Timeline of Video Games

Generation 1

Nov 29, 1972

Pong was the first game to be played at home.

Generation 2 (1978-1992)

Nov 21, 1976

Home consoles included:
Atari 2600
The Atari 2600 was the 1st home console to be released. It was a console with a joystick. Discontinued in 1992, due to decline of popularity.
Magnavox Odyssey2
Also known as Phillips Videopac G700 in Europe, Phillips Odyssey in Brazil, and Magnavox Odyssey2 in the US.
Fairchild Channel F
Released in November of 1976 in North America. Japan: October of 1977.

Generaton 3

Jul 15, 1983

Also Known as the "8-bit era"

Generation 4(1987-2003)

Oct 30, 1987

Called the "16-bit era". The 1st game of Sonic happened in this time period ( June 23rd, 1991)

Generation 5 (1993-2005)

Oct 4, 1993

The first PlayStation was released. Pokémon/ Pocket Monsters: Red & Blue/ Green (Japan only) was released Feb. 27, 1996(JP)

Generation 6 (1998-2013) "128-bit era"

Nov 27, 1998

Sega Dreamcast is the final console Sega company will ever make.By the 2000's Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft are the biggest console competedors on the market.

Generation 7(2005-2010)

Nov 22, 2005

Sonic '06 was released for the Xbox 360 & PS3. The game was rated poor because of the poor storyline, the glitches, and controls. The Sonic team attempted to release it early 2006, but postponed it to November.
By November of 2006, the Nintendo Wii was relased. The name "Wii" plays on the pun "We".

Generation 8( 2011-present)

Nov 18, 2012

There are 3 home consoles: Nintendo Wii U(2012), Xbox One(2013), and Sony PlayStation 4(2013).
There are currently 2 handheld consoles: The Nintendo 3DS line (2011- present) and the Sony PlayStation Vita series(2011-present).