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The first computer game
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
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
World's first game console
Predating the Atari Pong home consoles by several years.
designed by Ralph Baer
prototype known as the "Brown Box“ is now at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington DC
340,000 units sold -
Pong
A coin-op arcade game by Atari Inc.
Pong was based on table tennis, and named after the sound generated when the ball is hit.
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. -
Fairchild Channel F
The world's second cartridge-based video game console, after the Magnavox Odyssey (although it was the first programmable cartridge system as the Odyssey cartridges only contained jumpers and not ROM information).
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
Video game console credited with popularizing the use of a microprocessor and cartridges containing games.
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. -
Pac-Man
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.
Generated more than $2.5 billion in quarters by the 1990s.
Highest brand awareness of any video game character. -
Donkey Kong
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.
Nintendo licensed the game to Coleco who developed home console versions.
Dominated the video game market in the 1980s and early 1990s. -
Frogger
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.
Example of a game using more than one CPU, as it used two Z80 processors.
By 2005, Frogger had sold 20 million copies worldwide, including 5 million in the United States. -
The Video Game Crash
The delay of Atari's 7800 consoles left them with little to captivate consumers hungry for the next big thing.
A flood of consoles on the US market gave consumers too many choices.
Many poor game titles and too many games based on the movie ET The Extraterrestrial.
Introduction of personal computers like the Commodore 64, whose theme “Why buy your child a video game and distract them from school when you can buy them a home computer that will prepare them for college?”
Millions of consumers shi -
Tetris
A tile-matching game originally designed and programmed in the Soviet Union.
Name is from the Greek numerical prefix tetra- (all of the game's pieces contain four segments)
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".
It has sold more than 70 million copies. In January 2010, it was announced that Tetris has sold more than 100 million co -
Nintendo Entertainment System
8-bit video game console released by Nintendo.
In most of Asia, it was released as the Family Computer.
The most successful gaming console of its time -sold over 60 million NES units worldwide.
Nintendo helped revitalize the US video game industry following the video game crash of 1984, and set the standard for consoles and controller layout.
First console to play and openly court third-party game developers.
The slogan for the NES in North America is "Now You're Playing With Power!" -
The Legend of Zelda
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.
As of December 2011, The Legend of Zelda franchise has sold 67.93 million copies since the release of the first -
Sega Genesis
By Sega.
It was sold under the name Sega Genesis in North America, as Sega was unable to secure legal rights to the Mega Drive name in that region.
The Sega Genesis was the first 16-bit console to achieve notable market share in Europe and North America.
It was the direct competitor of the Super Famicom (SNES), although the Sega Mega Drive was released two years earlier. -
Nintendo Game Boy
A handheld game console by Nintendo, for $89.95.
The first successful handheld console, and was the predecessor of all other iterations of the Game Boy line.
The Game Boy was originally bundled with the puzzle game Tetris, since Nintendo thought that an addictive puzzle game would get consumers' attention. -
Sonic the Hedgehog
A platform video game developed by Sega.
Commercially successful, increasing the popularity of Sega's 16-bit console and establishing Sonic the Hedgehog as the company's mascot character.
Its success led to the development of subsequent games in Sega's flagship Sonic the Hedgehog series, as well as the creation of a media franchise of spin-off products featuring the character. -
Super Nintendo
Nintendo's 2nd console, following the (NES).
Advanced graphics and sound capabilities that compensated for its slow CPU, compared with other consoles at the time.
Additionally, the system's support for numerous enhancement chips (which shipped as part of certain game cartridges) helped to keep it competitive in the marketplace.
Global success, the best-selling console of the 16-bit era despite its late start and the fierce competition it faced in North America from Sega's Genesis console.
Re -
Sony Playstation
A 32-bit video game console by Sony.
The original PlayStation was the first of a series of consoles and hand-held game devices, which included successor consoles and upgrades including the Net Yaroze, PSOne , PocketStation, PlayStation 2, PS2, PlayStation Portable, DVR and DVD recorder based on the PS2, and PlayStation 3.
By March 2005, the PlayStation/PS one had shipped a total of 102.49 million units, becoming the first home console to ever reach the 100 million mark. -
Nintendo 64
N64, was Nintendo's third home video game console for the international market.
Named for its 64-bit processor
It was released with two launch games (Super Mario 64 and Pilotwings 64).
The N64's suggested retail price was $199 at its launch and it was marketed with the slogan: "Get N, or get Out!" -
Sony Playstation 2
The PlayStation 2 “PS2” is Sony's second video game console, the successor to the successful PlayStation and the predecessor to the PlayStation 3.
Its development was announced in March 1999, and it was released after a year in Japan.
Released more than a year after the Sega Dreamcast and a year before its main competitors Microsoft Xbox and Nintendo GameCube.
As of September 19, 2007, 120 million PS2 units have been sold worldwide -
Nintendo Gamecube
Nintendo's 4th home game console.
The most compact and least expensive, next to the Dreamcast, of the 6th gen.
Successor to the Nintendo 64 and the predecessor of the Wii.
The Nintendo GameCube, named Dolphin, is shaped roughly like a cube.
Uses a proprietary storage medium, the Nintendo GameCube Game Disc, and have a capacity of approximately 1.5 gigabytes.
Discs are not read differently from a standard DVD, but are encrypted and unreadable by most DVD drives. -
Microsoft Xbox
Microsoft's first game console - competed directly with PlayStation 2, and the Nintendo GameCube.
Predecessor to Microsoft's Xbox 360
First product that ventured into the console arena, after having collaborated with Sega in porting Windows CE to the Sega Dreamcast console.
Notable launch titles for the console included Halo: Combat Evolved, Amped: Freestyle Snowboarding, Dead or Alive 3, Project Gotham Racing, and Oddworl: Munch' Oddysee. -
Xbox 360
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 -
Nintendo Wii
5th home game console by Nintendo.
Direct successor to the GameCube. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3.
Has a wireless controller, Wii Remote, can be used as a handheld pointing device and detect acceleration in three dimensions.
WiiConnect24, enables it to receive messages and updates over the Internet while in standby mode.
Released in 2005. -
Sony Playstation 3
“3rd home game console by Sony and the successor to the PlayStation 2.
Competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii.
In sales and market share, it is currently in third place.
Storage media is the Blu-ray Disc, though it also supports DVDs, CDs, and SACDs.
Can output high-definition video for both video games and movies in up to 1080p resolution.
Initially available in 2 configurations, 20 GB and the 60 GB model. However, the 20 GB model was discontinued due to a lack of consume
