Console Release Date and Lifespan Calendar

[neoglow]

I have been away from the Console Gaming scene for a while now since I became a PC Gaming fan, but last week, I bought a PS3! I started to miss the genre of games that a console has that a PC lacks, and certain games in particular. Namely, Metal Gear Solid 5 and the new Resident Evil 5.

I was browsing on the net when I looked into the release dates of the various consoles dating back to the Playstation era and made up a table showing the various dates and each console's lifespan, this is what I found...

[all dates taken from Wikipedia]



For bigger image, click here - http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2.../console-2.jpg

I found it interesting how the console's lifespan ranged mainly from 5 to 6 years and at present we are maybe around half way through the life of the current generation consoles already.

It also seems the life of the first Xbox was around a whole year shorter than the others which probably explains its current higher age of the Xbox 360 - again almost a year older than the others. Will it be Microsoft to release its next gen console first in years to come?

Anyway, I hope someone finds it interesting and if any other ideas are drawn from the table, post up your comments!

[neoglow]

Why isnt my image url showing the picture above ?!?...

[Fastware]

5 years has always been a standard lifespan for sucessful consoles. I think this gerneration might stretch it a bit longer due to the finacial climate.

[Number45]

That table is a little misleading. It suggests that the life of a platform ends the moment the new one is introduced, which usually isn't the case. In order to get a true lifespan you'd need to go to the date when manufacturing of the platform ceased (Or the last software title released for the platform); getting an effective lifespan would be even harder. :/

[Brad]

That table is only valid for the original XBox which died the nanosecond that the 360 was announced.

[Phar]

In order to get a true lifespan you'd need to go to the date when manufacturing of the platform ceased (Or the last software title released for the platform); getting an effective lifespan would be even harder. :/

Exactly, e.g. Famicom was released 1983, discontinued 2003 last game was Adventure Island 4 which I think was 1994, so how would you determine that consoles lifespan.

[Brad]

To me, a console's lifespan is when the last game for it is made. This doesn't always work though as Dreamcast is still getting games made for it. Maybe when the last game gets made or the console ceases production, whichever comes first.

[Phar]

Are you counting commercial homebrew as well, thats always a bit of a grey area in regards to this subject, if thats the case then theres stuff still coming out for the Famicom including commercial games that never got a release at the time, Mike Tyson's Intergalatic Power Punch just came out.

[BaudAttitude]

I use the "Electronic Arts" rule of thumb, which is actually one of the reasons that I have so much hate for the publisher:

When EA stops releasing titles for your system, it is functionally dead. It may get some new releases after that point, but they're the first publisher to jump off a console* and they will be followed in droves.


* Inexplicable late releases of sports games for the Xbox and Gamecube aside.

[Strolls]

Canon's historical digital SLR timeline is quite interesting & useful - I've found it really quite easy to predict new releases of their cameras. Helps that there are two major photographic exhibitions each year - one in February (I think), one the end of August.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Canon_DSLR_cameras

Look how regular the releases of the 10D, 20D, 30D, 40D & 50D have been!

Stroller.

[eastyy]

i would classify as a lifespan as when a company ceases support for the console

Like i dont think it was that long ago that sega ceased making of gd rom discs

[Alex_976]

Do you have the figures for the Saturn and Dreamcast?

[neoglow]

Do you have the figures for the Saturn and Dreamcast?

'Holy old thread dig up Batman'!

Have a look on wikipedia, thats where I found all the dates for the other consoles.