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Video Game Consoles
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The First Console, the "Brown Box"
German-born engineer Ralph Baer and his co-workers designed the first video game console to work on a standard television. History on the Brown Box -
The Magnavox Odyssey
Magnavox had released its Magnavox Odyssey, a home video game system based on the “Brown Box,” a prototype invented by Ralph Baer. Invented by Ralph H. Baer, the Odyssey was the first home video game console that could be connected to a TV set. -
Pong
After Nolan Bunshell founds Atari in 1972, the company has its first big hit with the arcade game Pong. In 1975, Atari sells a home version of Pong in Sears stores. More on Pong -
Fairchild Video Entertainment System (VES) .
While there had been previous game consoles that used cartridges, either the cartridges had no information and served the same function as flipping switches (the Odyssey) or the console itself was empty and the cartridge contained all of the game components. The VES, however, contained a programmable microprocessor so its cartridges only needed a single ROM chip to store microprocessor instructions. -
Atari 2600 Video Computer System (VCS)
Atari 2600 was a cartridge-based stystem that played multiple games. It was typically bundled with two joystick controllers, a conjoined pair of paddle controllers, and a cartridge game—initially Combat and later Pac-Man.The Atari 2600 was wildly successful, and during much of the 1980s, "Atari" was a synonym for this model in mainstream media and, by extension, for video games in general.
More info on the Atari 2600 -
Intellivision
The Intellivision featured slightly better graphics than the Atari 2600, as well as the first synthesized vocies in video games. Although the Intellivision was more powerful, it was never as popular as the Atari 2600. Intellivision Commercial -
Atari 5200
The Atari 5200 SuperSystem, Atari 5200, is a video game console that was introduced as a higher end complementary console for the popular Atari 2600. The 5200 was based on Atari Inc.'s existing 400/800 computers and the internal hardware was almost identical, although software was not directly compatible between the two systems. The 5200's controllers have an analog joystick and a numeric keypad along with start, pause and reset buttons. -
Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)
Nintendo, orginally a Japanese playing-card company, releases the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. Retailers were at first skeptical about marketing a new console after the video game crash, but with the most popular in-house titles like Super Mario Brothers, Metroid, and The Legend of Zekla, the NES soon becomes the best-selling console in video game history. NES Commercial -
Sega Master System
The SMS featured accessories such as a light gun and 3D glasses which were designed to work with a range of specially coded games. The Master System was released as a direct competitor to the Nintendo Entertainment System in the third videogame generation. The SMS was technically superior to the NES, which predated its release by nine months in North America, but failed to overturn Nintendo's significant market share advantage in Japan and North America. -
The Game Boy
Nintendo scores its second smash hit with the introduction of the Game Boy. The first major handheld console, Game Boy featured a black-and-white LCD screen. It underwent several changes, including the Game Boy Pocket in 1996 and the Game Boy Color in 1998. -
Neo-Geo
With huge, detailed 2-D graphics, the Neo-Geo's appeal is its arcade-level quality for use in a home system, but its price ($650 for the console, plus $200 for games) kept it from reaching maximum popularity. -
Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES)
The Super Nintendo Entertainment System was Nintendo's second home console, following the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). The console introduced advanced graphics and sound capabilities compared with other consoles at the time. It has better chips to inhance its performance. -
Playstation
The PlayStation was the first of the PlayStation series of console and handheld game devices, which was first created and released in Japan. -
Nintendo 64
The N64 was released with two launch games, Super Mario and Pilotwings , The N64's suggested retail price was US $199 at its launch and it was later marketed with the slogan Get N, or Get Out!. -
PlayStation 2
The Playstation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony. The successor to the PlayStation, and the predecessor to the PlayStation 3, the PlayStation 2 forms part of the PlayStation series of video game consoles. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was released a year later in Japan. -
Game Boy Advance
A backwards-compatibale portable system that plays games from the Game Boy and the Game Boy Color portable consoles.
More information -
Xbox
Microsoft makes it first independent foray into the console market with the release the of Xbox. The company's use of PC technology in the Xbox console allowed for better performance than the PS2. Xbox's greatest success proves to be Halo: Combat Evolved. -
GameCube
The Nintendo GameCube was the first Nintendo console to use optical discs as its primary storage medium, after several aborted projects from Nintendo and its partners to utilize optical-based storage media. -
Nintendo DS
Features dual screens and touch-screen technology. The Nintendo DS also features a built-in microphone and supports wireless standards, allowing players to interact with each other within short range, or online with the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service. The Nintendo DS is the first Nintendo console to be released in North America before Japan. It also features backwards compatibility like the Game Boy Advance. -
PlayStation Portable
Sony releases the PSP in early 2005. It features wireless capability and digital audio/video capability that mimic those of PC-based handheld devices. PSP info -
Xbox 360
The console sold out completely upon release in all regions except in Japan. Several major features of the Xbox 360 are its integrated Xbox Live service that allows players to compete online, download arcade games, game demos, trailers, TV shows, music and movies and its Windows Media Center multimedia capabilities. The Xbox Live also offers region specific access to third-party media streaming application such as Netflix and ESPN in the US or Sky Go in the UK. -
PlayStation 3
Major features of the console include its unified online gaming service, the PlayStation Network, its multimedia capabilities, connectivity with the PlayStation Portable, and its use of the Blu-ray Disc as its primary storage medium. -
Wii
As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. A distinguishing feature of the console is its wireless controller, the Wii Remote, which can be used as a handheld pointing device and detects movement in three dimensions. Another distinctive feature of the console is WiiConnect24, which enables it to receive messages and updates over the Internet while in standby mode. First Wii Commercial -
PlayStation Move
PlayStation Move is a motion-sensing game controller platform for the PlayStation 3 (PS3) video game console by Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE). Based around a handheld motion controller wand, PlayStation Move uses the PlayStation Eye camera to track the wand's position, and inertial sensors in the wand to detect its motion. -
Xbox Kinect
Kinect is a motion sensing input device by Microsoft for the Xbox 360 and Windows PCs. Based around a webcam-style add-on peripheral for the Xbox 360 console, it enables users to control and interact with the Xbox 360 without the need to touch a game controller, by using gestures and spoken commands. The project is aimed at broadening the Xbox 360's audience beyond its typical gamer base. List of all video game consoles -
EVO 2
The EVO 2 is an upcoming video game console by Envizions. It will run on Android, making it the first console with that operating system. It will produce 1080p HD graphics, and features a remote control similar to PlayStation 3's, and a gamepad similar to the Xbox/360. It will be able to play over 1,300 games, hence the Android OS, as well as over 400,000 apps. Support from the public, including pre-orders, will mean that the EVO 2 will be featured at E3 2012 in June. -
Wii U
The Wii U is Nintendo's sixth home console and the first Nintendo console to produce 1080p high-definition graphics, and features a new controller with an embedded touchscreen. The controller allows a player to continue playing certain games by displaying the game even when the television is off. The system will be backwards compatible with the Wii. More on Wii U -
Future Releases
There are rumors for a PlayStation 4 and an Xbox 720. They say that Sony will feature the PS 4 at E3 2012 (Electronics Entertainment Expo 2012). Websites and video commercials for the PS 4 and the Xbox 720 are already online.
Video: PS4 and Xbox 720
