Of Bits and Bytes: A Gaming TL

Prologue

Deleted member 100251

This is a reboot to my original thread: https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/64-and-beyond-a-tl-about-gaming.408736/ (64 and Beyond)
If you want to read it, you can check it out via link.
Let's get this restart underway. (again)
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Prologue - 1995

The future didn't look bright for the 3DO. Or for its hardware and software.

Companies, like AT&T and Samsung, announced they would make their own 3DO models, they never did. Despite its capabilities, and numerous PC and arcade ports, like Myst, the only other major third-party company who supported it was EA


Crystal Dynamics' Gex, a multi-platform title, ended up being its best-seller with a million units sold overall. Multiple horrible FMV titles also plagued the system, leading many away.


Then things took a turn for the worst.







“Panasonic aims for deal with Nintendo” - The New York Times, July 1995
 

Deleted member 100251

Thanks, and yup! Things will start to shake up soon.
 
Part 1

Deleted member 100251

Part 1 - Release of the Nintendo Ultra

On August 15, 1996, Nintendo’s fifth generation console, the Nintendo Ultra, was finally released to Japanese audiences.

The system is known for its power, having a 64-bit NEC VR4300, running at 93.75 MHz at its heart. It also uses a CD drive, a hefty 8MB of RAM, and four controller ports. It costed 37,500 yen, due to its CPU, CD drive, and RAM. Which were managed thanks to the $100 million invested into it by Panasonic. Design-wise it looks more similar to the SEGA Saturn than its prototype precursor, the Ultra 64.

The Ultra launched in Japan with three titles, these being:

  • Ultra Mario World - The first 3D Mario title, notable for its emphasis on exploring its 25 worlds, using a dynamic camera system, and implementing a 360-degree analog control. The plot follows the classic tale of Boswer capturing Princess Peach, and Mario having to save her. The game also features a minigame (which is hidden in the hub world of Peach’s Castle), involving two players playing as Mario and Luigi as they traverse a 2.5D-style world to get 2 extra stars.
  • Pilotwings Ultra - A collaboration between Nintendo and Paradigm Simulation, and the second title in the Pilotwings series. It is a relatively simple 3D flight simulator having you do certain tasks while flying over famous U.S. locations such as the Statue of Liberty, Mount Rushmore, and the Golden Gate Bridge, and over famous U.S. cities like New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington D.C.
  • Saikyō Habu Shōgi
On the first three days of being on the market, it sold 375,000 out of the 500,000 units prepared.
 
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Part 2

Deleted member 100251

Part 2 - Ending off the Year

After the release of the Nintendo Ultra in Japan, the system finished quarter 3 with the release of two games:
  • Tobal No. 1 - A fighting game by DreamFactory, it was released by Square and included a demo of Final Fantasy VII. The game showed promise and many believed it could become the Ultra’s Tekken or Virtua Fighter. Even Square was interested in it and DreamFactory.
  • Wave Race Ultra

On November 25, 1996, over three months after its original release, the Ultra was brought to North America.
While many critics were concerned for the system for its low number of launch titles in Japan. When it was released in North America the number of launch titles was fairly healthy. Rather than 3 titles, it launched with 7, these include of:
  • Ultra Mario World
  • Pilotwings Ultra
  • Wave Race Ultra
  • Killer Instinct Gold - The first Rare game for the Ultra, and a port of Killer Instinct 2. The game is notably upgrade in terms of gameplay when compared to KI2 and thanks to the CD-ROM, the endings of each character change like they do on the arcade version.
  • Mortal Kombat Trilogy
  • Wayne Gretzky’s 3D Hockey
  • Tobal No. 1
Like in Japan, the system was pricy. In North America, it costed around $300. Though it was considered expensive by many, by others it was considered worth it. After a while, it received price drops like its fellow consoles. After its first month in North America it had sold 240,000 units.



During the rest of quarter 4, Konami continued to support the PlayStation, releasing titles like:
  • Jikkyou J-League Perfect Striker
  • Mahjong Master
  • Vandal Hearts


The Ultra fought back receiving titles like:
  • Cruis’n USA
  • Mario Kart R - The second title in the Mario Kart series and the first 3D title. It had a selection of 10 playable characters in total, including Kamek and Daisy. It had 6 cups, and 24 courses all together. The Cape Feather, an item from the original Mario Kart returns in this game. It is one of the smaller games released for the Ultra.
  • Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire
  • Street Fighter Alpha 1+2 - A combo set of both the first and second Street Fighter Alpha titles by Capcom. While on the PSX they were released separately, on the Ultra they came together as a combo set.
  • Mega Man 8 - A multi-platform Mega Man title, it was released for the Ultra on the same day as the PSX version.
By the end of the year, the Ultra had sold 2.5 million units total. 2.25 million in Japan, and 0.25 million in North America.
 
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Nice idea the combo pack for alpha, allow to enjoy either game and a nice bonus for N64 owners.

So the TL is now update, good luck with this one.
 
A combo pack for the first two Alphas? Sweet.

I can see Tobal being one of the marquee 3D fighting games ITTL especially with it being Nintendo console exclusive, with Tobal 2 getting a wide release unlike OTL where it was Japan-exclusive.
 
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Part 3

Deleted member 100251

Part 3 - A Fresh Start

Quarter 1 of 1997 bore fruit for the Nintendo Ultra. It received titles like:
  • NBA Hangtime
  • Doom 3
  • Blast Corps
  • Turok: Dinosaur Hunter
  • FIFA Soccer Ultra
In March, the Nintendo Ultra was also released in Europe for 225 euros. Launch titles include:
  • Ultra Mario World
  • Pilotwings Ultra
  • Wayne Gretzky’s 3D Hockey
  • Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire
  • FIFA Soccer Ultra
  • Turok: Dinosaur Hunter


February 1997 was when STI and POV finally released Sonic X-Treme to Saturn and PC audiences.
While it was the first 3D Sonic, it failed to match the popularity and ratings of past Sonic games. It was generally disliked by SEGA fans and critics, scoring 5.5/10 on IGN.
The plot follows Sonic saving the jungle planet Jadegully from Dr. Robotnik’s rebuilt Death Egg (dubbed by fans as the “Death Egg II”). The Death Egg II has enough gravity to rip planets from their orbits, causing armageddon to victim planets. In order to save the planet, Sonic must free the Mips, the planet’s residence, from captivity, while allying himself with Tiara Bobowski.
It failed to match the sales of Crash Bandicoot or Ultra Mario World and is best known for being the “Saturn’s last stand” by gamers alike. At the end of the Saturn’s lifetime, it sold 250,000 copies.
The failure of the new Sonic game caused companies to lose hope in the Saturn, the console war was now between Nintendo and Sony, SEGA was just left behind in their dust.



While Nintendo was still going strong, the PlayStation had found more support, receiving the titles of:
  • Independence Day
  • Castlevania: Symphony of the Night

Square was left in turmoil on who to support, Nintendo or Sony? They acquired Tobal No. 1’s production company, DreamFactory, in February, and it was clear that Tobal would remain Ultra-exclusive. But what about Final Fantasy?

What Square needed was time to decided. So, they decided to delay FFVII to give them time on who to support.

While Final Fantasy and Tobal received full support from Square, there was a game that didn’t. Tetsuya Takahasi’s production company #3, “Monolith”, had been working on a title set for 1998. His company only received half the funds Final Fantasy and Tobal did. Less than needed.

While, Square didn’t seem to care. Another did…
 
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Poor Sega but the Fact now N64 have the Hype both sides of pacific must have make them rush the game and pay for it, well those things happen, at least in japan they've Virtua Figther and Sakura Taisen to save them but yeah sega was so awful during fifth generation.

So Square planning to future, well let's wait and see, there final fantasy tactics.

Umm that last line, OTL Takahashi did have issue, hope he get better luck here.

Will nintend start making demo disc? maybe later as much early games were so close to launch that demos didn't care that much...but other games(rare, nintendo,square,etc) might benefit..
 

Deleted member 100251

Poor poor SEGA. Lets see how E3 fairs for them.
I'm going to cover Q2 1997 next, then E3. So... Demo discs ahoy!
Takahashi is going to get better "luck".
As for FFT... Square's going to view it as a minor spin-off game when compared to FF. So, which console will it land on... Who knows? (Well except for me)
 
Part 4

Deleted member 100251

Well time for Q2 1997. This one is probably going to be the shortest out of all of them. So... here it is folks!
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Part 4 - Slowin’ Down

Quarter 2 was slower than Quarter 1 for the Ultra, but wasn’t without its big titles. These include of:
  • Extreme-G
  • Ultra Mahjong
  • Final Fantasy Tactics
  • Star Fox 2 - The second installment of the Star Fox franchise and a sequel to the first. And yet another collaboration between Argonaut and Nintendo. It has 6 playable members: the original Star Fox team, and two new members: a dog named Fay, and a tomboyish lynx named Miyu. It follows the Star Fox team as they battle Andross once again to protect the Lylat System from invasion. Andross has hired a mercenary team of his own, Star Wolf. General Pepper offers a large sum of money as payment to get them to help and they oblige. After defeating his fleet, Star Fox hunts Andross down while being hunted by Star Wolf themselves. Fox McCloud makes an attempt to kill Andross but destroys an android instead, setting up the next Star Fox game.


In June, SCEI created a new devision known as Sony Computer Edutainment Software Studio. SCESS was in charge of producing edutainment titles for the PlayStation and possible successors, and PCs. By the end of the month, it already had 30 employees, and had started working on their first title codenamed “ASTEROIDS”.
 
Now Sony is killing sega in the edutaiment market, how long will this massacre endure? heck good luck sony, you will need it.

A Nice Quarter, yeah not that big but at least more games to play, not a bad season.
 

Deleted member 100251

Thanks!
SEGA might not be able to stand on their own two legs in the next couple of years, but who knows? Maybe they might be more successful with their next console. ;)
SCESS may be smaller than SCEI, but... they will produce some interesting titles.
 
Thanks!
SEGA might not be able to stand on their own two legs in the next couple of years, but who knows? Maybe they might be more successful with their next console. ;)
SCESS may be smaller than SCEI, but... they will produce some interesting titles.
Yeah and the more the merrier.
I hope sega learned every single one of their mistakes this gen, hope the next one they can get better.
 

Deleted member 100251

They're just going to have to push through. Hopefully, they choose a good CPU. Especially since a surprise appearance is made by a certain company at E3, who has plans to make a console. Whom is probably going to battle SEGA for 3rd place.
 

Deleted member 100251

Now. PowerVR or Voodoo2? SH-4 or PowerPC 603e? Decisions, decisions.
A hard one SEGA will just have to make.
It might even tell their fate.
 
Yeah and both are excellent option at the time but still, umm using power would be ironic if nintendo goes with an otl gamecube as Gekko is the evolution of the power pc 700(itself an evolution of 600 series)
So yeah Sega have to plan carefully their future.
 
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