Game Console Timeline

Cathode ray tube

Feb 13, 1947

It records and controls the quality of an electronic signal. The device is purely mechanical and does not use any memory device, computer, or programming.

The first Computer Game

Feb 13, 1949

Called EDSAC, at Cambridge University. Had a library of short programs called subroutines stored on punched paper tapes. Technology: vacuum tubes Memory: 1K words, 17 bits, mercury delay line Speed: 714 operations per second.

SEGA

Feb 13, 1951

In 1951, SEGA distributed coin-operated amusement-type games such as jukeboxes and slot machines.
Within a few years Service Games began importing these machines to American military bases throughout Japan.

Magnavox Odyssey

Feb 13, 1972

World's first game console
Predating the Atari Pong home consoles by several years.
designed by Ralph Baer
340,000 units sold
prototype known as the "Brown Box“ is now at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington DC

Pong

Feb 14, 1972

A coin-op arcade game by Atari Inc.
Pong was based on table tennis
Pong was the first video game to achieve widespread popularity in both arcade and home console versions, and launched the initial boom in the video game industry.
Pong's popularity led to a successful patent infringement lawsuit from the makers of an earlier video game, the Magnavox Odyssey.

Gran Track 10

Mar 19, 1974

A single-player racing arcade by Atari
The player raced against the game clock, accumulating as many points as possible.
The game's controls, steering wheel, four-position gear shifter, and accelerator and brake foot pedals were also all firsts for arcade games

Maze Wars

Mar 20, 1974

One of the first FPS game.
Players wander around a maze, moving backward or forward, turning right or left in 90-degree increments, and peeking through doorways.
Used simple tile-based movement.
Other players are eyeballs which can be shot or harmed.
Players gain points for shooting other players, and lose them for being shot.

Magnavox Odyssey

Mar 19, 1975

Played programmable ROM cartridges.
Allowed each game to be a completely unique experience, with its own background and foreground graphics, gameplay, scoring, and music.
Odyssey² included a full keyboard, which was to be used for educational games, selecting options, or programming.
One of the strongest points of the system was its excellent speech synthesis unit.

Coleco Telstar

Mar 19, 1976

By Coleco
Originally a Pong clone based on General Instrument's AY-3-8500 chip.
The circuit was intended to be battery powered and a minimum number of external components were required to complete the system.

APF TV Fun

Mar 20, 1976

It featured 4 built in games, a speaker, and 2 controller knobs. Could not add more games.
It could be powered by either the included AC adapter or by using 6 C size batteries.
First entry of APF into the video game market, APF was formerly a calculator and other small electronics developer.
4 games were Tennis, Hockey, Single Handball, and Squash.

Fairchild Channel F

Mar 21, 1976

The world's second cartridge-based video game console, after the Magnavox Odyssey
By Fairchild Semiconductor price of $169.95.
At this point it was known as the Video Entertainment System, or VES, but when Atari released their VCS the next year, Fairchild quickly renamed it.

Atari 2600

Mar 19, 1977

Originally known as the Atari VCS—for Video Computer System—the machine's name was changed to "Atari 2600" in 1982, after the release of the more advanced Atari 5200.
It was wildly successful, and during the 1980s.
The 2600 was typically bundled with two joystick controllers, a conjoined pair of paddle controllers, and a cartridge game - initially Combat and subsequently Pac-Man.

Space Invaders

Mar 19, 1978

Created in Japan, and was later licensed by the Midway in the US.
Shooting game where the players defeat waves of aliens with a laser cannon to earn as many points as possible.
So successful it caused a temporary shortage of 100-yen coins in Japan and grossed $2 billion worldwide by 1982.

Intellivision

Mar 19, 1979

By Mattel Electronics.
Test marketed in California, with four games available, and nationwide in 1980 with a price tag of $299 and a pack-in game: Las Vegas Poker & Blackjack.
Though not the first system to challenge Atari, it was the first to pose a serious threat to Atari's dominance.

Asteroids

Mar 19, 1979

Most popular and influential games selling 70,000 by Atari.
Player controls a spaceship in an asteroid field which is periodically traversed by flying saucers.
Object of the game is to shoot and destroy asteroids and saucers while not colliding or being hit by the saucers' counter-fire.

Pac Man

Mar 19, 1980

by Namco is considered among the most famous arcade games of all time.
Became a social phenomenon that sold related merchandise and inspired, an animated television series and a top-ten hit single.
Was appealing to both genders.
Highest brand awareness of any video game character.

Donkey Kong

Mar 19, 1981

By Nintendo - platform game genre.
Players moved the main character across a series of platforms while dodging and jumping over obstacles who must rescue a damsel in distress, Lady, from a giant ape named Donkey Kong.
The hero and ape later became two of Nintendo's most popular characters.

Frogger

Mar 20, 1981

By Konami, and licensed for worldwide distribution by Sega/Gremlin.
Player directs frogs to their homes by crossing a busy road and navigate a river full of hazards. Skillful players obtain bonuses.
The game is regarded as a classic and was noted for its novel gameplay and theme.

Tron

Mar 19, 1982

Tron is about a computer programmer transported inside the software world of a mainframe computer, where he interacts with various programs in his attempt to get back out.

Pole Position

Mar 20, 1982

Pole Position arcade racing game released by Atari, Inc. in the US. Most popular coin-op arcade game of 1983. Had a steering wheel and a gear shifter for low and high gears. The environmental/cockpit cabinet featured both an accelerator and brake pedal.

Mario Brothers

Mar 19, 1983

By Nintendo in 1983.
In this game, Mario a Italian-American plumber and his brother Luigi, must defeat creatures from the sewers below New York.
The gameplay focuses on Mario's extermination of pests in the sewers by flipping them on their backs and kicking them away.

Tetris

Mar 19, 1984

A tile-matching game originally designed and programmed in the Soviet Union.
First entertainment software exported from the USSR to the U.S. and published for Commodore 64 and IBM PC.
Electronic Gaming Monthly's 100th issue had Tetris in first place as "Greatest Game of All Time".

The Legend of Zelda

Mar 19, 1986

A high fantasy action-adventure video game series created in Japan and published by Nintendo.
One of Nintendo's most important franchises, it consists of a mixture of action, adventure, and puzzle solving.
Link, a playable character and the protagonist must rescue Princess Zelda.
The protagonist in each game is usually not the same incarnation of Link, but a few exceptions do exist.

Final Fantasy

Mar 19, 1987

Developed and owned by Square Enix.
The franchise centers on a series of fantasy and science fantasy role-playing video games (RPGs), but includes motion pictures, anime, printed media, and other merchandise.
The series is very successful; with more than 100 million units sold.
Well known for its innovation, visuals, and music, such as the inclusion of full motion videos, photo-realistic character models, and orchestrated music by Nobuo Uematsu.

Xbox 360

Mar 19, 2005

By Microsoft, developed in cooperation with IBM, ATI, and SiS.
Xbox Live service allows players to compete online and download arcade games and content such as demos, trailers, TV shows, music videos, or rented movies.
Successor to Xbox, and competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii.
1st console to provide near-simultaneous launch across the three major regions, and to provide wireless controller support at launch.
Sold out completely at release and, as of September 12, 2007, has