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1st generation gaming
Inspired by Baer's original Tennis Game, Atari created the game Pong. It became a huge success. This game truly launched the electronic gaming revolution. -
1st generation gaming
The world's first home video game system. The Odyssey utilized simple black-and-white graphics, enhanced by plastic overlays for the television screen. -
1st generation gaming
The "golden age" of home video games was launched in October 1977 when Atari released its own programmable video game system. Atari's Video Computer System (VCS), later known as the Atari 2600. It ran the popular games: Space Invaders, Asteroids, and Pac-Man. -
2 generation gaming
Mattel launched its Intellivision video game system. Intellivision was the first video game system to utilize a 16-bit microprocessor—the General Instruments 1600. Intellivision became known for its proprietary sports titles, such as Major League Baseball, NFL Football, NHL Hockey, and NBA Basketball, even though the lack of third-party games contributed to its second-place showing against the Atari 2600. -
3 gen consoles
The Atari 5200 SuperSystem was based on the graphics and audio chips found in the Atari 400 personal computer. Games for the 5200 were essentially improved releases of older 2600 (VCS) games; this lack of new games failed to excite consumers, and the 5200 was lost amid the overall market crash of 1982. -
3 gen consoles
Colecovision featured high-quality graphics and utilized an 8-bit Z-80A microprocessor with 8K RAM. Colecovision's main claim to fame is that it offered high-quality versions of arcade favorites Donkey Kong, Defender, Frogger, Joust, Spy Hunter, and Zaxxon. -
3 gen concoles
In 1983, Nintendo released the Famicon ("family computer") video game system to the Japanese market. The console was a hit, selling 2.5 million units in its first year, and Nintendo began negotiations with Atari to distribute the system in the United States. Those talks fell through, however, and Nintendo decided to distribute the system itself in the United States, under the name Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). -
4 gen consoles
Atari attempted to reverse its sliding fortunes by releasing the long-awaited Atari 7800 ProSystem in 1986. Unfortunately, the 7800 featured outdated technology and did not compete effectively against newer fourth-generation game systems. -
4 gen consoles
More formidable was the Sega Genesis game system (sold as the Mega Drive in Japan). Released to the U.S. market in 1989, Genesis was the first true 16-bit game system, using a Motorola 68000 microprocessor. Its sales received a significant boost with the 1991 release of the Sonic the Hedgehog game. -
Gameboy
Also released in 1989 was the first programmable handheld game system, Nintendo's GameBoy. It featured a black-and-white LCD screen and came prepackaged with a Tetris cartridge. With more than 100 million units shipped in various configurations, the GameBoy holds the honor of being the world's all-time best-selling video game system -
NEC TurboGrafx-16
NEC's TurboGrafx-16. (The system was launched in Japan in 1988 as the PC Engine.) Although the TurboGrafx-16 was advertised as a 16-bit system, it actually used an 8-bit microprocessor, assisted by a 16-bit graphics chip and 64K RAM; it was notable as the first game console to have a CD player attachment. -
Nintendo Super NES
To compete with the Sega Genesis, Nintendo launched its own 16-bit system in 1991. The Super NES (known as the Super Famicon in Japan). The initial U.S. production run of 300,000 units sold out overnight; over the course of its product life, more than 46 million Super NES units were sold worldwide. -
Atari Jaguar
In December 1993, a full six years since the release of its last game console, Atari attempted to re-enter the fray by releasing a 64-bit video game system. The CD-ROM-based Atari Jaguar promised to be a revolutionary machine but was hampered by a lack of game cartridges and practically nonexistent marketing. In 1996, Atari officially killed the Jaguar, and dropped out of the video game market altogether -
Sony Playstation
In September 1995, Sony released its first video game system, the Playstation, to the U.S. market. Backed with a massive advertising campaign, the Playstation unseated both Nintendo and Sega to become the leading home video game system; to date, it has sold more than 50 million units worldwide. -
Nintendo 64
n 1996, five years after the release of the Super NES, Nintendo released its own sixth-generation game system, the Nintendo 64. The Nintendo 64 was the first home system to utilize a 64-bit microprocessor (hence the name); it was priced at just $150, significantly lower than its competition. The launch was hugely successful, with 1.7 million units sold in the first three months of release. -
Sega Dreamcast
Sega upped the video game ante in 1999 with the release of its Dreamcast system. Incorporating a 128-bit microprocessor and 26MB memory, the Dreamcast ran on Microsoft's Windows CE platform. Dreamcast had strong sales until Sony's release of its Playstation 2; continuing financial problems led Sega to discontinue production in March 2001. -
Sony Playstation 2
Sony released the Playstation 2 (PS2), powered by a 128-bit "Emoticon Engine" microprocessor and 32MB memory. In the first two days of its March 2000 Japanese launch, Sony sold more than 1 million units. Released in the United States in October 2000, the $200 console sold out its initial run of 500,000 units within a matter of hours. Three years after the PS2's launch, worldwide console sales had reached 60 million units, making it the dominant video game system in the current market. -
Microsoft Xbox
Microsoft entered the video game market in November 2001 with its widely anticipated Xbox system. The Xbox incorporated a 733MHz Pentium III microprocessor, 64MB RAM, a 10GB hard drive, and built-in Ethernet support. Microsoft initially shipped 1.1 million units to retailers; in its first two years of release, almost 10 million units were sold worldwide. -
PlayStation 3
The PlayStation 3 (PS3) is a home video game console developed by Sony Computer Entertainment. It is the successor to PlayStation 2, and is part of the PlayStation brand of consoles. It was first released on November 11, 2006, in Japan, November 17, 2006, in North America, and March 23, 2007, in Europe and Australia.The PlayStation 3 mainly competes against consoles such as Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii. -
Nintendo Wii U
The Wii U is a home video game console developed by Nintendo, and the successor to the Wii. The console was released in November 2012 and was the first ninth-generation video game console, as it competed with Sony's PlayStation 4 and Microsoft's Xbox One. -
PlayStation 4
Announced as the successor to the PlayStation 3 during a press conference on February 20, 2013, it was launched on November 15 in North America, November 29 in Europe, South America and Australia; and February 22, 2014, in Japan. It competes with Nintendo's Wii U and Switch, and Microsoft's Xbox One. -
nintendo switch
The Nintendo Switch is the seventh major video game console developed by Nintendo. It was unveiled in October 2016 and was released worldwide on March 3, 2017. Nintendo considers the Switch a "hybrid" console: it is designed primarily as a home console, with the main unit inserted onto a docking station to connect to a television. Alternatively, it can be removed from the dock and used similarly to a tablet computer through its LCD touchscreen, -
Playstation 5
The PlayStation 5 (PS5) is a home video game console developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment. It was announced as the successor to the PlayStation 4 in April 2019, was launched on November 12, 2020, in Australia, Japan, New Zealand, North America, and South Korea, and was released worldwide one week later.