disk space
type ofexternal media supported
Graphics Card capabilities
Processor speed
Peripherals support
…Or any other considerations youconsider important. A minimum of 2 hardware and 2 software factors must be included.
C O N S O L E W A R S : 9 0 S E D I T I O N
During the 1990s, PCs were prohibitively expensive for gaming with a limited selection of
game titles, so consoles were the product of choice for gamers of all age-groups and income
brackets. [1] How would a parent select which console to get their child for the holidays in
December 1996Nintendo 64 or Sega Saturn, with their well-known brands, or the lesser known
Sony? A few key criteria helped guide decision making, and ultimately lead to the final call.
TABLE 1. Comparison Chart of Fifth Generation Consoles [2]
Sony PlayStation Nintendo 64 Sega Saturn
Memory 2 MB RAM
1 MB VRAM
8 MB RDRAM 16 Mbit RAM
12 Mbit VRAM
CPU 33.8688 MHz 93.75 MHz 2 x 28.6 MHz
Game Library 7,918 Games 388 Games 1,019 Games
Console Price $299 $199 $399
Cost-conscious parents should of course select the Nintendo 64tried, proven technology,
beloved by all, with more games, cheaper price, and clear and evident hardware superiority to the
newcomer Sony.
WORKS CITED
[1] T. Payton, “Game Consoles Vs. personal Computers: Design, Purpose, AND Marketability
Differences,” October 2012. [Online]. Available:
https://www.cs.uaf.edu/2012/fall/cs441/students/tp_consoles.pdf. [Accessed 1 August 2018].
[2] Wikipedia, “Fifth generation of video game consoles,” 10 July 2018. [Online]. Available:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifth_generation_of_video_game_consoles#Comparison[21].
[Accessed 1 August 2018]. C O N S O L E W A R S : 9 0 S E D I T I O N
The big decision in console gaming in the mid 1990s was between the Sega Saturn, the
PlayStation, and the Nintendo 64.
TABLE 1. Comparison Chart of Fifth Generation Consoles [1]
Name Sega Saturn PlayStation Nintendo 64
Developer Sega Sony Nintendo
Console
Launch
price
(USD)
US$399.99 (equivalent
to $642 in 2017)
US$299.99 (equivalent to
$482 in 2017)[22]
US$199.99 (equivalent to
$312 in 2017)
Release
date
JP: November 22, 1994
NA: May 11, 1995
EU: July 8, 1995
JP: December 3, 1994
NA: September 9, 1995
EU: September 29, 1995
AU: November 15, 1995
JP: June 23, 1996
NA: September 29, 1996
EU: March 1, 1997
AU: March 1, 1997
Media
CD-ROM
Cartridge (limited,
Japan only)
CD-ROM
Cartridge
Proprietary magnetic
disk (via 64DD)
Best-
selling
game
Virtua Fighter 2,
1.7 million in Japan[26]
Gran Turismo, 10.85 million
shipped (as of April 30,
2008)[27][28]
Super Mario 64,
11.62 million (as of May 21,
2003)[29][30]
CPU
2 Hitachi SH-
2 7604 (32-bit RISC)
@ 28.63 MHz(56 MI
LSI
LR333x0 (R3000A com
patible 32-bit RISC) @
NEC VR4300 (64-bit RISC) @
93.75 MHz (125 MIPS)[36]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sega_Saturn
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_(console)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_64
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sega
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sony
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_dollar
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifth_generation_of_video_game_consoles#cite_note-23
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_America
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europe
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_America
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europe
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australasia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_America
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europe
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australasia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_storage_device
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetic_storage
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetic_storage
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/64DD
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_video_games
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_video_games
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_video_games
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtua_Fighter_2
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifth_generation_of_video_game_consoles#cite_note-27
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gran_Turismo_(video_game)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifth_generation_of_video_game_consoles#cite_note-28
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifth_generation_of_video_game_consoles#cite_note-28
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Mario_64
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifth_generation_of_video_game_consoles#cite_note-30
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifth_generation_of_video_game_consoles#cite_note-30
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_processing_unit
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multi-core_processor
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hitachi
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SuperH
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SuperH
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/32-bit
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reduced_instruction_set_computing
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clock_rate
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Million_instructions_per_second
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_technical_specifications
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_technical_specifications
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R3000
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_64_technical_specifications
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/64-bit
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifth_generation_of_video_game_consoles#cite_note-37
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sega-Saturn-Console-Set-Mk1.jpg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sega-Saturn-JP-Mk2-Console-Set.png
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:PSX-Console-wController.jpg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:PSone-Console-Set-NoLCD.jpg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:N64-Console-Set.jpg
PS[32])
Hitachi SH-1 (32-bit
RISC) @
20 MHz (12.5
MIPS)[33]
Motorola
68EC000 (16/32-bit
CISC) @
11.3 MHz[34](1.9775
MIPS[31])
SCU (32-bit Saturn
Control Unit)[35]
33.8688 MHz
(30 MIPS)
System Control
Coprocessor (Inside
CPU)
GPU
Sega VDP1 (32-bit
Video Display
Processor) @
28.63 MHz (sprites,
textures,
polygons)[37]
Sega VDP2 (32-bit
Video Display
Processor) @
28.63 MHz
(backgrounds, scrolli
ng)[38]
SCU DSP
(Inside SCU (32-bit
Saturn Control
Unit)[35]
Sony GPU[39]
Vector math unit (in
main CPU) @ 66 MIPS
Reality Co-
Processor (64-bit MIPS
R4000 based, 128-bit vector
register processor) @
62.5 MHz
Sound
chip(s)
Yamaha YMF292
SCSP[40]
Yamaha FH1 DSP
(Inside Yamaha
YMF292
SCSP[40]24-bit, 128-
step,[35] 4 parallel ins
tructions)
Sony SPU (Sound
Processing Unit)
Reality Signal
Processor (DSP)
Memory
4.5 MB RAM
2 MB SDRAM
1.5 MB VRAM
(512 KB sprite/textur
e cache,
512 KB frame
buffers, 512 KB
backgrounds)
1 MB DRAM (512 K
B sound, 512 KB
CD-ROM sub-
system buffer data
cache)
3587 KB RAM
2 MB DRAM
1026 KB VRAM (1 MB
frame buffer, 2 KB
texture cache,
64 bytes FIFO buffer)
512 KB sound RAM
1 KB non-
associative SRAM data
cache
4 MB RDRAM (8 MB
with Expansion Pak)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Million_instructions_per_second
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Million_instructions_per_second
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SuperH
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megahertz
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifth_generation_of_video_game_consoles#cite_note-34
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorola_68000
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorola_68000
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifth_generation_of_video_game_consoles#cite_note-Saturn_Overview_Manual-35
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifth_generation_of_video_game_consoles#cite_note-retro-32
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sega_ST-V
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifth_generation_of_video_game_consoles#cite_note-consoledatabase-36
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphics_processing_unit
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sega_ST-V
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifth_generation_of_video_game_consoles#cite_note-VDP1-38
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sega_ST-V
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrolling
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrolling
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifth_generation_of_video_game_consoles#cite_note-VDP2-39
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sega_ST-V
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifth_generation_of_video_game_consoles#cite_note-consoledatabase-36
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_technical_specifications
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_technical_specifications
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vector_processor
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RCP_(chip)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RCP_(chip)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R4000
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R4000
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/128-bit
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vector_processor
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vector_processor
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sound_chip
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sound_chip
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamaha_YMF292
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamaha_YMF292
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifth_generation_of_video_game_consoles#cite_note-SCSP-41
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamaha_YMF292
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamaha_YMF292
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamaha_YMF292
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamaha_YMF292
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamaha_YMF292
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/24-bit
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifth_generation_of_video_game_consoles#cite_note-consoledatabase-36
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instruction-level_parallelism
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instruction_set
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instruction_set
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_technical_specifications
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_64_technical_specifications
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_64_technical_specifications
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_memory
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mebibyte
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synchronous_dynamic_random-access_memory
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texture_memory
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texture_memory
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Framebuffer
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Framebuffer
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynamic_random-access_memory
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_buffer
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cache_(computing)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cache_(computing)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byte
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIFO_(computing_and_electronics)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Static_random-access_memory
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CPU_cache
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CPU_cache
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RDRAM
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expansion_Pak
Video
Resolution:
320224 to
720240
(progressive),
320448
to 720576 (interlac
ed)[45]
Colors: 172,800
(720240) on
screen, out of
16,777,216 (24-bit)
palette
Polygons:
90,000/sec
(textured, lighting, G
ouraud
shading)[46] to
500,000/sec (flat
shading)[47]
Sprites/textures:
16,384/frame (32
bytes each, 512 KB
memory), scaling,
rotation,
distortion, texture
mapping[37]
Backgrounds:
7[45] (3-
6 tilemap planes, 1-
4 bitmap
planes), parallax
scrolling, scaling,
rotation[38]
Resolution: 256224 to
640240 (progressive),
256448
to 640480 (interlaced)
Colors: 153,600
(640240) on screen,
out of 16,777,216
(24-bit) palette
Polygons: 90,000/sec
(textured, lighting,
Gouraud shading)[46] to
360,000/sec[48] (flat
shading)
Sprites/textures:
4,000/frame[49] (bitmap
objects[39]), scaling,
rotation, texture
mapping
Background: 1 bitmap
plane
Resolution: 320240 to
720288 (progressive),
320480 to 720576
(interlaced)
Colors: 207,360
(720288) on screen, out
of 16,777,216 (24-bit)
palette
Polygons: 150,000/sec
(textured, lighting,
Gouraud shading) to
600,000/sec (flat
shading), anti-aliasing, Z-
buffering
Sprites/textures: Scaling,
rotation, texture
mapping, mipmapping, te
xture filtering, bilinear
filtering, trilinear filtering[50]
Background: 1 bitmap
plane
Audio
Stereo audio, with:[40]
32 sound channels
on SCSP
FM synthesis on all
32 SCSP channels
16-bit PCM audio
with 44.1 kHz
sampling rate on all
32 SCSP channels
1 streaming CD-DA
channel (16-bit
PCM, 44.1 kHz)
Stereo audio, with:
24 ADPCM channels
on SPU
16-bit audio and
44.1 kHz sampling rate
on all 24 ADPCM
channels
1 streaming CD-DA
channel (16-bit PCM,
44.1 kHz)
Stereo audio, with:
Variable number of
channels (up to 100 if all
system resources are
devoted to audio)
Capable of playing back
different types of audio
(including
PCM, MP3, MIDI and trac
ker music)
16-bit audio and 44.1 kHz
sampling rate on all
channels
Accessori
es (retail)
Arcade Stick
Saturn digital
gamepad
PlayStation Multitap (up
to 8 players)
Fishing reel controllers
(Bass
Controller Pak
Memory Expansion Pak
Rumble Pak
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_game_graphics
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/576i
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifth_generation_of_video_game_consoles#cite_note-system16-46
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_graphics_lighting
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gouraud_shading
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gouraud_shading
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gouraud_shading
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifth_generation_of_video_game_consoles#cite_note-gamepilgrimage-47
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flat_shading
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flat_shading
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifth_generation_of_video_game_consoles#cite_note-48
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2.5D#Scaling_along_the_Z_axis
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texture_mapping
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texture_mapping
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifth_generation_of_video_game_consoles#cite_note-VDP1-38
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifth_generation_of_video_game_consoles#cite_note-system16-46
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tile_engine
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parallax_scrolling
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parallax_scrolling
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifth_generation_of_video_game_consoles#cite_note-VDP2-39
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/480i
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_depth
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifth_generation_of_video_game_consoles#cite_note-gamepilgrimage-47
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifth_generation_of_video_game_consoles#cite_note-49
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifth_generation_of_video_game_consoles#cite_note-50
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bitmap
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifth_generation_of_video_game_consoles#cite_note-psxgpu-40
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_depth
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spatial_anti-aliasing
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Z-buffering
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Z-buffering
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mipmap
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texture_filtering
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texture_filtering
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bilinear_filtering
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bilinear_filtering
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trilinear_filtering
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trilinear_filtering
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_game_music
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifth_generation_of_video_game_consoles#cite_note-SCSP-41
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adaptive_differential_pulse-code_modulation
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP3
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MIDI
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_tracker
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_tracker
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamepad#Saturn
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamepad#Saturn
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_Multitap
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_64_accessories#First_party_accessories
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_64_accessories#First_party_accessories
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rumble_Pak
3D controller
Light guns
Multitap (up to 12
players)
Keyboard
Sega
NetLink (online mod
em and keyboard)
Mouse
1.44 MB 3.5″ floppy
disk drive
DirectLink (LAN)
Memory card
MPEG cards
RAM expansion
cartridges
Landing and Reel
Fishing)
Dual Analog Controller
DualShock
GunCon
Jogcon
Konami Justifier
NeGcon
PocketStation (Japan o
nly)
PlayStation Mouse
Analog Joystick
Dance pad
LCD screen (for PSone
systems only)
Memory card
Link Cable
Fishing Reel
Transfer Pak
Nintendo
64DD (Japan only)
Microphone
TiltPak
Online
services
NetLink 28.8k
modem in North
America (1996-
present)
SegaNet and 14.4k
Modem in Japan
(1996-2000)
None
Unofficial SharkWire
Online 14.4k modem in
the U.S. (1999-2003)
Randnet in Japan
(for 64DD only) (1999-
2001)
These are all fantastic consoles. You would be happy with any of them.
WORKS CITED
[1] Wikipedia, “Fifth generation of video game consoles,” 10 July 2018. [Online]. Available:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifth_generation_of_video_game_consoles#Comparison[21].
[Accessed 1 August 2018].
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analog_stick
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_gun
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multitap
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_keyboard
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sega_NetLink
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sega_NetLink
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Online_game
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modem
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modem
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floppy_disk
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floppy_disk
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sega_Saturn#DirectLink
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Local_area_network
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memory_card
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moving_Picture_Experts_Group
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Random-access_memory
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dual_Analog_Controller
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DualShock
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GunCon
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jogcon
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Konami_Justifier
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NeGcon
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PocketStation
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_Mouse
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_Analog_Joystick
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dance_pad
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liquid-crystal_display
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_64_accessories#First_party_accessories
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_64DD
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_64DD
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NetLink
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SegaNet
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SharkWire_Online
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SharkWire_Online
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randnet
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/64DD C O N S O L E W A R S : 9 0 S E D I T I O N
On September 9, 1995, gaming in the United States was forever altered by the introduction
of the Sony PlayStation to the market, which had previously been dominated by Nintendo and Sega
products. [1] Released between the other two primary fifth generation consolesthe Sega Saturn
having been previously released in May of that year [2] and the Nintendo 64 being released a full
year later [3]it ultimately replaced Sega as the primary Nintendo competitor in the US (the
subsequent Sega Dreamcast only being available for three years before the company stopped
manufacturing consoles). [4]
During the 1990s, PCs were prohibitively expensive for gaming with a limited selection of
game titles, so consoles were the product of choice for gamers of all age-groups and income
brackets. [5]How would a parent select which console to get their child for the holidays in
December 1996Nintendo 64 or Sega Saturn, with their well-known brands, or the lesser known
Sony? A few key criteria helped guide decision making, and ultimately lead to the final call.
TABLE 1. Comparison Chart of Fifth Generation Consoles [6]
Sony PlayStation Nintendo 64 Sega Saturn
Peripherals
Media CD-ROM Game Pak CD-ROM
Storage Memory Cards Controller Pak Internal
Controller DualShock Vibration Three-legged design Traditional form factor
Network
Connectivity
PlayStation Link SharkWire (3rd party) Sega NetLink
Hardware
Memory 2 MB RAM
1 MB VRAM
8 MB RDRAM 16 Mbit RAM
12 Mbit VRAM
CPU 33.8688 MHz 93.75 MHz 2 x 28.6 MHz
Sound 16-bit 16-bit 32-bit
Software
Major Exclusive
Franchise
Final Fantasy Mario Dragon Force
Game Library 7,918 Games 388 Games 1,019 Games
Other Considerations
Console Price $299 $199 $399
Cost-conscious parents would of course select the Nintendo 64tried, proven technology,
beloved by all, with well-known software franchises and clear and evident hardware superiority to
the newcomer Sony in both Memory and CPU specifications. Many consumers, however, would be
leery of the new Nintendo controllers design, and its proprietary storage and media system. The
Saturn had been out for longer, and the CD-ROM was emerging as a dominant media form; the
convenience of being able to play CDs on the system, with sound capabilities exceeding those of
both the Sony and the Nintendo product, made the difference. Sega also had an established history
of producing high-quality games, most of them for the arcade, and was a major household brand.
History, of course, shows that the PlayStation, with its innovative (yet familiar) controller
design, network linking, and inferior hardware performance won the console war [6], leaving many
parents dutifully making their decision on the above chart wonder how, and why. The conclusion
cannot be summarized by metrics, or methods, but rather by marketing experts and the court of
public opinion. Personally, I would have upgraded from a Nintendo Entertainment System, to the
SNES, to the PlayStation, for the simple reason that I enjoyed the Final Fantasy franchise, and Final
Fantasy VII had been announced for release on the PlayStation in January of 1997. [7] However, had
I been advising a parent, I would have strongly recommended the Sega Saturn, with its superior
sound, intuitive controller, and well-respected library of constantly developed games.
WORKS CITED
[1] Wikipedia, “PlayStation (console),” 01 August 2018. [Online]. Available:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sega_Saturn. [Accessed 01 August 2018].
[2] Wikipedia, “Sega Saturn,” 30 July 2018. [Online]. Available:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sega_Saturn. [Accessed 01 August 2018].
[3] Wikipedia, “Nintendo 64,” 27 July 2018. [Online]. Available:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_64. [Accessed 01 August 2018].
[4] K. Stuart, “Sega Saturn: how one decision destroyed PlayStation’s greatest rival,” 14 May 2015.
[Online]. Available: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/may/14/sega-saturn-
how-one-decision-destroyed-playstations-greatest-rival. [Accessed 01 August 2018].
[5] T. Payton, “Game Consoles Vs. personal Computers: Design, Purpose, AND Marketability
Differences,” October 2012. [Online]. Available:
https://www.cs.uaf.edu/2012/fall/cs441/students/tp_consoles.pdf. [Accessed 1 August 2018].
[6] Wikipedia, “Fifth generation of video game consoles,” 10 July 2018. [Online]. Available:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifth_generation_of_video_game_consoles#Comparison[21].
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