The Sega Vs. Nintendo Story CONSOLE WARS Is Getting a Feature Documentary and Limited Series at CBS All Access
If you’ve never heard of the book Console Wars: Sega, Nintendo and the Battle that Defined a Generation by Blake J. Harris, you need to check it out! It tells the true story of the rivalry between Sega and Nintendo as they fought to get their consoles into the homes of gamers. It’s a seriously fascinating story filled with all kinds of crazy and interesting information regarding these two companies as they were at war with each other.
We already knew that the book was going to be adapted into a limited series at CBS All Access, but now Deadline is reporting that the streaming service will develop a feature-length documentary with the help of Legendary Television Studios. The series is being written by Mike Rosolio and Jordan Vogt-Roberts (Kong: Skull Island) is attached to direct.
The Console Wars documentary will be developed by Oscar-winning documentary producer Doug Blush (Icarus, The Hunting Ground), and it will be directed by Blake J. Harris and Jonah Tulis. Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, who were at one point writing and directing a feature film adaptation of the book, will also be executive producing the project through their Point Grey Productions banner.
Here’s the official synopsis of the book to give you a better idea of what this story entails:
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 videogames 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.
When I was growing up, I was 100% committed to Sega. I loved Sega and what they were doing! I loved what they stood for! Where did your loyalties lie as a kid? Were you team Sega or team Nintendo?