The Evolution of the Video Game Console 1972-Present

By Marsha James | June 13, 2006

When video games first premiered they were played primarily by the younger generation. As the gaming systems evolve adults can and will hog their kids games and many childless adults buy the systems for themselves. Along with lots of games.
The video game creators took notice and have brought out many games that are rated R or M, which means you need to be 17 or older to purchase these type of games. However with the internet and auction sites like Ebay, kids still get these games into their hands.
Below is the list of gaming systems starting with the first console Magnavox Odyssey down the most recent, which many people are actually waiting for and that is Playstation 3. Click on the pictures to see a larger image. Or click on the words to find out more about the gaming systems themselves. You can also click on the Generation titles.
1983 seems to be the saddest time for gamers because that is when the video game crash happened. Major players for the second generation gaming machines went bankrupt and it wasn’t until 1984 that new games and systems were available once again.
Many attributed the crash to the fact that these system cost roughly the same as another almost new electronic and that is the desktop pc. Computer companies were competing and win with major advertising campaigns. Some of the campaigns would ask the parents if they would rather spend money on a game which distracts from their child’s education, or spend it on a computer which can help get your young into college. I can see why parents chose computers.
As I look back at what were once expensive video game consoles I have to wonder if some of them really were. The ones that flopped big, looked awful even for the 80′s, but I guess we needed them to get to where we are now in gaming.
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categories Gaming News, Next Gen Consoles, Nintendo GameCube Console, Xbox Console

42 Comments

  • By Will, June 14, 2006 @ 6:08 am

    I’m sure you will get a flood of comments saying “you missed such-and-such console.” I will be the first of those: the Sega CD add-on is missing from the list. It should be somewhere between the Genesis/Mega Drive and 32X.

    Would the Sega CD-X count? I know you aren’t listing portables here, but the CD-X didn’t have its own screen, so I’m not sure if that counts as a console or not.

  • By Preston, June 14, 2006 @ 8:21 am

    It doesn’t include portables (as I think the trackbacker mentioned above).

    That list would be HUGE. (not that this one isn’t already… heh)

  • By Crimson Sin, June 14, 2006 @ 2:11 pm

    What about the CD-I?

  • By MrPoopie, June 14, 2006 @ 2:23 pm

    You didn’t include the Philips CD-i. NOt that it was anything great, but it should still be on the list

  • By Aesthetics, June 14, 2006 @ 2:32 pm

    Of all these systems, only the 2600 brought video games and wood paneling together. I always thought that was a hilariously cool touch.

  • By Aran, June 14, 2006 @ 2:44 pm

    As far as those post-2600/pre-NES years of 1983-86 are concerned, it was all about PC/Apple gaming back then. “Archon”, “Dr. J and Larry Bird”, and of course “Lode Runner.” When it first came out, me and my friends primarily used the Mac as a gaming platform!

  • By Niero, June 14, 2006 @ 3:21 pm

    I’ve been meaning to put together an ebay to-do list, much appreciated.

  • By Junkdenate, June 14, 2006 @ 3:24 pm

    The Action Max VHS game console is missing. It’s a consoel that would hook up to a VCR and TV. The player would put a VHS tape in their VCR turn on the console and play light gun games on the console.

  • By Katsu, June 14, 2006 @ 3:41 pm

    Missing Neo Geo CD and/or Neo Geo CDZ.

  • By Jason, June 14, 2006 @ 4:44 pm

    Sega CD is missing, the system that kicked off the awesome Lunar series & had a few other awesome games such as VAY & WWIII & Popful Mail.

  • By Jason, June 14, 2006 @ 4:46 pm

    Also what about the Amiga?

  • By Lolento, June 14, 2006 @ 4:50 pm

    Forgot the Original red/white NES system that is the same as the grey box in the US.

    I still have one =)

  • By Justin, June 14, 2006 @ 5:02 pm

    The Atari XEGS (XE Game System) is missing as well. While it was another repackaging of the Atari 8-bit computer line, it definitely was its own console, out at the same time as the Sega Master System and NES.

    Nice compilation, though! :)

  • By Jon, June 14, 2006 @ 8:47 pm

    You forgot the nintendo iQue… or would that be considered a hanheld

  • By Brandon, June 14, 2006 @ 11:18 pm

    No TurboGrafx?

  • By standard paradox, June 14, 2006 @ 11:29 pm

    Well, there are a few more missing from the list;

    The Olmpian 2600
    http://www.geocities.com/pants_from_space/olympian.html
    A great game, the joysticks have the smoothest bearings you can get, and are very well machined aluminum jobbers. Most of the games were variations on eachother, but man…Shoot and Shooting are awesome!

    The Nintendo Virtual boy should be up there, as it isn’t actually a handheld. However, it is “portable,” in a sense (and therefore why it is not included), but so would all of these be if you stuck them in a bag with a TV and car battery and then carried it around with you.

    And if the APF is going to be included, then shouldn’t the Commodore 64 and Spectrum Sinclair also be included? This is kinda arguing if they are consoles or computers, or if by including them then all computers must be included, except that it wasn’t long after that computers began to use monitors instead of televisions (a good place to draw distinction, which would also remove the VirtualBoy from the list). Also, C64 has a library of over 6000 games, which kinda puts it at a shoe-in for a game console. Many programmers got their first start on the Sinclair as well….anyone know of a little company known as Codemasters?

    And what about all those small “Namco classics” plug n play games? Those should qualify as well.

    Anyway, a nice list, and mostly glad that the generations have been labeled correctly. Though, just because it’s on wikipedia doesn’t mean it’s right.

  • By liqorice, June 15, 2006 @ 1:58 am

    you are missing the Sega PC, it was a cross between the megadrive and a PC

  • By juan, June 15, 2006 @ 6:12 am

    also the playdia. :) thats my contribution to the list.

  • By Simon, June 15, 2006 @ 6:54 am

    The last Neo-Geo game, Samurai Shodown 5 Special was released in English and Japanese – so the machine should ‘end’ in 2004 for both countries.

  • By Kusanhagi, June 15, 2006 @ 7:43 am

    Turbo Grafix 16

  • By Thispaceforsale, June 15, 2006 @ 8:27 am

    Also the Nuon, nicely done overall, though.

  • By Derek, June 15, 2006 @ 8:36 am

    Dreamcast was 1999, not 1998. Remember its release date 9/9/99?

  • By Modab, June 15, 2006 @ 9:35 am

    Um, looks like the Turbo Grafix is up there.
    The best game machine I played on as a kid was the
    TI-99/4A

  • By Kurt, June 15, 2006 @ 11:50 am

    Where is the brown box??? It was the first proof of concept machine in 1964. Eventually it became the Magnavox, many years later. Also Tank Battle from ColecoVision is missing.

  • By Guest, June 16, 2006 @ 12:32 pm

    MIA!
    Philips cd-i
    Amiga cdtv
    3DO

  • By jimbob, August 7, 2006 @ 4:05 pm

    what about the atari 7500? hmmmmm??

  • By Kevin, September 19, 2006 @ 4:08 pm

    I feel the need to point out a few errors…

    The Intellivison lasted all the way up until 1990. Post crash, the system was supported by INTV Corp. who bought the rights to the machine and it’s catalogue, and proceeded to release new games for the rest of the 80s.

    The Atari 2600 also ran until 1990 in Europe, with puzzle game releases Pick n Pile and Acid Drop being essentially the last hurrah.

    The Neo Geo ran in the US until 2004 as well, as Samurai Shodown V Special had a North American version released alongside the Japanese.

    Finally, the Dreamcast saw new official game releases in Japan up to this year. Though it died in 2002 in the US, it still manages to eke out a few new arcade ports a year.

    The Phillips CD-I and the Memorex VIS are both missing from this list, as well. Neither were much more than footnotes, but they should see some mention :P

  • By Juan J. Costa, April 17, 2008 @ 12:49 am

    Hello:

    Like in any product if it is not endorsed by good games and a suitable support (publicity) tends to finish being marginalized in the long run. Without forgetting to the CD32 of Amiga.
    Hello:

    Our support from here by the computers with “soul”, as they were the Commodore Amiga, spectrum, etc.

    We are a group of Majorca (Balearic islands Spain) who we artisan made hardware for the users of Commodore Amiga, C64/128, which they need new and exclusive hardware.

    You can visit to us in our Web: http://www.retro-data.com

    Greetings,

    Juan J. Costa

  • By Chuck Norris, October 6, 2008 @ 11:01 am

    PLAYSTATION!!!!

  • By markkkk31, November 9, 2008 @ 7:49 pm

    aamMM!!!!hi add me up markkkk31@yahoo.com

  • By Shizu - Game World, February 1, 2009 @ 1:56 am

    It is very nice of you to do a compilation, together with all the pictures. Thanks. Some consoles are older than I am.

  • By ozi, July 26, 2009 @ 2:00 am

    Find the files you are looking for at megaupload-download.com the most comprehensive source for free-to-try files downloads on the Web

  • By Luke Alexander, September 17, 2009 @ 12:54 pm

    I have been a console player before but I would prefer games using flash right now.

  • By PC Fighting Games Info, October 14, 2009 @ 8:06 am

    I enjoy this post very much, I’m going to link back to your blog in my next article.

  • By finitynth, February 10, 2010 @ 10:58 pm

    like!

Links to this Post

  1. Darwin’s Console at buttonmashing.com — June 13, 2006 @ 9:12 pm

  2. Grrr Re:Blog » Blog Archive » Video Game Consoles: 1972-nu — June 14, 2006 @ 3:57 pm

  3. Gamers Revival » Video game consoles, 1972 through present — June 14, 2006 @ 4:58 pm

  4. Paperholic — June 15, 2006 @ 4:17 am

  5. Kerstin’s Blogger » Blog Archive » Thumb Gods: The Evolution of the Video Game Console 1972-Present — June 15, 2006 @ 12:01 pm

  6. Pacitto.com » Blog Archive » The History of Consoles — June 29, 2006 @ 12:01 pm

  7. aaronrutledge.com » every game console ever — December 3, 2006 @ 9:17 pm

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