History of the Sega Saturn

For those who follow the console wars like a soap opera (and, in many ways, it is), you may want to take a breather and look to the past for some perspective.  1up has written a very long an impressive write-up on the Sega Saturn.  Entitled Sega Saturn: the Pleasure and the Pain, 1up's article chronicles the events leading up to it,
the launch itself, and the aftermath.  Most notably, it shows how corporate decisions can lead to a downfall of a console, as the Saturn struggled from a surprise launch date with very few games for the first six months of release,
and a price point that was set too high.  Essentially, Sega's decision to make an early release helped Sony more than anything.

What is relevant today is how these mistakes may repeat themselves in this generation.  So Microsoft, keep giving out strong titles even after launch.  Sony, watch your price point.  And Nintendo, tell us something about your console that we can criticize you for more than just being too private.  Oh, how I do miss playing Dragon Force and Nights...

[Thanks, bandersnatch]