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Magnavox Odyssey
The first ever home video game console system was created by Ralph H. Baer with Sanders Associates and it sold over 350,000 consoles. The Magnavox Odyssey got its name from the manufacturing company called Magnavox. It consists of a white, black, and brown box which connects to a television set, and two rectangular controllers attached by wires. -
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First Generation Consoles
Video games were around since the 1960s but can be playable only on computers. In 1972, Magnavox created the first ever video game console called the Magnavox Odyssey. -
Fairchild Channel F
The very first video game console that was developed during the second generation wave of consoles was the Fairchild Channel F or VES. It was the worlds first console that was CPU-based video games as well as introducing the cartridge-based game code storage format. It was released by Fairchild Semiconductor on November 1976 and sold over 250,000 copies. -
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Second Generation Consoles
After the success of the first generation consoles (Magnavox Odyssey, TV Tennis Electrotennis, Home Pong, Color TV Series, and Coleco Telstar Series), manufacturers and developers created the second generation of home video game consoles. It introduced the use of CPU and cartridge-based game code storage format. -
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Third Generation Consoles
Video game consoles have received enormous amount of improvements compared to the prior generation. The new third generation of video game consoles supported high-resolution sprites, larger color palettes, and tiled backgrounds, which allowed games to have more detailed graphics than games of prior consoles. The consoles also included a front-loading cartridge port similar to a VCR, included a plastic "robot" (R.O.B.), and was initially advertised as a toy. -
NES
The most well-known, best-selling console was the Nintendo Entertainment System a.k.a NES. This console broke all sorts of records in terms of sales, games developed, features added, and many more. The NES introduced cheaper, more conventional cartridge-based game console. It is the system that introduced of the all-time great games Super Mario Bros. -
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Fourth Generation Consoles
The addition of an advanced graphics chip, the fourth generation video game home consoles were the start of the 16-bit era. Some major differences between the fourth generation compared to the prior generation are: 16-bit microprocessors, Multi-button game controllers with many buttons (3 to 8), Parallax scrolling of multi-layer tile-map backgrounds, Large sprites, 80–380 sprites on screen, and
numerous sound improvements with stereo audio and advanced music synthesis. -
PC Engine (TurboGrafx16)
The first video game console that was created during the fourth generation was the PC Engine (TurboGrafx16) created by Nippon Electric Company or NEC. The PC Engine introduced the then new CD-ROM format and was widely popular in Japan. However, the system did not make a strong impact on North America compared to previous consoles. It failed to maintain its sales momentum and is easily forgotten among console fans. -
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Fifth Generation Consoles
During the fifth generation of consoles, the most popular and preferred way of playing video games were on PC or computers. Companies needed to develop consoles to keep up with PCs and computers to get back into the market. The first couple of consoles created during this generation did not live up to the expectations. It was toward the end of the era where the most prominent consoles were developed such as Nintendo 64 and Playstation. -
Sony Playstation
Sony created the most popular and powerful video game console at the time called the Playstation. Playstation are equipped to play audio CDs and video CDs. Later PlayStation models utilize a music visualization function called SoundScope.This function, as well as a memory card manager, is accessed by starting the console without either inserting a game or closing the CD tray, thereby accessing a GUI for the PlayStation BIOS. -
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Sixth Generation Consoles
The sixth generation witnessed a shift towards using DVDs for video game media. This brought games that were both longer and more visually appealing. Adding furthermore features with online console gaming and implementing both flash and hard drive storage for game data. It was a major improvement over the previous generation where it contains features that are still used today. -
Microsoft Xbox
Microsoft created the Xbox in attempt to compete with Sony and Nintendo. The Xbox broke records and became the most sold console at launch. The Xbox was the first video game console to feature a built-in hard disk drive, used primarily for storing game saves and content downloaded from Xbox Live. This eliminated the need for separate memory cards. An Xbox user could rip music from standard audio CDs to the hard drive, and these songs were used for the custom soundtracks in some games. -
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Seventh Generation Consoles
The features introduced in this generation include the support of new disc formats: Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD. Another new technology is the use of motion as input, and IR tracking (as implemented on the Wii). Also, all seventh generation consoles support wireless controllers. This generation also introduced the Nintendo DS, and the Nintendo DSi, which brought touchscreens into the mainstream for and added cameras to portable gaming. -
Nintendo Wii
The Wii introduced the Wii Remote controller, which can be used as a handheld pointing device and which detects movement in three dimensions. The console runs games supplied on Wii optical discs. Like other seventh-generation consoles it supported a service, called "Virtual Console", that downloaded emulated games from past Nintendo consoles, support for online video streaming such as BBC iPlayer, and other services provided by Nintendo over the Internet. -
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Eighth Generation Consoles
Aside from the usual hardware enhancements, consoles of the eighth generation focus on further integration with other media and increased connectivity. The Wii U introduced augmented reality in gaming. The PS4 is Sony's eighth generation console, featuring a "share" button to stream video game content between devices. Nintendo Switch, a 'hybrid' console consisting of a tablet with controller attachments that can be used as a mobile device or connected to a television via a dock. -
Nintendo Switch
The Nintendo Switch introduces gaming that has never been done before. It is a hybrid console that can be used as a stationary and portable device. Its wireless Joy-Con controllers, with standard buttons and directional analog sticks for user input, motion sensing, and tactile feedback, can attach to both sides of the console to support handheld-style play. There is a new version of the Switch: Link text.
