The Darwinism of Code
Technological evolution is not a meritocracy. The "best" format (highest fidelity, strongest durability) rarely wins. Instead, Format Wars are won by distribution, licensing, and sunk cost networks.
When two proprietary formats fight (Blu-ray vs. HD-DVD, AC vs. DC current), the market initially fragments. Consumers hesitate, fearing they will back the wrong horse. When one side finally capitulates, the losing format instantly transforms from "cutting edge technology" to "hazardous waste." Millions of discs, players, and files become orphaned overnight.
Canonical Conflicts
The Home Video War (1976-1988)
Combatants: Sony (Betamax) vs. JVC (VHS).
The Battle: Betamax had superior picture quality and a smaller cassette. VHS offered longer recording time (2 hours vs. 1) and cheaper licensing for other manufacturers.
The Outcome: VHS won because it could record a full movie and was cheaper to produce. The superior fidelity of Betamax was irrelevant to a consumer who just wanted to record a football game. This war taught the industry that convenience kills quality.
The Browser Wars (1995-Present)
Combatants: Netscape Navigator vs. Internet Explorer (Round 1); IE vs. Chrome/Firefox (Round 2).
The Battle: Unlike physical media, browser wars are fought over rendering engines. Microsoft bundled IE with Windows to kill Netscape. Later, Google pushed standards compliance to kill IE.
The Outcome: The web is littered with "Works Best in Netscape" badges and sites that utilize non-standard ActiveX controls. These are scars of a war fought using proprietary extensions as weapons.
Field Notes
The Pornography Factor: A persistent urban legend (with grains of truth) suggests the adult film industry decides format wars. They backed VHS over Betamax because Sony refused to license its technology for "immoral" content, while JVC took the money.
The Great Flash War: Steve Jobs wrote "Thoughts on Flash" in 2010, declaring war on Adobe's proprietary plugin. Apple refused to support it on the iPhone. This was a war of hardware vs. software. Apple won, and Flash—once the king of web animation—was eradicated from the internet ecosystem.
Ephemera
Archaeologists often find "bridge technology"—weird hybrids created during the war's peak. The LG Super Multi Blue player could read both Blu-ray and HD-DVD, a physical embodiment of consumer anxiety. These devices are rare, expensive, and critical for reading the "loser" artifacts.