The Gaming Consoles Challenge

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© Copyright Samantha Eagle
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The Brown Box (Prototype)
Magnavox Odyssey
Released in 1967
This allows players to control two squares
chasing each other on the screen.
Released in 1972
This allows players to control two squares
chasing each other on the screen.
This system needed batteries and had no
sound.
Atari PONG
Magnavox Odyssey 100
Magnavox Odyssey 200
Released in 1975
Released in 1975
This console did not use cartridges. It played
two games: TENNIS and HOCKEY.
Released in 1975
This console was same as the Odyssey 100 but
had a third game called SMASH and some onscreen scoring. It could be played by two or
four players.
Atari Super PONG
Wonder Wizard 7702
Coleco Telstar
Coleco Telstar Classic
Released in 1976
The Super PONG allowed you to select 4
different variations of PONG games.
Released in 1976
It had a 3-position switch to choose one of
three combinations of difficulties.
Released in 1976
This console played three games with three
difficulty levels. The games could be played in
colour.
Released in 1976
This console was a video tennis clone similar to
Pong. With a price of $50.
This unit had 3 games (Tennis, Hockey,
Handball) and 3 different skill levels.
Magnavox Odyssey 300
Released in 1976
This console had collision detection and onscreen scoring, etc.
Magnavox Odyssey 400
Magnavox Odyssey 500
Fairchild Channel F
RCA Studio II
Release In 1976
This console played the same games than the
Odyssey 200 and had digital on-screen scoring.
Release Year: 1976
The Odyssey 500 was also released in 1976,
and was very advanced for that time.
Release Year: 1976
This console looked like an 8-track cassette
deck. It was the first console that was
programmable. The system had 26 cartridges
available, with up to four games on each
cartridge. The usual, sports, educational, Math
Quiz, Checkers etc.
Released in 1976
This console had no colour. It released 8
games.
Atari Video Pinball
Atari Stunt Cycle
Atari VCS 2600
Released in 1977
You could use the bumper controllers on the
sides or a dial on the front to control the
games. Pinball, Basketball, and Breakout.
Released in 1977
Atari brought Atari Stunt Cycle into the home.
Stunt Cycle was riding on the popularity of Evel
Knievel. It was supposed to make you feel like
you were riding the cycle as you jumped over
cars and buses.
Released in 1977
This console was the first successful video
game console to use cartridges instead of
having games built in.
VCS stands for Video Computer System. The
original price was $199 with a library of 9 titles.
Coleco Telstar Combat
Released in 1977
No other company manufactured a dedicated
console with such elaborate controls.
The console plays four variations of a tank
battle game.
Coleco Telstar Alpha
Magnavox
Odyssey 2000
Magnavox
Odyssey 3000
Released in 1977
The system played 4 games in three difficulty
levels. It is the successor of the three older
models (Telstar, Telstar Classic and Telstar
Ranger), and only differs by its case and fourth
game (JAI-ALAI, also known as SQUASH).
Released in 1977
This console was the most advanced one yet.
Released in 1977
This console was similar to the 2000 offering
the same games in a newly styled, more
modern case.
It also featured detachable controllers which
allowed more freedom when playing.
Magnavox
Odyssey 4000
Released in 1977
The Odyssey 4000 featured 8 exciting games in
full colour. The console also featured real
joysticks.
Coleco Telstar Colortron
Coleco Telstar Arcade
Bally
Professional
Arcade
Magnavox Odyssey²
Released in 1978
The system offers 4 games and the picture was
in colour. The sound was better than other
systems. You selected a game by using a
push-button. The system required two 9V
batteries: one for the "video" (the games), and
one for the "sound".
Released in 1978
This console played three types of games,
which were played on three sides of the case.
The first side was for PONG games e.g. Tennis
the second side was for target shooting games
which had its own gun storage. The third face
was for car racing games.
Released in 1978
Released in 1978
This system came with two controllers, RF
switch with TV box, power supply, and the
Speedway, Spinout and Cryptologic game
cartridge.
It was the first to introduce the standard
joystick design. The first game released was
the instant classic Quest for the Rings!
Coleco Telstar Gemini
Released in 1978
This console had 2 shooting games and 4
pinball games.
It featured 2 flipper buttons on either side
which simulated playing a real pinball machine.
There is also a big red button on top which was
used to launch the ball in to the play field.
Zircon Channel F System II
Released in 1979
This console played sounds through the TV, It
had removable controllers.
The games run from single to multi game
cartridges, and various options for the games
are selected by the 4 main buttons on the front
of the console.
Atari 400
Released in 1979
This console was designed primarily as a
computer for children, it had a "advanced childproof design.
It boots-up into "Notepad". Any other programs
run from a cassette or cartridge.
Mattel
Intellivision
Vectrex
Atari 5200
Release Year: 1980
This console had twelve games, better graphics
and sound than its competitors.
Released in 1982
This console sold for $199. It connected to TVs
and included its own monitor. It used overlays
to give the illusion of colour, and also to reduce
flickering. They sold high-quality versions of
games like Space Wars and Armor Attack. The
system even contained a built in game, the
Asteroids-like Minestorm.
Released in 1982
The Atari 5200 was an Atari 400 computer
without a keyboard. The system had the first
automatic TV switch box, allowing it to
automatically switch from regular TV viewing to
the game system signal when the system was
activated.
Emerson
Arcadia 2001
Colecovision
Coleco Gemini
Mattel Intellivision II
Released in 1982
This was a small cartridge-based system. A
great console with great games.
Released in 1982
This console has 170 titles on plug-in cartridges
during its lifetime. The controller was a flat
joystick, two side buttons, and a number-pad.
It had the ability to expand the hardware
system, and the ability to play other video
game system games.
Released in 1982
The controllers for this console had an 8-way
joystick and a 270-degree paddle on the same
controller.
Released in 1982
This console sold for $99.99. It had 16 position
removable joysticks.
Nintendo Entertainment System
(NES)
Atari 2600 Junior
Atari 7800
Sega Master System (SMS)
Released in 1985
Nintendo made plans to produce its own
console hardware that had removable
cartridges.
Released in 1986
This console retailed for $49.99 and came
with a controller, RF switch and power cord.
Game Difficulty could be switched on the
back.
Released in 1986
Released in 1986
Sega decided to develop a console system
of its own.
NEC Turbo Grafx 16
Sega Genesis
Sega Master System II
Released in 1989
This console had a 16-bit graphics chip
which displayed up to 256 colours on screen
at once. This was the first console to have
a CD-ROM drive.
Released in 1989
Released in 1990
This console was smaller and sleeker but to
keep production costs low, lacked the reset
button and card slot of the original.
SNK NEO-GEO (AES)
Released in 1990
This console had memory cards that could
be switched between the two, allowing
players to save their progress on one
machine and load it on the other. A MultiLink cable was released that allowed two
Neo Geos to be connected together and be
played on two separate televisions.
Super Nintendo
Entertainment System (SNES)
NEC TurboDuo
Released in 1991
This system was Nintendo's second home
console. Nintendo released the Super
Nintendo Entertainment System which
initially sold for a price of $200. The North
American package included the game Super
Mario World. The SNES was released in the
United Kingdom and Ireland in April 1992
for £150.
Released in 1992
The system could play audio CDs, CD+Gs,
CD-ROM2 and Super CD games as well as
standard HuCards.
The original pack included one control pad,
an AC adapter, RCA cables, a CD-ROM2
title, a Super CD disc including Bonk's
Adventure, Bonk's Revenge, Gates of
Thunder and a secret version of
Bomberman accessible via an easter egg.
Sega CD for Genesis
Released in 1992
This console had a single speed CD drive
which added load times to all games.
Panasonic 3DO Interactive
Released in 1993
Atari Jaguar
Released in 1993
This console was said to be 64-bit.
Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)
Model 2
Released in 1993
In 1993, Nintendo released a top loading
NES model 2. This newer model was scaled
down to nearly half the size of the original.
The cartridge port was more stable, and
used eject & power buttons.
Sega Genesis 2
Released in 1994
With this console you got an AC adapter, RF
switch, controller, and the Sonic the
Hedgehog 2 game.
Sega CD for Genesis 2
Released in 1994
Not long after, the Sega CD for Genesis 2
arrived. The Sega Mega-CD was an add-on
device for the Sega Mega Drive released in
Europe, Australia, and Japan. The US
version is known as the Sega CD.
Sega Genesis 32x
Released in 1994
The Sega 32X can only be used in
conjunction with a Sega Mega Drive/Sega
Genesis system.
SNK NEO-GEO CD
Released in 1994
The Neo Geo CD is essentially the same
hardware as the AES but with a CD drive
instead of the cartridge slot.
Sega CDX
Released in 1994
The Multi-Mega or CDX was a 16-bit video
game console.
Atari Jaguar CD
Released in 1995
The Atari Jaguar CD sat on top of the Jaguar
console and plugged into the cartridge slot.
Sony PlayStation
Released in 1995
The PlayStation was launched in Japan in
Dec 1994, the USA in Sept, 1995 and
Europe in Sept, 1995. In America, with
titles of almost every genre including
Toshinden, Twisted Metal, Warhawk, and
Ridge Racer. Almost all of Sony's and
Namco's launch titles went on to produce
numerous sequels.
Panasonic 3DO FZ-10
Released in 1995
There was only one controller port. The
controllers needed to be daisy-chained
together. The original controllers even have
a built-in stereo headphone jack and
volume control. It also sports internal
memory and 2 expansion ports. It had a
bunch of accessories. Everything from game
pads, to steering wheels and flight sticks.
Sega
Saturn
Nintendo 64
Released in 1995
Released in 1996
The Nintendo 64, was Nintendo’s third
home video game console. It was released
with only two launch games in Japan and
North America (Super Mario 64 and
PilotWings 64) while Europe had a third
launch title in the form of Star Wars:
Shadows of the Empire.
Super Nintendo Entertainment
(SNES) Model 2
Sega Genesis 3
Released in 1997
In October 1997, Nintendo released a
redesigned SNES 2 in North America for $99
USD (which included the pack-in game Super
Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island).
Released in 1998
This console retailed for $29.99 and came
packaged with one controller, AV cables,
and a power cord. The system was very
tiny.
Sega Dreamcast
Released in 1999
The Dreamcast was the first console to
include a built-in modem and Internet
support for on-line gaming.
Sony PlayStation PS1
Released in 2000
The first new version was actually a revision
in early 1995, produced in response to
complaints that PlayStations were
overheating.
Sony produced a redesigned version of the
original console, called the "PSone", in a
smaller (and more ergonomic) case.
Sony PlayStation 2 (SCPH-5000x)
Released in 2000
The PlayStation 2 was such a hot item after
its release that it was near impossible to
find one on retailer shelves, leaving those
wanting a PlayStation 2 to either wait or
purchase the console on-line at sites such
as eBay, where the console was being sold
by many people for twice and sometimes
five times as much as the listed price.
Although the launch titles for the PS2 were
unimpressive in 2000, the holiday season of
2001 saw the release of several best-selling
and critically acclaimed games.
Nintendo Game Cube
Released in 2001
This console looked just as the name
suggests, like a cube. It has a unique CD in
the GameCube Optical Disc, which are 3 1/8
inches in diameter. The discs have a
capacity of approximately 1.5 gigabytes.
It comes in a variety of colours, such as
indigo, platinum, and black.
Microsoft X-Box
Released in 2001
The Xbox was Microsoft's first independent
venture into the video game console arena.
Some titles at launch include Amped, Dead
or Alive 3, Halo: Combat Evolved,
Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee, and Project
Gotham Racing.
In November 2002 Microsoft released the
Xbox Live on-line gaming service, allowing
subscribers to play on-line with or against
other people all around the world and
download new content for their games to
the hard drive.
Sony PlayStation 2 (SCPH70000)
Released in 2004
In September of 2004, in time for the
launch of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Sony revealed a new, smaller PS2.
XaviXPORT
Released in 2004
Microsoft X-Box 360
Released in 2005
Sony PlayStation 3
Released in 2006
Nintendo Wii
Released in 2006
This console contains image recognition and
infrared sensors that can detect player
movements.
The Xbox 360 is Microsoft's newest video
game console. This console is sold in two
different configurations: the "Xbox 360" and
the "Xbox 360 Core System". The Xbox 360
includes a hard drive a wireless controller, a
headset, an Ethernet cable, an Xbox Live
silver subscription, and a component HD AV
cable (which can also be used on non-HD
TVs).
During its first week of release in the United
States, PlayStation 3s were being sold on
eBay for more than $2300 USD. Reports of
violence surrounding it include a customer
shot, campers robbed at gunpoint,
customers shot in a drive-by shooting with
BB guns, and 60 campers fighting over 10
systems. Two GameStop employees
fabricated a robbery to cover up their own
theft of several PlayStation 3 and four Xbox
360 consoles.
Nintendo's Wii™ console brings a revolution
of motion controlled gaming to people of all
ages.