The Seventh Generation

•The seventh generation gaming consoles have come a long way technologically ever since the first video gaming console was launched. The domination has varied between Sony, Microsoft & Nintendo. The PlayStation 3 is the third home video game console produced by Sony and the successor to the PlayStation 2. It was also the first HD games console. The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft, and the successor to the Xbox, it was the first video game console to have a online network. The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. The Wii is Nintendo's fifth home console, the successor to the Nintendo GameCube.

The Fifth Generation

The fifth generation of home video game systems featured, more detailed graphics, and more imaginative games. This generation was dominated by Nintendo and Sony. The two main consoles of this generation was the PlayStation 1 & Nintendo 64. The original PlayStation released in December 1994 was the first of the PlayStation series of console and hand-held game devices. The Nintendo 64 is Nintendo's third home video game console for the international market. It was released in March 1997.

The Golden Age of Gaming

Sega Mega drive

Sega beat Nintendo to the 16-bit market with the mega drive and the machine established itself as being the cool machine to own. Games were notably more violent that the SNES, with less influence over of what was released there are loads of average games amongst the classics. Version 2 had the headphone jack removed, A/V port changed to a custom multi out port that provides stereo sound to T.V’s, RF port removed, Different AC adapter used, Push button power switch. A third version genesis 3 was released in the US.

 

SNES

The Super Nintendo Entertainment System has an excellent catalog of classic games including possibly the best game of all time Mario Kart. Released in 1991 as the super Famicom in Japan, it was later called the Super Nintendo in Europe and the US.

The Evolution of Video Game Controllers

•First Video controller was the atari 2600. Box Shaped with joystick & button. The joystick evolved into a joypad, which had no stick & two buttons. Then came the game cube with handles & a pad & joysticks. Then all controllers went wireless.

The video game crash & rise of nintendo

•In 1984, ET was released following the movie success, but the game flopped in style and became the worst video game in history. Nintendo was founded & decided to return the video game to the world, but at first failed miserabely. With this in mind, Nintendo re-branded as a toy and partnered with world of wonder, this ended with the rise of Nintendo, and by 1990 was one – tenth of the sales between USA & Japan.

Atari 2600

The Atari 2600  was released in the 1970’s in Japan, United Kingdom & United States. When first released it was provided nine games, which at the time was a huge amount of games. After a very poor late 70’s in the early 80’s they released the home version of Space Invaders and sales rocketed again, and following another crash in sales Atari released Pacman and ET. However in 1986 the console fell out of fashion following the rise of Nintendo.

Pong

Pong was a 2d game which represented table tennis. The game was designed & built by Allan Alcorn as a training exercise in May 1972. The cultural implications were that as it was the first commercially viable it became an addiction for children everywhere & made a total sale of 150,000 units, which was huge at the time. My opinions on the game are that for the time it was first introduced it was new, exciting & fun for children of that era. Compared to modern games such as Fifa, COD etc. It is simple, basic graphics & would be hard for the game to be able to compete in modern times.

Asteroids

Asteroids was a popular arcade game through out the United Kingdom, United States & Japan during the late 70s & early 80s. The game was designed by Atari and was first released on the 22^nd in 1978 in Japan. It was the third arcade game to be released following Pong & Space Invaders. It made the highest amount of revenue in arcades during the 80s, but however Space Invaders has since surpassed it. Asteroids is addictive because of its simple graphics.

Space Invaders

Space Invaders was a popular arcade game through out the United Kingdom, United States & Japan during the the late 70s and early 80s. The game was designed by Midway and was first released in June 1978 in Japan. It was the second arcade game to be released following Pong. In 2008 a new version of the game was banned for being placed in arcades following claims it was based on the September 11^th Attacks on the World Trade Center. Space Invaders is addictive because of its space geek theme

Pacman

Pacman was a popular arcade game through out the United Kingdom, United States & Japan during the 1980s. The game was designed by Namco and was first released on the 22^nd of May 1980 in Japan. In December 1981 a song named Pac-Man fever was released and made the US Billboard Chart at #9. It was the fourth arcade game to be released following Pong, Space Invaders & Asteroids. There are 255 levels of Pacman, however due to a software bug the 256^th split screen level was never completed. The game is proper addictive due to the fact its like a game of cops & robbers.