At Jamie’s Computers, recently, we have been receiving lots of donations of old gaming consoles. Which has inspired this weeks instalment of Tech Through Time: The Evolution of the Gaming Console…
The First Generation
The Magnavox console was the first home video game console. It was created by Ralph Baer. This console was a big part of the evolution of gaming consoles.
This console was the first to achieve commercial success. It played a big part in arcade gaming and had games such as Pong. Which was very popular.
The Second Generation
The Atari 2600 was a popular home gaming console. It allowed the gaming experience of the arcade into your home. This console is known for its video game selection like Pac-Man and Space invaders.
The Third Generation
The Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) brought us games and franchises that remain incredibly popular even today, such as Super Mario Bros and The Legend of Zelda.
The Sega Master System was a big rival to the NES. This console introduced the 8-bit graphic, which meant that it was able to display more detail, which of course, enhanced the gaming experience.
The Fourth Generation
This console was very competitive with the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (1990), as it offered a different gaming experience. The Sega Genesis brought us game franchises with Sonic the Hedgehog and the Mortal Combat Series.
This console brought improved graphics and expanded its gaming catalogue again with; Super Mario World and The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past.
The Fifth Generation
The Sony PlayStation brought; CD based game – allowing more storage and better graphics, which included 3-D images. It brought us franchises such as; Final Fantasy, Metal Gear Solid and the iconic Crash Bandicoot.
The Nintendo 64 brought games to life in 3-D worlds: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. This console was also known for its multiplayer.
The Sixth Generation
The Sega Dreamcast was a big milestone in gaming history as it brought us the concept of online gaming. It was the first console to have a built in modem.
The PlayStation 2 also changed the gaming industry due to its popularity. It was the first console to allow you to play DVD’s.
The Seventh Generation
The Xbox 360 introduced the concept of achievements. Being able to earn rewards in games brought a new level of competitiveness for gamers and their friends. This console had a big library of well know franchises, which were exclusive to this console; Halo and Gears of War.
When The PlayStation 3 was released it came with improved graphics and had the ability to play Blu-Ray discs. Bringing a very high quality video playback.
The Eighth Generation
When the WII U was released it allowed you to have a second screen gaming experience. This aimed to enhance the gaming experience. But, unfortunately, it faced many challenges when it came to battery life and the support of third parties and game developers where cautious to invest their time and resources to make games for the console.
Again, The PlayStation 4 brought improved graphics and power. Making the gaming experience more realistic and smoother. It brought games such as Uncharted 4 and God of War.
The Xbox One was The PlayStation 4 big competitor. The Xbox One also brought its own improved graphics and game play. It came with the Kinect Motion Sensor, allowing your body to be the control. This console was big when it came to multiplayer, which was called Xbox Live. It also gave us games such as Halo 5: Guardians.
The Ninth Generation – Present
When The PlayStation 5 was released it was high in demand and didn’t have the stock to keep up. It also featured a high-quality graphics resolution. It also brought a new Dual Sense Controller. The console also brought with it backwards compatibility, meaning, users to play their PlayStation 4 games. It had exclusive games such as: Spider-Man: Miles Morales.
Like its competitor, The PlayStation 5 (PS5), it was also high in demand and didn’t have the stock to keep up. It also featured a high-quality graphics resolution. Like the PS5 it came with backwards compatibility and more exclusive games like Halo Infinite.
Overall, the evolution of the gaming console has been pretty amazing. From simple consoles at the beginning, to high quality and powerful consoles. With the discovery of AI (Artificial Intelligence) ever growing a evolving it will be really interesting too see what happens next.
If you have any old gaming consoles or tech that you wish donate, you can find out more here.
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