comparing and contrasting documentation

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 1996—Nintendo 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 64—tried, 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].