Game's Consoles from the 70's
Atari Video Computer System AKA Atari 2600 (1977)
Wildly successful, the Atari 2600 popularised the use of microprocessor based hardware and cartridge-based games, rather than having everything built into the system. Featuring switches for color/B&W graphics, handicap play and game select, the 2600 also cycled through colour schemes to avoid images being burned into your TV.
Limitations
Controllers- joysticks with one button and knows you can turn to control. These are basic and did not require use of opposable thumbs which limits the use and actions in the games.
Graphics- the console had only 128 bytes of RAM which meant they were not particularly good with only 104 colours available.
Games- simple games like Pacman and Space Invaders.
Sound/ music- MIDI sounds (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) which were basic and ping sounds.
Limitations
Controllers- joysticks with one button and knows you can turn to control. These are basic and did not require use of opposable thumbs which limits the use and actions in the games.
Graphics- the console had only 128 bytes of RAM which meant they were not particularly good with only 104 colours available.
Games- simple games like Pacman and Space Invaders.
Sound/ music- MIDI sounds (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) which were basic and ping sounds.
Nintendo Color TV-Game 6 - Japan (1977)
.
Only a few hundred of these units were ever produced of Nintendo’s first shot at a dedicated game console.
Limitations
Contollers- just two knobs to control the Pong which were turned. These are easy to use but limit what you can do and play and only two players can play the game.
Games- due to the controls only basic games like Pong could be played with two people which had different variations.
Graphics- has just a ball and two moving walls. There were not really any graphics. Game is pre-loaded.
Sounds- ping sounds.
Memory- none found
Limitations
Contollers- just two knobs to control the Pong which were turned. These are easy to use but limit what you can do and play and only two players can play the game.
Games- due to the controls only basic games like Pong could be played with two people which had different variations.
Graphics- has just a ball and two moving walls. There were not really any graphics. Game is pre-loaded.
Sounds- ping sounds.
Memory- none found
Nintendo Color TV-Racing 112 - Japan (1978)
This is one of the first on-screen car racing game. You have a steering wheel, lever, and knobs. Three separate controllers.
They were all connected by a set of wires to the main unit.
Limitations
Controller- can only turn a wheel which means you can only play racing games on one player mode as it is a dedicated game machine.
Games- only racing a game which had different variations.
Graphics- Very basic with about five colours.
Sounds- I can not find anything on sounds.
Memory- I could not found anything.
They were all connected by a set of wires to the main unit.
Limitations
Controller- can only turn a wheel which means you can only play racing games on one player mode as it is a dedicated game machine.
Games- only racing a game which had different variations.
Graphics- Very basic with about five colours.
Sounds- I can not find anything on sounds.
Memory- I could not found anything.
Game's Consoles from the 80's
Sega SG-1000 - Japan (1984)
The SG-1000 marked Sega’s first entry into the console market. It was quietly released and sold moderately. Basically, the SG-1000 was a test ground for the Master System.
Limitations
Controller- simple controller which would limit the amount of games that could be played.
Games- only cartridge based games could be used.
Graphics- Are simple, retro and these only about 6 colours for it.
Sounds- Simple and basic MIDI sounds.
Limitations
Controller- simple controller which would limit the amount of games that could be played.
Games- only cartridge based games could be used.
Graphics- Are simple, retro and these only about 6 colours for it.
Sounds- Simple and basic MIDI sounds.
Amstrad CPC 464/CPC664 - UK (1984)
Limitations Amstrad CPCs are equipped with either 64 (CPC464, CPC664, 464plus, GX4000) or 128 (CPC6128, 6128plus) kB of RAM.
Controllers- the keyboard is the control which could be complicated as there are too many buttons so would limit the amount of people who could use it.
Games- There were many games available but due to graphics not all very clear.
Graphics- due to the amount of RAM graphics were early retro and 'blocky' about 6 different colours.
Sounds- MIDI sounds.
Controllers- the keyboard is the control which could be complicated as there are too many buttons so would limit the amount of people who could use it.
Games- There were many games available but due to graphics not all very clear.
Graphics- due to the amount of RAM graphics were early retro and 'blocky' about 6 different colours.
Sounds- MIDI sounds.
Nintendo Entertainment System (1985)
The first console to play Mario and Zelda.
Limitations
Controllers- About 3 buttons so limits the amount of use and games you can play but Mario is available but only two people can play and the controls are attached by a wire which limits where you can play. The controllers are connected by wires to the main unit and it plays game cartridge's.
Games- original Nintendo games
Graphics- 2D simple graphics and has a lot more colours than any other consoles that have come before.
Sound- MIDI sounds which are repetitive tunes and easily recognised.
Limitations
Controllers- About 3 buttons so limits the amount of use and games you can play but Mario is available but only two people can play and the controls are attached by a wire which limits where you can play. The controllers are connected by wires to the main unit and it plays game cartridge's.
Games- original Nintendo games
Graphics- 2D simple graphics and has a lot more colours than any other consoles that have come before.
Sound- MIDI sounds which are repetitive tunes and easily recognised.
Atari 2600 Junior (1986)
The Atari sold over thirty million consoles and sold hundreds of games. Games for this system were produced onto cartridges.
The Limitations for the Atari Junior are the same as for the original Atari 2600
Graphics- the console had only 128 bytes of RAM which meant they were not particularly that good with only 4 colours available.
Controllers- just a joystick and button which limits the games you can play and the actions you can do.
Games- simple games like Pacman and Space Invaders.
Sound/ music- MIDI sounds which were basic.
The Limitations for the Atari Junior are the same as for the original Atari 2600
Graphics- the console had only 128 bytes of RAM which meant they were not particularly that good with only 4 colours available.
Controllers- just a joystick and button which limits the games you can play and the actions you can do.
Games- simple games like Pacman and Space Invaders.
Sound/ music- MIDI sounds which were basic.
Game's Consoles from the 90's
Genesis/Mega Drive II (1993)
This is the smaller version of the first one as it was a very popular machine. However the RAM was low at 64kB work RAM (68000), 64kB video RAM, 8kB work RAM (Z80) but good for games such as Sonic the Hedgehog.
Limitations
Controllers- four buttons which means limited use and actions for games.
Graphics- due to the low RAM the games graphics were quite square, pixelated and retro making it not good for realistic games like Halo is now.
Music- was repetitive and electronic MIDI sounds.
Limitations
Controllers- four buttons which means limited use and actions for games.
Graphics- due to the low RAM the games graphics were quite square, pixelated and retro making it not good for realistic games like Halo is now.
Music- was repetitive and electronic MIDI sounds.
PlayStation (1995)
The Playstation was a very popular console, it could play CD's before others could. This has dethroned Nintendo as the PS has 2MB main RAM, 1MB video RAM and 512k sound. This amount of RAM made it good for games like Grand Theft Auto as the graphics seemed more real.
Limitations
Graphics- The RAM is not particularly big compared to current times. Although the memory could be improved by memory cards these were expensive and could be lost. You also had to delete games off if there was not enough room.
Controls- were easier to use than others and required use of opposable thumbs but were attached by leads.
Music and Sound- music was in a mix of electric sounds and realistic and also inclu
Also the power on button and open button were not always reliable.
Limitations
Graphics- The RAM is not particularly big compared to current times. Although the memory could be improved by memory cards these were expensive and could be lost. You also had to delete games off if there was not enough room.
Controls- were easier to use than others and required use of opposable thumbs but were attached by leads.
Music and Sound- music was in a mix of electric sounds and realistic and also inclu
Also the power on button and open button were not always reliable.
Game Boy (1995)
The first major change in handheld gaming since 1989 debut, with no real rival to speak of.This one featured a sharper screen (true black and white now), a more compact design and ran on AAA batteries instead of AA.
Limitations
Controller- only three buttons for the games which limited your actions on games like Mario although this is fine for more simple games like Tetris.
Graphics- only black and white and only in blocks so graphics aren't great and are more retro. The graphics are hard to see due to a small screen.
Music/ sound- limited because one speaker on the front which plays theme tunes which are simple and electronic MIDI sounds.
Also limited as it is one player and that means only one player games like Pokemon.
Limitations
Controller- only three buttons for the games which limited your actions on games like Mario although this is fine for more simple games like Tetris.
Graphics- only black and white and only in blocks so graphics aren't great and are more retro. The graphics are hard to see due to a small screen.
Music/ sound- limited because one speaker on the front which plays theme tunes which are simple and electronic MIDI sounds.
Also limited as it is one player and that means only one player games like Pokemon.
Game's Consoles from the 2000's
PlayStation 2 (2000)
Sold based on the strengths of the original PlayStation 1 and it was the first console to play DVD's. It was one of the highest selling consoles of all time, selling about 127 million units worldwide.
Limitations
Controllers - only two people could play unless you buy extra attachment, no buttons on the back like the Xbox.
Games - were quite expensive and on discs which could be easily scratched and so you would not be able to play.
Memory cards were limited on space so you would have to go and buy more or they could be easily lost.
Sounds- By this time the sound effects are much more advanced
Limitations
Controllers - only two people could play unless you buy extra attachment, no buttons on the back like the Xbox.
Games - were quite expensive and on discs which could be easily scratched and so you would not be able to play.
Memory cards were limited on space so you would have to go and buy more or they could be easily lost.
Sounds- By this time the sound effects are much more advanced
Xbox (2001)
This is Microsoft's first entry into the gaming market, many people thought that it would play nothing but PC games at first until people saw what games where coming out with it such as, Halo, Knights of the Old Republic and Ninja Gaiden.
Limitations
Controllers - a lot of buttons which could be hard to remember which buttons does which. The controls must be plugged in to the console so you can not go too far away from it.
Graphics - the graphics are probably a bit better than the Playstation 2, particularly with games like Halo but still not amazing.
Games - it can only play Microsoft games, also as played on a disc this could get scratched or lost.
Limitations
Controllers - a lot of buttons which could be hard to remember which buttons does which. The controls must be plugged in to the console so you can not go too far away from it.
Graphics - the graphics are probably a bit better than the Playstation 2, particularly with games like Halo but still not amazing.
Games - it can only play Microsoft games, also as played on a disc this could get scratched or lost.
PSP (PlayStation Portable) - Japan (2004)
This is Sony's first handheld console to beat Nintendo at the Game Boy and etc. This console can play in widescreen, watch Movies, be used as a Mp3 player, connect to the internet and etc.
Limitations To The PSP
Controllers - only one play as it is portable, all on one small device so the controls are squashed together compared to the Playstation.
Graphics are not as good as if they were on the screen of a TV.
Music/sound there is only one little speaker on the console, also the sound could be annoying for others as it is portable so you night have to turn this off.
Games - No multi player games.
Battery powering it can not last for very long and is portable it could be dropped.
Limitations To The PSP
Controllers - only one play as it is portable, all on one small device so the controls are squashed together compared to the Playstation.
Graphics are not as good as if they were on the screen of a TV.
Music/sound there is only one little speaker on the console, also the sound could be annoying for others as it is portable so you night have to turn this off.
Games - No multi player games.
Battery powering it can not last for very long and is portable it could be dropped.