Net Ten: Ten Biggest Gaming Breakups (page2) Subscribe to this RSS feed

#5 Square and Nintendo

While Nintendo faced considerable competition during the 8 and 16-bit eras, the presence of Square in its corner ensured that the console would be unbeatable in the RPG realm. At the dawn of the 32/64-bit era, Nintendo's insistence to use a cartridge-based format for the N64 was too much for Square to take, and the company began its life as a multi-platform company. The PlayStation took off on the wings of Final Fantasy VII, while the N64 was one of the most RPG-barren consoles of all time.

#5 Square and Nintendo

#4 Sega and the Dreamcast

There are some breakups that hurt the friends more than the couple. After Sega's struggle with the 32X and Saturn, it was refreshing to see the company make a great comeback with the Dreamcast. In a case of "too little, too late", the Dreamcast couldn't fix what ailed Sega, and the console was prematurely shelved while the company decided to become a multiplatform publisher. Ultimately, it was what was best for Sega, but not for its fans.

#4 Sega and the Dreamcast

#3 Sony and Rumble technology

Sony and force-feedback technology seemed to be synonymous for two console generations. How could you ever forget the scene in Metal Gear Solid when Psycho Mantis moved you Dual Shock across the floor? While Microsoft and Nintendo featured the technology in controllers too, Sony did it best, which is why the industry was collectively surprised to hear that the Sixaxis would be jettisoning the rumble feature in favor of motion-sensitivity. Of course, there's the ever-present lawsuit from Immersion, claiming Sony infringed on rumble technology patents filed by the tech developer.

#3 Sony and Rumble technology

#2 John Romero and John Carmack

Romero and Carmack were gaming's original odd couple; Romero was the outspoken voice of id Software while Carmack made magic from the development end, creating the backbone of the company's classic Doom and Quake franchises. As is the case with most "opposites attact" couple, the differences between the two were two great to continue working together. Romero went onto create the infamous Daikatana, while id Software hasn't quite matched its early work with Carmack at the helm.

#2 John Romero and John Carmack

#1 Nintendo and Sony

The mother of all gaming splits may very well be the reason we live in a multi-console society today. Sony was all set to become Nintendo's ally in the gaming space, producing an add-on for the SNES, when Nintendo balked at the agreement, instead deciding to work with Philips. Sony went on to create the dominant game platform for the next two generations, while Nintendo had its franchises sullied on the CD-I. Talk about taking a breakup differently.

#1 Nintendo and Sony