Super NES/Super Famicom

Nintendo finally entered the 16-bit era with the Super Nintendo/Super Famicom. Despite being relatively late to the market, Nintendo still expected to dominate just as easily as they did with the NES, despite the Genesis/Mega Drive and TurboGrafx16/PC Engine having a year and a half early start. Unfortunately, everything changed when Sega's new mascot, Sonic the Hedgehog, proved more popular than Mario, propelling Sega to the top and putting Nintendo in second. Sega's commercials constantly insulted Mario and the Super NES/Super Famicom, constantly saying that Sonic and the Genesis/Mega Drive were cooler and more powerful, even though in reality, the Super NES/Super Famicom was much more powerful than the Genesis/Mega Drive. Unfortunately, due to Sega's successful false advertising, everybody believed that the Genesis/Mega Drive was more powerful than the Super NES/Super Famicom, even though it wasn't. So for four, long, competitive years, Nintendo and Sega battled for market surpremacy. Eventually, Nintendo came out on top with 65% of the market in early 1994, leaving Sega with 35% of the market.

Japanese Name: Super Famicom

Worldwide Name: Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES)

Market Share in Beginning of Lifespan: 45%

Market Share in Middle of Lifespan: 35%

Market Share in End of Lifespan: 65%

Best-Selling Game: Super Mario World. (18 million copies)

A 16-Bit System

Price at Launch: $200.00

Number of Units Sold: 49 million

Slogans:

Now you're playing with power. SUPER power.

The best play here.

Play it loud!

Will you ever reach the Super Nintendo?

Released Worldwide in: 1991

Released in Japan in: 1990

Discontinued in: 1998

Popularity Compared to Competitors:

In Japan:

1st-SNES/Super Famicom

2nd-TurboGrafx16/PC Engine

3rd-Sega Genesis/Mega Drive

In America:

1st-SNES/Super Famicom

2nd-Sega Genesis/Mega Drive

3rd-TurboGrafx16/PC Engine

In Europe:

1st-Sega Genesis/Mega Drive

2nd-SNES/Super Famicom

3rd-TurboGrafx16/PC Engine

Graphics Comparison:

1st-SNES/Super Famicom

2nd-Sega Genesis/Mega Drive

3rd-TurboGrafx16/PC Engine