I cant think of one thing Sony brought to the video game industry. Not one new invention or innovation. They just took existing things and sold them better than the competitors. Good for them. I am curious if anyone can name anything they contributed to further gaming.
Back on topic: SNES wins in being the ugliest console made for North America. Mine even turned yellow over the years. I'm not sure if it is because of the plastic they used or if it was because I used it as a urinal when I was playing long sessions on my Genesis.
1. First console to use dual-analog controls.
2. First console with an end-user programmable system & tools (Net Yaroze)
3. First console to utilize the storage capacity of DVD.
4. First console to utilize the storage capacity of Blu-Ray discs.
5. First home console to utilize VR (coming this year!)
6. Ushered in the era of 3D polygon graphics (Saturn sucked and was built around 2D sprites)
7. Moved gaming from being considered "a kid's toy" to being an acceptable pastime for adults.
8. First console to sell over 100 million units.
9. PS2 is best selling console of all time with over 150 million units sold.
10. Exclusive home to some of the most important games in history (Final Fantasy VII, Castlevania Symphony of the Night, Metal Gear Solid)
11. Knocked Nintendo down a peg or two, relegating them to second place.
12. Damaged Sega so badly, they went software-only.
Honestly, you can say that all game makers copied and iterated on what other did before them. It's the nature of the beast.