All of this is hypothetical, of course - but it's nonetheless fascinating to look back at how Nintendo's actions created a dedicated and resourceful competitor. Looking at how the machine evolved during the early '90s it's amazing to think that Nintendo could ever entertain the notion of partnering with another firm on such a machine - although the existence of the Sharp-made Famicom Twin does show that the company has prior form in this regard. It's tempting to see the Sony deal as a little bit of speculative business that, for Nintendo at least, went a little too far; it is said that even as hands were being shaken between the two firms, Nintendo president Yamauchi was in discussions with Philips in order to plan an escape route. It shows just just how resourceful and ruthless the late boss was; Sony clearly believed it had the deal in the bag, only to have the rug unceremoniously pulled from beneath it in painfully embarrassing fashion at that 1991 CES.