Growing up in the ’80s there was always an argument between Sega and Nintendo fans as to which console was better and a new limited series is going to be exploring this classic gamer argument in ‘Console Wars: Sega, Nintendo and the Battle that Defined a Generation.’ The new show is being developed by Legendary TV and is based on the novel written by Blake J. Harris. Also adapting with Legendary will be Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg’s Point Grey Pictures production company.
Just about any gamer who grew up in the 80s know exactly how large the divide there was between Nintendo and Sega fans and this sounds like a great throwback to that era. The original book was released in 2014 and doesn’t put a direct focus on the fans but instead takes a look at exactly how Sega ended up taking on Nintendo, making a name for itself, and revolutionizing the video game industry to what it is today.
Legendary TV has attracted some interesting talent for the show and has Mike Rosolio (‘American Vandal’,’Sean Saves the World’) writing the pilot with Jordan Vogt-Roberts (‘Kong: Skull Island‘,’The Kings of Summer’) slated to direct it. Also producing will be Scott Rudin, Eli Bush, Julian Rosenberg, Harris and Jonah Tulis’ Flying Penguin Pictures, Rosolio and Vogt-Roberts.
Hopefully, this won’t delay Vogt-Roberts’ upcoming ‘Metal Gear Solid’ movie at all.
Are you looking forward to checking out ‘Console Wars: Sega, Nintendo and the Battle that Defined a Generation’? Were you pro-Sega or pro-NES growing up? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Below is the novel’s synopsis:
Following the success of The Accidental Billionaires and Moneyball comes Console Wars—a mesmerizing, behind-the-scenes business thriller that chronicles how Sega, a small, scrappy gaming company led by an unlikely visionary and a team of rebels, took on the juggernaut Nintendo and revolutionized the video game industry.
In 1990, Nintendo had a virtual monopoly on the video game industry. Sega, on the other hand, was just a faltering arcade company with big aspirations and even bigger personalities. But that would all change with the arrival of Tom Kalinske, a man who knew nothing about video games and everything about fighting uphill battles. His unconventional tactics, combined with the blood, sweat and bold ideas of his renegade employees, transformed Sega and eventually led to a ruthless David-and-Goliath showdown with rival Nintendo.
The battle was vicious, relentless, and highly profitable, eventually sparking a global corporate war that would be fought on several fronts: from living rooms and schoolyards to boardrooms and Congress. It was a once-in-a-lifetime, no-holds-barred conflict that pitted brother against brother, kid against adult, Sonic against Mario, and the US against Japan.
Based on over two hundred interviews with former Sega and Nintendo employees, Console Wars is the underdog tale of how Kalinske miraculously turned an industry punchline into a market leader. It’s the story of how a humble family man, with an extraordinary imagination and a gift for turning problems into competitive advantages, inspired a team of underdogs to slay a giant and, as a result, birth a $60 billion dollar industry.
Source: Bleeding Cool
