Regardless of the date of the first video game, the history of the games industry is very rich. Full of twists and turns, she tells us about the emergence of Nintendo, the PlayStation family and Microsoft's entry into the market with the Xbox. More recently, we still have Google Stadia. And the history of games is just beginning. Some say it starts with the SpaceWar game in 1961. But many point out that it all started with Pong in 1971, just 10 years later. Interestingly, the creator of Pong , Nolan Bushnell, founded shortly after the first game company in the world, the beloved and renowned Atari. If you want to know everything about the history of digital games, stay with us in this article!
- Magnavox Odyssey and Atari
- Sega
- Nintendo
- Sony
- Microsoft
- Google Stadia
The first two consoles: Magnavox Odyssey and Atari 2600
- Analogic
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Basketball Practice
- Brain Wave
- Cat & Mouse
- Dogfight
- Football
- Fun Zoo
- Gridball
- Handball
- Haunted House
- Hockey
- Invasion
- Interplanetary Voyage
- Percepts
- Practice
- Prehistoric Safari
- Roulette
- Shooting Gallery
- Shootout
- Simon Says
- Ski
- Smash
- Soccer
- Squash
- States
- Submarine
- Table Tennis
- Tennis
- Volleyball
- Win
- Wipeout
- Practice
- Prehistoric Safari
- Roulette
- Shooting Gallery
- Shootout
- Simon Says
- Ski
- Smash
- Soccer
- Squash
- States
- Submarine
- Table Tennis
- Tennis
- Volleyball
- Win
- Wipeout
Atari 2600: darling of the 80s generation
Atari 2600 took a completely different path than Magnavox Odissey. It arrived in Brazil in 1983. The biggest success of the console was Space Invaders, which is still remembered fondly by gamers of the 80's. Pitfall , Pac-Man and the game based on the movie ET were also very successful. The impact of the Atari 2600 was so great that it led to the creation of several game production companies. A well-known example is Actvision. But the saturation of the market at the time, as well as the abandonment of partners in giving financial support to the production of the console, caused this darling to be discontinued in the late 1980s. Atari 2600 games:- Space Invaders
- River raid
- Pitfall
- Frogger
- Donkey Kong
- Mario Bros
- Missile Command
- Centipede
- Yars Revenge
- Dig Dug
- Enduro
- Pac Man
Sega: Master System, Mega Drive, Dreamcast and that nostalgia
- Sega Master System (1985)
- Mega Drive (1988)
- Sega Saturn (1994)
- Dreamcast (1998)
Master System
The Master System was Sega's first major success. It was created to compete with Nintendo's NES, both 8-bit consoles. He suffered a lot to achieve success, because at the time, in the late 80s, Nintendo had an exclusive agreement with game producers. Sega basically depended on its own launches. Even though it was a failure in Japan, Master System tried the United States market, by the hands of the company Tonka. Tonka did a poor marketing job, which made the console very unpopular with the NES. The Master System was successful in Brazil, Europe and New Zealand. It had incredible games, like California Games and Street Fighter II . At the time his mascot was Alex Kidd, with the game Alex Kidd in Miracle World .Mega Drive
Following the dispute, Mega Drive was the 16-bit response to Nintendo's SNES. It was on this console that we met the most famous hedgehog in the world, Sonic The Hedgehog . This was undoubtedly Sega's most beloved video game, having sold more than 40 million units worldwide. Its fame is such that since 1988, the year of launch in Japan, it continues to have new versions being made. In Brazil, especially, and in European countries, there is a new Mega Drive for sale, known as a vintage or retro model . Few know, but the console has hosted games like The Sims 2 , SimCity and FIFA . This was possible in its 2008 version, the Mega Drive III. Today it is seen as a relic, which has not gone any further among the big consoles because the PlayStation, with the CD-ROM, defeated the games in cartridge.Sega Saturn and Dreamcast
The Sega Saturn was one of Sega's biggest flaws. It did not bring the classic franchises of the company, like Sonic, which irritated the fans. In addition, it was much more expensive and bigger than the PlayStation, although it was quite powerful because it had two 32-bit processors. Launched in 1994, it was discontinued in 1998. Dreamcast, whose birth was precisely in 1998, had an affordable price and technology superior to the competition. Regarding the N64 and PlayStation, it was even better. In addition, it allowed online multiplayer , albeit limited. His greatest success was Shenmue , as well as innovations like Seaman and Jet Set Radio . The latter used the sound system and online chat to make the experience more immersive. It was a pity, however, that the Dreamcast was also not a great success. The approach of the PlayStation 2 in Japan caused interest in the latest Sega console to drop quickly.Nintendo and its Japanese Empire: from NES to Switch
- Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) (1983)
- Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) (1990)
- Nintendo 64 (1996)
- Nintendo GameCube (2001)
- Wii (2006)
- Wii U (2012)
- Nintendo Switch (2017)
- Game Boy (1989)
- Game Boy Color (1998)
- Game Boy Advance (2001)
- Nintendo DS (2004)
- Nintendo 3DS (2011)
NES, Super NES and Game Boy
Nintendo's success in the console market started with the NES. In fact, this video game sold about 63 million units in 1983 alone, lifting the gaming industry out of a major crisis. It was at this time that games like Super Mario Bros. shone . , Metroid and The Legend of Zelda . Mario, incidentally, appeared almost unintentionally as the hero of the game Donkey Kong , released in 1981. In this game he was called Jumpman and needed to save his girlfriend from a gorilla. Thus two of the most iconic Nintendo franchises were born at the same time. The NES had a processor as good as or better than Apple computers of that period. The difference is that it was sold at a price well below what it could cost, which attracted a huge audience. In addition, the variety of games, many of which are iconic, made Nintendo dominate 95% of the market. With the success of the NES, the Super NES came in 1990. The console was a tremendous success in Japan and, despite suffering from Mega Drive competition, it also dominated the United States and Europe. Shortly before, in 1989, Nintendo had launched its first successful notebook, the Game Boy. With the Game Boy, Pokémon was born, another very successful franchise. Remember the best SNES games!Nintendo 64, GameCube and the era of notebooks
The early 90s were wonderful for Nintendo, but from 1995 onwards the company began to suffer severe losses. The Nintendo 64, for example, was not the success the company would like. He kept the cartridges, as this speeded up the loading screens , but it was not enough. Nintendo saw the 64 surpassed by the PlayStation, precisely because of the more advanced technology that was the CD. Even the Sega Saturn was superior in sales to the N64. The GameCube, in 2001, should get Nintendo back on the market. Failed. Even with mini DVD media, it hasn't beaten the success of the PlayStation 2 and Microsoft's Xbox rookie. Since 1996, therefore, Nintendo has come to see that its biggest success has been the notebook niche. Game Boy Pocket and the first Pokémon games were released. Game Boy Color arrived in 1998, in 2001 Game Boy Advance and Advance SP dominated the pocket console market. In fact, GB Advance SP was the first to have its own light. This revolutionized the market and gave Nintendo authority in that niche.Generation Wii and DS
The Wii was quite revolutionary at the time of its launch. It arrived in 2006, bringing a new way of playing. Using the Wii Remote, players could use arm movements to perform actions within games . In addition, the Wii allowed to play the GameCube titles and older Nintendo and competitor consoles. The Wii U, evolution of the first Wii, arrived in 2012. It was the first console of the 8th generation and the first to have an HDMI cable. Nintendo's was the first video game with HD graphics. Just before the launch of the Wii in 2004, Nintendo developed the Nintendo DS. This notebook brought not only the SP frontlight , but the backlight . It has 3D graphics similar to the 64, in addition to allowing players to use Game Boy cartridges. In 2011 it was the turn of the Nintendo 3DS to show up. It was well received for allowing to play in 3D without the use of glasses. With its 3 cameras, it allowed to play titles in augmented reality. Other versions of these latest Nintendo laptops were released in the meantime, bringing new games, features and some processor improvements.Nintendo Switch: desktop laptop
The Nintendo Switch is the last console launched by the company, in 2017. It is a hybrid between portable and desktop video game, which, when it was announced, impressed players a lot. It is considered the first foot of consoles in the 9th generation, although it does not have the same power as an Xbox One X. This console features games from classic Nintendo franchises, such as Mario , Zelda and Pokémon , but it also incorporates games like Mortal Kombat 11, The Witcher 3, among others. Highlight for the possibility of removing the joysticks , which allows you to play from a distance, if the player wishes.Sony and the successful PlayStation family
- PlayStation (1994)
- PlayStation 2 (2000)
- PlayStation 3 (2006)
- PlayStation 4 (2013)
- PSP (2004)
- PS Vita (2011)
PlayStation 1: 103 million units sold in 12 years
In 1994 the PS1 hit stores worldwide. It stopped being sold only in 2006, having sold 103 million copies. It was an expressive number for a "newbie". But this is explained by the fact that it was the first console to use CD-ROM, leaving the cartridge aside. PlayStation 1 games were also quite different from what players were used to. We have seen successful franchises born here, such as Gran Turismo, Crash Bandicoot, Spyro, Tekken and Resident Evil. Others already in existence gained more beautiful versions, like Need for Speed , Final Fantasy and Tomb Rider .Playstation 2
The best seller in history, the PS2, hit stores in 2000. It sold a total of 159 million units, having produced more than 4,000 original games for the console. In Brazil, oddly enough, it only officially arrived in 2009. Until then, "pirated" versions of the platform and its games were sold in the country. It was the last Sony console to have a Memory Card and wired controls. It was also what, according to many players, offered the best games. See some of the most striking:- Devil May Cry
- Kingdom Hearts
- Guitar Hero
- God of War
- Shadow of the Colossus
- Pro Evolution Soccer
Playstation 3
The third member of the PlayStation family was launched in 2006. It has completely innovated the video game market. It was the first to use Blu-Ray. The storage of games and saves was on a hard drive. Now the controls were all wireless. And it is on the PS3 that the PlayStation Network, the PSN, is born. Still, the console was not so well received by players and critics. It took a long time to increase sales, having been saved by the launch of the Slim model. Much of the resistance towards the PS3 was due to the absence of striking games compared to the PS2. But very positive games were born on that console, like Uncharted , The Last of Us and Assassin's Creed . Consecrated franchises have released sequences of their titles for the PS3, such as Guitar Hero III , Gran Turismo 5 , GTA , Resident Evil and Final Fantasy . The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim , as well as two God of War were also present on the console.Playstation 4
Sony's latest desktop console, the last of the 8th generation, arrived in 2013. It was undoubtedly the most expensive of all to be marketed in Brazil, which alienated some players. It has two extra models, the PS4 Slim and the PS4 Pro. It has sold over 80 million units and is a critical success. It stands out for DualShock 4, super modern joystick and with much greater interactivity compared to the previous ones. Of all "normal" 8th generation consoles, the PS4 is the most powerful. It loses, however, to Microsoft's Xbox One X, even in its Pro version. Still, the loyal players that Sony has won celebrate the console for offering some of the best exclusives of this generation. God of War , Horizon: Zero Dawn , Bloodborne and The Last Guardian are some examples. We cannot forget the remasters of Crash Bandicoot , Spyro , The Last of Us and God of War III . Although Sony has already announced the PlayStation 5 , we will still have game releases for the PlayStation 4 for a few years. Case of The Last of Us Part II , which arrives in 2020. We can not fail to mention that the PS4 also has games dedicated to virtual reality, being practically the only console with an exclusive peripheral for this, the PSVR. Find out which PS4 model is right for you!PSP and PS Vita: portable failures
The PSP was launched in 2004, while Vita arrived in 2011. Neither was successful in terms of sales. Despite Sony's efforts to offer a quality product, both notebooks did not compare to those created by Nintendo. Both the Nintendo DS and the 3DS have far outperformed the competition of the PlayStation family. The games released for Sony laptops did not have the same graphic quality as Nintendo's, nor were they as fun. It is not for nothing that Sony stopped considering the launch of a third laptop.Microsoft: Xbox is the most powerful console in the world
- Xbox (2001)
- Xbox 360 (2005)
- Xbox One (2013)
Xbox
The first Xbox arrived in 2001, only in the 6th generation of video games. It therefore competed with the PlayStation 2, the Nintendo GameCube and the Sega Dreamcast. Although it was not as successful in sales as the PS2, it did bring Xbox Live. It allowed players to play online , if they had a broadband connection. That was the console's great asset. He was the only one of this generation to have a list of friends and achievements within the games. Even though it was paid, it was preferred by many gamers at the time, which helped to keep Xbox alive longer. But of course, that was not the only positive point of the console. Compared to the others, it had the most powerful hardware . It was almost a gamer PC , and was the first to have a hard drive built into its structure. It contained several pieces of computer, which made it heavy. He became very famous for bringing together players who enjoyed online multiplayer experiences . Especially in shooters . Halo 2 was one of the great successes of the video game. Despite this great title and games like Forza , Microsoft quickly reduced the life of the Xbox to launch its sequel.Xbox 360
The 360 arrived in 2005 expanded the success that was Xbox Live, now bringing free subscriptions in addition to paid ones. I also brought Kinect, a motion sensor camera, in an attempt to make the console more than a "simple" video game. In addition, it competed directly with Nintendo's Wii, both from the 7th generation. This was undoubtedly the owner of that generation. The Wii was an initial success, but it fell in love with many players for being repetitive and for having software problems . The PS3, however, was very expensive and did not bring very expressive games compared to the PS2. The Xbox 360 then consolidated Microsoft on the market and dominated the industry for a few years. This console took away from Sony the exclusivity of some games, such as Ace Combat 6 , Tekken 6 and Metal Gear Solid: Rising . In addition, of course, its Halo and the amazing Gears of War franchise , exclusive for Xbox 360. Kinect, with specific games for this peripheral, helped to extend the life of the 360.Xbox one
The Xbox One arrived in 2013, initially competing with the Wii U and PS4. Today he disputes the market much more with the Sony console, although the Nintendo Switch is also part of the 8th generation. Its most basic version fails to get close to the PlayStation 4 in terms of hardware . However its latest version, the Xbox One X, nicknamed Scorpio, is a super powerful machine that doesn't give chances for Sony's PS4 Pro. Even so, it is far behind Play in terms of sales. Despite being a magnificent console, the One has a problem presented by the PS3: few really striking games. In terms of exclusives, he lost rout to PS4 from the start. Not even Scorpio's native 4K can get the One family to beat the competition. One of its advantages is backward compatibility. Players can play Xbox 360 titles, available online on Xbox Live. In fact, Live is considered to be superior to PSN, both in terms of service quality and in the quality and quantity of games offered. The announcement of the next Xbox, called Scarlett, is leaving Microsoft console fans with the hype up there for the 9th generation of consoles. Xbox One or PS4? See which one to buy!Google Stadia: the future is game streaming ?
