MGC Reviews: Console Wars
Ever wonder what happened in the late 80’s and early 90’s that caused the first “Console War” to erupt leading to an all out fan boy brawl where the biggest question any gamer was asking was were you for Sega or Nintendo? Well, have I got a story for you. Blake J. Harris tells us the inside story of what led to the first full fledged console war while also giving us a comprehensive history lesson on video gaming in the early 80’s through to the downfall of Sega as a console manufacturer. This amazing tale mostly focuses on Sega of America’s President, Tom Kalinske, and tells the behind-the-scenes story of how Sega overcame a lackluster console that was the Sega Master System to release the Sega Genesis and become the best selling console (if only for a number of months) over its biggest competition: Nintendo.
If you’re at all interested in Video Game History, this book is honestly a must read. There are so many fascinating stories about the industry in here that is all told by mostly first hand accounts of the people who experienced it. You’ll get an inside look into the gaming business of the early 90’s and how one blue hedgehog became a sensation around the world. But more than that, this book is about perseverance in the face of adversity. Whether competing with a rival or having to compete within your own establishment, this book walks through all of it which can be surreal at times when you think about how an industry of entertainment is run. It’s utterly fascinating discovering what could have been when Nintendo’s deal with Sony for the Nintendo PlayStation fell through and Sega could have made a move to partner with them instead, but politics within Sega wouldn’t allow it. Harris highlights a period in gaming that is mostly remembered fondly and really allows us as the reader to see through the looking glass into how these companies survive, thrive and sometimes fall.
I personally listened to this book mostly on a family road trip to Washington, D.C. which I would NOT recommend if your family consists of a four year old, a nine month old and your spouse unless they have other things to occupy themselves with as it is a lot of information (about 17 hours worth) about video game history and the inside workings of the industry. I do love this book and have a paperback copy sitting on my bookshelf at home. I would recommend getting a copy of the physical book because it contains a good amount of photos of the people from the book during this time that really add to the story. It’s a great read and worth it for every gaming enthusiast.
Rating: 9 out of 10
-Andrew
