Posts Tagged ‘video game history’

NEC Turbo Grafx 16 – The 1st 16-bit console?

First Released: August 29, 1989 (USA)Gaming Era: 16-bitCPU: Hudson Soft HuC6280Cost: $189.99 (w /Keith Courage)Sales: 2.5 Million Units (USA) 10 Million (Worldwide)Controller: Gamepad (1 port)Death: 1993 (TurboDuo in ’92 Japan-Only 32-bit PC-FX in ’94)Life: 4 yearsBest Games: Bonk’s Adventures, Bomberman, Ninja Spirit The TurboGrafx 16 was a joint effort of HudsonSoft (Bomberman Fame) and NEC. […]


Sega Master System

First Released: June 1986 (USA) Gaming Era: 8-bit CPU: 8-bit Zilog Z80A Cost: $139.99 (w /Hang-on & Safari Hunt) Sales: 13 Million Units Controller: Gamepad Death: 1989 (rights sold to Tonka in 88) Life: 3 years Best Games: Alex Kidd in Miracle World, Space Harrier, Strider, Shinobi, Penguin Land The Sega Master System was pretty […]


The Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)

First Released: October 18 1985 (USA) Gaming Era: 8-bitCPU: Ricoh 8-bit Processor Cost: $199.99 (SMB bundle) Sales: 60+ Million UnitsController: GamepadDeath: 1995 (Japan continued manufacturing them until Oct 2003) Life: 10 yearsBest Games: Super Mario Bros. (1-3), Metroid, Legend of Zelda, BattleToads, Double Dragon, Ninja Gaiden The Nintendo Entertainment System was a game changer. It […]


The Atari 7800 Video Game Console

First Released: June 1986 (USA)Gaming Era: 8-bit CPU: 1.79MhzCost: $139.99Sales: 1 Million Units Controller: Joystick Death: Jan 1992 Life: 5.5 years Best Games: Pole Position II, Mario Bros, Asteroids, Donkey Kong The Atari 7800 was too little too late. By the time it was released, the NES already had a firm grasp on the US […]


The Atari 5200 Console

First Released: Nov 1982 (USA) Gaming Era: Early 8-bitCPU: 1.79Mhz Cost: $249.99 Sales: Exact Figure Unknown, but very PoorController: Joystick w/keypadDeath: 1984Life: 1.5 yearsBest Games: Space Invaders, Dig Dug, Q*bert, Robotron 2084 The Atari 5200 was a failure despite it’s improved graphics. It’s big mistake was that it was not backwards compatible with the successful […]


Retro Review: Atari Asteroids

You can play asteroids above for yourself. The above is a pretty spot-on translation of the 80s Arcade classic. It seems even more appropriate to review Asteroids since it was just released to Xbox Live Arcade. Asteroids was surely one of the best games for the Atari 2600. The game gave you more control over […]


The Atari 2600

First Released: Oct 1977 (USA)Gaming Era: Early 8-bit CPU: 1.19 Mhz Cost: $199.99 Sales: ~40 Million Controller: Joystick Death: Jan 1992 Life: 14 years 2 monthsBest Games: Pitfall, Adventure, Breakout, & Pong While there are technically earlier systems…they really were more like computers. Atari is the home console that started it all. Before Nintendo & […]


Video Game Systems Evolution and Pictorial History

Get ready for a serendipitous retrospective look into video game history over the course of the next few months. With 2008 approaching, it’s time to take a look at gaming past. It’s time to remember Neo Geo, 3DO, Atari Jaguar, TurboGrafx 16, and many others. The above picture/chart shows the start of home gaming and […]