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PONG: The First Video Game
Allan Alcorn created the first video game, PONG. Two paddles controlled by 2 opponents hit a ball across the screen. The goal was for the player to get past their opponent's paddle. The game sold incredibly well and was eventually picked up by ATARI. -
ATARI 2600
The ATARI 2600 was the first successful video game console. "Pac-Man", "Combat", and "Pit Fall" became popular games during this era. Later during the console's lifespan, however, would come the Videogame Crash of 1983. The market became oversaturated with low quality, overhyped games such as "E.T. The Extraterrestrial" that would ruin the video game industry for 2 years. -
Famicom or Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)
A small and obscure Japanese card and toy company known as Nintendo would create an 8-bit console that would resurrect the video game industry. Known as the Famicom in Japan, an improved version called the NES would be sold in the U.S. "Super Mario Bros." , "Legend of Zelda" , and "Contra" , were big hits for the NES. -
SEGA Genesis
SEGA, a prominent arcade game developer, created the first commercially successful 16-bit console made to rival Nintendo's 8-bit NES. Titles like "Streets of Rage and "Sonic the Hedgehog" were featured on this console. Nintendo would create their own 16-bit console, the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) in response. The rival companies had aggressive marketing campaigns to entice players to their system. -
Nintendo Gameboy Handheld Console
Although not the first handheld video game, Nintendo's Game Boy would popularize the idea. "Pokemon Red and Blue" and "Kirby's Dreamland" were popular games on the Game Boy. Later versions such as the Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance, and the Nintendo DS and 3DS would continue its legacy. -
Sony and Playstation (PS1)
Sony makes its debut into the video game industry with the 32-bit Play Station 1. 3rd party developers were especially attracted to this platform because of the streamlined design process it featured. "Metal Gear Solid" and "Final Fantasy VII" were hit titles. It outsold its competitor, Nintendo's N64 (released in 1996) by over 71.32 units. Sony would become a major competitor in the video game industry from this point. -
SEGA Dreamcast and the Beginning of Online Gaming
SEGA's last console was also the first console to have online features. People could play video games with others without having to use the same console. It was discontinued March 31, 2001. From this point on, most consoles would have online features if they were going be successful. -
Playstation 2 is the Best Selling Console of All Time.
The PS2 became the best selling console, having sold over 155 million units worldwide. There have been 3,800 game titles with 1.5 billion games sold for this console alone. It was officially discontinued in 2012, and has had one of the longest console lifespans ever. -
Microsoft Xbox
Microsoft's Xbox was the first console offered by an American company since the Atari Jaguar. Xbox would become a major competitor in the industry alongside the Playstation 2, Nintendo Gamecube, and the SEGA Dreamcast, which at this point was beginning to fall behind in sales. The console proved to be very successful with games like "Halo 2" and "Elder Scrolls III". The Xbox established Microsoft as a major competitor that would fill the void left by SEGA. -
7th generation consoles and onward
This generation of consoles began with the release of Microsoft's Xbox 360 in 2005. Sony's PS3 and the Nintendo Wii would follow soon after. Each offered something unique to their console. Xbox had games rendered in HD resolution, the PS3 had a 3D Blu-ray player, and the Wii would focus on motion control using sensors.
These 3 main competitors would continue to release their consoles in close succession, and thus a new "generation" would begin.
