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Magnavox Odyssey
The Odyssey was the world’s first commercial home games console. The main controls were a pair of paddle that allowed simple direction control. Later, a ‘gun’ that used a light detector to register scores.
Output was an analogue signal sent to a television, which had to be tuned to output frequency of the Odyssey. -
Atari: Pong
This was the first available Home arcade machine and had widespread success which led to many successors and imitations. Over 19,000 machines were sold -
Telstar
This was a Pong imitation but instead of an Arcade machine was a proper games console and sold over 1million units -
Color TV game
This was Nintendo’s first games console and did reasonably well in japan selling 3million consoles -
Atari 2600
Widely credited with popularising using rom and micro processer hardware. Over 30million units sold -
Intellivision
This console was development mattel and showed hands down that it was better than the Atari 2600 at the time sold only 3million consoles -
NES
This console was voted the all-time greatest console with super smash bros making this console one of the all-time greatest consoles with over 60million consoles sold. The consoles features included 8 bit graphics and had soon to be classics like donkey kong, duck hunt and super smash bros -
Sega Master system
This system has stood the test of time and too many peoples surprise is still being made and sold in brazil. This system is an 8 bit system that could run with Sega “cards” or cartridges that made it more accessible and showed a shift in game development by moving or by having the ability to have games on two different storage systems. -
Nintendo Gameboy
This was the first true handheld game console that had 8 bit graphics and made gaming popular for people who wanted to play whilst out and about. This sold over 100million units with genre defining games like tetris that sold over 30million units. -
Super NES
This 16bit graphic console was one of the first consoles that had region locking in place which meant consoles from different or taken to different regions weren’t compatible with each other. This console was one of the most success consoles of the 16bit game era with 49million consoles sold worldwide. This console was even popular going into the 32 bit era which showed the popularity and how well the console was made and designed. Because when the 32bit era came not many consoles stayed popular -
Sega Saturn
This console was one of the first semi successful console of the 32 bit era. Unfortunately due to Sega’s mismanagement of its leading games franchises the console failed. This console showed that although the console was good it needed commercially successful games franchises to be successful. Only 9million consoles were sold. -
PlayStation
This console blew the sega Saturn out of the water by avoiding what sega did and created a whole host of successful games franchises and supported and upgraded the console/franchise as they went spawning the PS1 and the Net Yaroze this console sold over 100million units in total. -
Nintendo 64
This console featured a 64 bit processor and commercially did well by selling 32 million units before being replaced later on with the Gamecube. This console had some classics like super Mario. -
Gameboy color
This was a redesigned Gameboy that featured a colour screen and helped to sell combined with the original Gameboy 100million units. -
Dreamcast
Dreamcast was ahead of its time and was the first console to include online play although didn’t become very successful due to Sony’s impending release of the PS2 -
PS1
This was a redesigned PlayStation which slimmed down the console and added elements like Dual Shock controllers -
PS2
This console was one of the most successful consoles of all time as it improved everything that the PS1 had started. It improved the graphics with stunning games like “Black” that were graphically amazing and had some games that had 8 player co-op -
Gameboy Advance
This was the first proper Gameboy which I had the pleasure to own. It really was the first “handheld” and ergonomically comfortable that combined good graphics with games like Pokémon that created a cult following for the franchise. -
Xbox
This console was designed with integrated features that allowed users to play online and gained Microsoft an early foothold in the online gaming market. This console sold 24million units -
Nintendo GameCube
This console was Nintendo’s first console that used optical disks as storage and if the adapter was bought could be used to game online. This console was well received but many complained about the lack of features this console had. Sold 21 million units -
Nintendo Gameboy advance SP
This was a redesigned Gameboy advance and included a flip up design that differed from previous Gameboys. This model ended up with having a backlit model which in dark spaces could have the screen lit so you could still play. This sold 43million units -
Nintendo DS
This was the spiritual successor to the Gameboys and although had compatibility with the Gameboy games showed where Nintendo were going to go with the handheld platform. This handheld differed by having 2 screens. This handheld including all the different models sold 150million units. -
Sony PSP
This was Sony’s attempt in the handheld market and to be fair it did reasonably well providing the DS with a solid competitor. The PSP was graphically better and had more features but struggled as it was without the cult classics that Nintendo had at its disposal. Sold 80million units in 10 years -
Xbox 360
This for many people revolutionised console gaming by opening the online gaming scene. The online service Xbox live had been reworked was coupled with the Xbox 360 was a hit with people and largely attributed to this consoles success. Sold over 80million -
PS3
This console was the direct competitor to the Xbox and largely was a success but didn’t fare as it would have hoped considering how well the ps2 had done vs the original Xbox. This console featured online play just like the Xbox and had a Blu ray player for DVDs and other multimedia. Sold 80million units. -
Nintendo WII
This console was a competitor to the Xbox and PS3 but was a completely different design and concept by introducing motion tracking of console and popularised the fitness and 3d gaming that requires players to move around to get the character to move. This at the start outsold the rivals till the hype wore down which it did. This console sold well and sold 101million -
Nintendo 3ds
This was an extensive redesign of the DS adding a 3D element to the handheld and other small features like ergonomics. Although this console has had to be remade due to issues with its 3d giving people headaches. With successful marketing strategies has gone on to be a success. This has sold over 50million now -
PlayStation Vita
The spiritual successor to the PSP. This handhelds evolution was just the same as the jump from the DS to the 3DS. The handheld featured upgrades on pretty much everything and has been received pretty well received 10million has been sold so far. -
Nintendo Wii U
This is the first Nintendo console to support high definition graphics. This console is different through the fact that it can be a handheld console or a regular console. This console has only sold 9million so far because of the lack of games upon release but is steadily gaining those and looks to be a good option for gamers. -
PS4
This is heralded as the best of the 8th gen consoles. With its new CPU and technology it’s supposed to help games developers and bring upon the next generation of gaming. This currently is the best-selling console out of the 8th gen’s. It’s currently sold 18.5million units. -
Xbox 1
This compared to the PS4 and Wii U is an “all in one” entertainment system that could be a great gaming platform as well as a multi media outlet. Reception hasn’t been as great as the ps4 and has sold less (3million)