Console

In general usage, the term "console’ is used to refer to a video game console, an interactive electronic entertainment device that uses a video device (TV, monitor, etc.) to display the game. A video game console is solely meant for the purpose of playing video games, and as such is different from a PC and an arcade game. The typical elements of a video game console are controllers, a power supply, the core unit (also known as console) and game media (CDs, DVDs, etc.).

The history of video gamer consoles can be divided into seven stages or generations. The first video game console was the Magnavox Odyssey, which was invented by Ralph. H. Baer in 1972. The second generation of video game consoles started with the introduction of the Fairchild Video Entertainment System (VES) in 1976, the world’s first cartridge-based console. The third generation was kick-started by the Nintendo Famicon in the mid 1980s, which supported high-resolution, full colour, tiled backgrounds, and high-resolution sprites. The fourth generation of video game consoles came with Sega’s launch of the Sega Mega Drive (the world’s first 16-bit console) in 1990. The fifth generation of video game consoles came with Atari’s launch of the Jaguar in 1993. However it was not until 1995, when Sony launched the PlayStation that the fifth generation of video game consoles started to take the market. The sixth generation of gaming consoles saw intense rivalry between Sony (PlayStation 2), Nintendo (GameCube) and Microsoft (Xbox). The seventh-generation of video game console again saw the same rivalry; between Sony (PlayStation 3), Nintendo (Wii) and Microsoft (Xbox 360).