By Quinton R.
Date: 3/19/18
Class: 2nd Hour
Evolution of video game systems
Video game systems have been around since 1973. However, they need to have certain parts in order to work. They need a user control interface in order for the controllers to work. They need a CPU in order to run the system. They need RAM so they can run games. They need a software kernel in order to store game data. They need a storage medium so they know what to do and when to do it. They need video and audio outputs in order to connect to a TV, and they need a power supply so you can actually turn it on. All of these are necessary for a Video game system to run, and function correctly.
Now in order to compare video game systems we need to compare their specs. Better machines have better tech. If your console doesn't have the best tech you should put great games on it (We will see an example of this later) The best console in the first generation of consoles was the Magnavox Odyssey. This sold 330,000 copies earning 33 Million dollars from this console in money BACK THEN. Comparing it today’s money that’s 193 Million dollars! Now it’s “games” back then were pretty good, however, those “games” now, are borderline unplayable. It still sold really well for the time. Now the best console in the second generation was… The Atari 5200, For all people who were not around for it (Myself included) this thing was godlike compared to the Magnavox Odyssey. It played actual video games, sold 1 million copies, and had backward compatibility. This console earned Atari around 270 million dollars in 1982 money and 685 million in today’s money. The third generation was probably the most influential generation ever. Guess what the best console for that generation was? It was the NES- Just kidding. It was the Sega Master Drive. There are 2 reasons for this. 1. This thing was way more high tech than any console before it and 2. It had the best selling game of that period. It sold 150 million copies, 3X the amount of Super Mario Bros and gave Sega 7.5 BILLION Dollars. The fourth generation of consoles was a generation of evolution. With the best console being… The Super Famicom! You probably haven’t heard of this but this is just another name for the SNES. It’s the best game was Super Mario World and it just sold much, MUCH better than the Genesis. This is that case of if the tech isn’t better than the competition’s then just put better games on it. However, the Sega Genesis was a technological POWERHOUSE and it was the first console to able to use the INTERNET.
Now, the fifth generation has some familiar faces from today. This is when the first Playstation came out. The best console from this generation was the PlayStation, This had the more 3rd party support and sold well. It didn’t have online support like some others, but it still worked well. The sixth generation has created a brand new beast which brandishes the name: Playstation 2. This sold 155 million CONSOLES. Earning $46,498,450,000 in 2000 money. In today’s money that’s 63,945,000,000 dollars! I’m Pretty sure all of my current readers were around for this generation of video games. The seventh generation was a pretty familiar and game-breaking age of video games. It rose the Wii and Xbox 360. The best console was…. The Nintendo Wii? Seriously, this thing was a BEAST in the market, it sold 101 million units, and broke boundaries with motion controls. It did really well in the market for how much people thought it did. The eighth generation, which is current day. Has a clear winner, The PS4, This thing was cheaper, sold better, and had better games than both the Wii U and the Xbox One. In second place: It is obvious the XBOX- Nope It is the Wii U? Well, with all the sales figures it is estimated that either could have sold better. However, The Xbox costs a lot more money, if you were to get the Xbox, 10 games and Xbox Live since release day to today. It would cost around 1300$. If you were to get the Wii U and 10 games you would be looking at 800$ BECAUSE YOU WON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR INTERNET. So… You are probably all thinking: Why haven't you talked about the switch? Well, there haven’t been any actual amounts of data surrounding it, it is a hybrid console and I am talking about home consoles. So now to summarize.
The Magnavox Odyssey, The Atari, The Sega master drive, the Snes, the PlayStation, The PlayStation 2, the Wii, and the PS4 were all game breaking innovations. The Magnavox was a Starting point, it showed that the idea of video games as possible (Even though it did not have any games whatsoever.) The Atari showed us what the future of video games could hold. The Sega master drive broke boundaries with its tech and saved video games from extinction. The Snes showed us what great games could be created. The PlayStation brought the gaming world to 3D. The PS2 showed what these games could do, and how they feel realistic. The Wii made you feel like you were in the game. And the PS4 Used its graphics to make the images look real and alive.
Video games will continue to evolve and become bigger, better, inspiring, and more than just a series of images on a screen. It will make you think, it will make you feel. That is the real power of
video games. Here is something I think you should hear.
“Video games are supposed to be bad for you? That’s what they said about rock and roll.”- Shigeru Miyamoto. If you say this guy does not know what he is talking about. Then you should know who he is. He is the Co-Director of NINTENDO and he is also the creator of Mario and Bowser! This guy knows what he is talking about. Video games are here to stay and evolve.
Citations
Ceceri, Kathy, and Mike Cromer. Video Games Design and Code Your Own Adventure. Paw Prints, 2015. – Info about Magnavox Odyssey games and overall style of those games
“History of Video Games.” Third Generation of Video Game Consoles, ipfs.io/ipfs/QmXoypizjW3WknFiJnKLwHCnL72vedxjQkDDP1mXWo6uco/wiki/History_of_video_game_consoles_(third_generation).html. – Third Generation information
“Generations of Video Games.” Generations of Video Games – Sega Retro, Sega Retro, 18 Dec.
2017, 17:20, segaretro.org/Generations_of_video_games#First_generation. – General information
“Game Console Parts.” IFixit, IFixit, www.ifixit.com/Store/Game-Console. – Parts of a console