Ten seminal events in console video gaming (US edition). Opinions and discussion invited.
Mike from Morgantown
1. Ralph Baer invents the “Brown Box” 1966-67.
This was the basis for all that has followed over the last 40+ years. The system would be released as the Magnavox Odyssey Baer, a hall of fame inventor, also help patent moving objects on a TV screen.
2. Nolan Bushnell convinces Sears to stock the Atari home pong units. 1975.
The home industry was truly born after Bushnell got video games in the sporting goods department of what was then the America’s largest retailer. This success led to clones and then cartridge systems.
3. Time Warner stock tanks. 1983.
The value of Time Warner stock fell dramatically in one day after the company reported more than half a billion dollars of losses. That single event symbolized the crash of the market.
4. Nintendo decides to go it alone in North America. 1985-86.
Unable to find a partner (Atari spurned them), Nintendo decides to sell its “Famicom” – Americanized as the Nintendo Entertainment Center – on its own. After getting a toy store in NYC to take a test run for Xmas 1985, it takes off and the rest is history.
5.Gameboy released, becomes “Big Man.” 1989.
Nintendo (re)invented handheld gaming with a system that would survive, in various forms and incarnations, for almost two decades when it released the Gameboy. No challenger – Sega, Atari, NeoGeo, Tomy, Nokia, Sony, Apple, etc., has figured out how to beat Big N at the small game.
6. Sega does what Nintendo’nt. 1992.
The uncensored Mortal Kombat release on the Sega Genesis gave gamers the first reason to buy something not Nintendo. It helped show that there was room for more “mature” games. It also caused Nintendo to have to react – possibly for the first time – to a challenge.
7. Sony and Nintendo go their separate ways. 1993.
The joint Sony-Nintendo project finally fell apart. It led to the Playstation being introduced as a separate system (instead of a SNES/SFC CD add on). It also led to Nintendo falling from top position in the market (and not releasing a system that used a full size CD until 2006) as well as licensing its properties for terrible CD-I games.
8. Sega false starts the Saturn. 1995.
Sega had planned a Fall release for its new system – meaning it would come out at the same time as the new Sony Playstation. But it decided to pre-release it to several retailers at the same time as E3. It upset some retailers to the point they never carried the Saturn (i.e., Kaybee Toys) while its price point ended up being $100 (33%) more than Sony’s. This was the beginning of the end for Sega as a system maker.
9. Xbox goes Live. 2002.
Microsoft did not invent on-line console gaming (ironically Sega did). But it has set the standard for the last half dozen years with Xbox Live. The on-line experience caused Sony and Nintendo to improve what they could do and what could be played on-line.
10. Wii-volution by Nintendo. 2006.
It is 18 months since release and the Nintendo Wii is still scarce in the USA. It is the leading seller in all three global markets, according to VGChartz. It has changed the way games are played. And it has the opposition thinking how they can do the same things.
 I am Mario.I like to jump around, and would lead a fairly serene and aimless existence if it weren't for my friends always getting into trouble. I love to help out, even when it puts me at risk. I seem to make friends with people who just can't stay out of trouble. Wii Friend Code: 1624 6601 1126 1492 NNID: Mike_INTV |
