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Atari Founded
Bushnell and Dabney found Atari. They name the company after a term from the Japanese game "Go". "Atari" is equivalent to "check" in a chess game. -
Pong Released for Atari
Atari's Pong is released with help from Sears Roebuck, which finances the production of 150,000 units. It becomes the hottest selling Christmas present. Sears sells the product exclusively, with the Sears Tele-Games logo. -
Atari 2600 Released
Atari introduces its first cartridge-based home video system called the Video Computer System which later becomes known as the Atari 2600. It retails for $249.95. -
Commodore 64 Release
The Commodore 64 is introduced. It is the most powerful video-game console to date and the least expensive. -
Nintendo Famicon
Nintendo introduces the Famicom in Japan—later known as the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) in the U.S. Since Atari controls such a large percentage of the market, they do not plan to market the product in the U.S. Instead the company offers Atari the rights to distribute the product in the U.S. These plans fall through and Americans do not see Nintendo until 1985. -
Tetris
The popular game Tetris is developed by Russian programmer Alex Pajitnov. It is played on a PC. -
Nintendo Entertainment System
Nintendo's NES is released in the U.S. after being test-marketed in NY one year earlier. -
Gameboy
Nintendo releases the handheld Game Boy for $109. -
Sega Genesis
The true arcade experience comes into American homes when Sega debuts the Genesis, its first 16-bit home game console, for $249.95. -
Super NES
Super NES is released in the U.S. by Nintendo for $249.95. -
Playstation
Sony brings the PlayStation to the U.S. and sells the console for $299. -
Nintendo 64
Nintendo releases the Nintendo 64 in Japan (it's released in the U.S. in 1996). -
Playstation 2
Sony's PlayStation 2 launches in the U.S. for $299.99 and is sold out by early morning. Since the demand is so high and only 500,000 units are available, it is very difficult to buy a unit during this first shipment. -
Xbox and Nintendo Gamecube
Microsoft and Nintendo introduce their next-generation systems within days of each other. Microsoft claims its Xbox offers "the most powerful game experiences ever." The product (estimated retail price of $299.99) comes with a built-in hard drive and Ethernet port. Nintendo's GameCube (suggested retail price of $199.95) delivers new forms of interactive gaming for players and an easier development environment for game creators. -
Xbox 360
Microsoft unveils the Xbox 360, a console system to be released in November 2005. Sony and Nintendo's competing console systems are planned for release in 2006. -
Playstation 3
Sony also debuts the Playstation 3, a very sophisticated and expensive game system. -
Wii
Nintendo releases the Wii, a gaming system that lets gamers use the controller in revolutionary ways, such as swinging it like a tennis racket, holding and tilting it like a steering wheel, and more. -
Xbox One and PS4
Both Sony (PlayStation 4) and Microsoft (XBox One) release new gaming platforms this year. Offering social connection through "next generation cooperative and competitive multiplayer play," these systems offer amazing graphics and speed.
