Video game console

A video game console is a dedicated electronic device designed to play video games. Often the output device is a separate television or a computer monitor. The main input device is a controller. There was a time when video game consoles were easily distinguishable from personal computers: consoles used a standard television for display, and did not support standard PC accessories such as keyboards or modems. However, as consoles have become more enhanced, the distinction has blurred: some consoles can have full Linux operating systems running with hard drives and keyboards (like the Sega Dreamcast or Nintendo GameCube). One university has even created a Beowulf cluster of PlayStation 2 consoles.

Timeline

Note: This is an abridged timeline of video game consoles in North America.

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DateFormat=mm/dd/yyyy

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ImageSize= width:600 height:400

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Period = from:01/01/1975 till:12/31/2008

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TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal

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AlignBars = justify

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PlotArea = width:90% height:90% left:0 bottom:30

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Colors =

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id:console value:rgb(0.9,0.3,0.3)

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id:consolealt value:rgb(0.3,0.9,0.9)

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id:2ndgen value:tan1

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id:8bit value:coral

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id:16bit value:skyblue

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id:32bit value:drabgreen

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id:64bit value:drabgreen

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id:6thgen value:lightorange

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id:7thgen value:lavender

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id:line value:black

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id:liteline value:rgb(0.3,0.3,0.3)

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id:bg value:white

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id:projection value:rgb(0.9,0.9,0.9)

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PlotData=

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width:23 textcolor:black align:center

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bar:Atari from:01/01/1977 till:01/01/1990 color:2ndgen text:"Atari 2600"

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bar:Atari from:01/01/1993 till:06/30/1996 color:64bit text:"Jaguar"

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bar:Atari2 from:01/01/1982 till:01/01/1984 color:2ndgen text:"Atari 5200"

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bar:Atari2 from:01/01/1986 till:01/01/1992 color:8bit text:"Atari 7800"

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bar:Nintendo1 from:01/01/1985 till:01/01/1995 color:8bit text:"NES"

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bar:Nintendo2 from:08/01/1982 till:03/01/1984 color:8bit text:"Colecovision"

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bar:Nintendo2 from:08/01/1991 till:01/01/1999 color:16bit text:"Super NES"

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bar:NEC1 from:01/01/1978 till:01/01/1984 color:2ndgen text:"Magnavox Odyssey 2"

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bar:NEC1 from:08/01/1989 till:08/01/1992 color:16bit text: "TurboGrafx-16"

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bar:NEC2 from:01/01/1980 till:01/01/1984 color:2ndgen text:"Intellivision"

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bar:NEC2 from:10/10/1992 till:01/01/1995 color:16bit text: "TurboDuo"

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bar:Nintendo1 from:09/29/1996 till:08/01/2001 color:64bit text:"N64"

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bar:Nintendo2 from:10/18/2001 till:05/01/2006 color:6thgen text:"GameCube" shift:(-20,0)

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bar:Nintendo2 from:05/01/2005 till:12/31/2006 color:projection text:"(proj.)"

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bar:Nintendo1 from:03/22/2006 till:12/31/2006 color:projection text:"Revolution (projection)"

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bar:SEGA1 from:01/01/1986 till:01/01/1992 color:8bit text:"Master System"

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bar:SEGA2 from:01/09/1989 till:12/31/1995 color:16bit text:"Genesis"

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bar:SEGA1 from:05/01/1995 till:03/01/1998 color:32bit text:"Saturn"

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bar:SEGA2 from:09/09/1999 till:01/01/2001 color:6thgen text:"Dreamcast"

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bar:Sony1 from:09/09/1995 till:01/01/2001 color:32bit text:"PlayStation"

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bar:Sony2 from:10/26/2000 till:01/01/2006 color:6thgen text:"PS2"

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bar:Sony2 from:01/01/2006 till:07/01/2006 color:projection text:"(proj.)"

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bar:Sony3 from:04/01/2006 till:12/31/2007 color:projection text:"PS3 (proj.)"

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bar:MS from:11/15/2001 till:01/01/2006 color:6thgen text:"Xbox"

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

bar:MS from:01/01/2005 till:03/01/2006 color:projection text:"(proj.)"

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bar:MS2 from:11/22/2005 till:12/31/2008 color:projection text:"Xbox 360 (proj.)"

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ScaleMajor = gridcolor:line unit:year increment:4 start:01/01/1976

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ScaleMinor = gridcolor:liteline unit:year increment:2 start:01/01/1978

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Note: This is an abridged timeline of video game consoles in Japan.

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DateFormat=mm/dd/yyyy

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ImageSize= width:600 height:400

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Period = from:01/01/1975 till:12/31/2008

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

AlignBars = justify

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

PlotArea = width:90% height:90% left:0 bottom:30

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Colors =

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id:console value:rgb(0.9,0.3,0.3)

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id:consolealt value:rgb(0.3,0.9,0.9)

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id:2ndgen value:tan1

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id:8bit value:coral

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id:16bit value:skyblue

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id:32bit value:drabgreen

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id:64bit value:drabgreen

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id:6thgen value:lightorange

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id:7thgen value:lavender

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id:line value:black

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id:liteline value:rgb(0.3,0.3,0.3)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

id:bg value:white

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

id:projection value:rgb(0.9,0.9,0.9)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

PlotData=

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

width:23 textcolor:black align:center

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

bar:Nintendo1 from:07/15/1983 till:01/01/2003 color:8bit text:"Famicom(NES)"

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bar:Nintendo2 from:11/21/1990 till:09/01/2003 color:16bit text:"Super Famicom(Super NES)"

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bar:NEC1 from:10/30/1987 till:01/01/1999 color:16bit text: "PC Engine(TurboGrafx-16)"

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bar:NEC2 from:01/01/1994 till:01/01/1998 color:16bit text: "PC FX"

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bar:Nintendo3 from:07/01/1983 till:01/01/1985 color:2ndgen text: "SG-1000"

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bar:Nintendo3 from:06/23/1996 till:01/01/2002 color:64bit text:"N64"

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bar:Nintendo4 from:09/14/2001 till:05/01/2005 color:6thgen text:"GameCube" shift:(-20,0)

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bar:Nintendo4 from:05/01/2005 till:12/31/2006 color:projection text:"(proj.)"

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bar:Nintendo1 from:07/01/2006 till:12/31/2007 color:projection text:"Revolution (projection)"

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bar:SEGA1 from:10/20/1985 till:02/04/1989 color:8bit text:"SG-1000_Mark_III(Master System)"

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bar:SEGA2 from:10/29/1988 till:12/31/1995 color:16bit text:"Mega Drive (Genesis)"

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bar:SEGA1 from:11/22/1994 till:01/01/1999 color:32bit text:"Saturn"

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bar:SEGA2 from:11/27/1998 till:02/24/2004 color:6thgen text:"Dreamcast"

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bar:Sony1 from:12/03/1994 till:01/01/2002 color:32bit text:"PlayStation"

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bar:Sony2 from:03/04/2000 till:01/05/2005 color:6thgen text:"PS2"

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bar:Sony2 from:01/05/2005 till:12/31/2006 color:projection text:"(proj.)"

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bar:Sony3 from:04/01/2006 till:12/31/2007 color:projection text:"PS3 (proj.)"

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bar:MS from:02/22/2002 till:01/05/2005 color:6thgen text:"Xbox"

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bar:MS from:01/05/2005 till:12/31/2006 color:projection text:"(proj.)"

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bar:MS2 from:11/10/2005 till:12/31/2007 color:projection text:"Xbox 360 (proj.)"

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

ScaleMajor = gridcolor:line unit:year increment:4 start:01/01/1976

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

ScaleMinor = gridcolor:liteline unit:year increment:2 start:01/01/1978

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Note: This is an abridged timeline of video game consoles in Europe.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

DateFormat=mm/dd/yyyy

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

ImageSize= width:600 height:400

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Period = from:01/01/1975 till:12/31/2008

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

AlignBars = justify

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

PlotArea = width:90% height:90% left:0 bottom:30

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Colors =

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

id:console value:rgb(0.9,0.3,0.3)

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id:consolealt value:rgb(0.3,0.9,0.9)

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id:2ndgen value:tan1

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id:8bit value:coral

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id:16bit value:skyblue

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id:32bit value:drabgreen

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id:64bit value:drabgreen

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id:6thgen value:lightorange

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id:7thgen value:lavender

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id:line value:black

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

id:liteline value:rgb(0.3,0.3,0.3)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

id:bg value:white

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

id:projection value:rgb(0.9,0.9,0.9)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

PlotData=

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

width:23 textcolor:black align:center

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

bar:Nintendo1 from:03/01/1997 till:11/16/2001 color:64bit text:"N64"

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

bar:Nintendo1 from:07/01/2006 till:12/31/2007 color:projection text:"Revolution (projection)"

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

bar:Nintendo2 from:04/01/1992 till:01/01/1999 color:16bit text:"Super NES"

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

bar:Nintendo2 from:05/03/2002 till:05/01/2005 color:6thgen text:"GameCube" shift:(-20,0)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

bar:Nintendo2 from:05/01/2005 till:12/31/2006 color:projection text:"(proj.)"

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

bar:SEGA2 from:11/30/1990 till:12/31/1995 color:16bit text:"Genesis"

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

bar:SEGA2 from:10/14/1999 till:01/01/2001 color:6thgen text:"Dreamcast"

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

bar:Sony1 from:09/29/1995 till:01/01/2001 color:32bit text:"PlayStation"

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

bar:Sony3 from:04/01/2006 till:12/31/2007 color:projection text:"PS3 (proj.)"

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

bar:MS from:04/26/2002 till:01/05/2005 color:6thgen text:"Xbox"

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

bar:MS from:01/05/2005 till:12/31/2006 color:projection text:"(proj.)"

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

bar:MS2 from:11/10/2005 till:12/31/2007 color:projection text:"Xbox 360 (proj.)"

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

ScaleMajor = gridcolor:line unit:year increment:4 start:01/01/1976

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

ScaleMinor = gridcolor:liteline unit:year increment:2 start:01/01/1978

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

bar:Atari from:01/01/1977 till:01/01/1986 color:2ndgen text:"Atari 2600"

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

bar:Atari from:01/01/1993 till:06/30/1996 color:64bit text:"Jaguar"

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

bar:Atari2 from:01/01/1982 till:01/01/1984 color:2ndgen text:"Atari 5200"

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

bar:Atari2 from:01/01/1986 till:01/01/1992 color:8bit text:"Atari 7800"

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

bar:Nintendo1 from:01/01/1985 till:01/01/1995 color:8bit text:"NES"

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

bar:Nintendo2 from:08/01/1982 till:03/01/1984 color:8bit text:"Colecovision"

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

bar:NEC1 from:01/01/1978 till:01/01/1984 color:2ndgen text:"Magnavox Odyssey 2"

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

bar:NEC1 from:08/01/1989 till:08/01/1992 color:16bit text: "TurboGrafx-16"

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

bar:NEC2 from:01/01/1980 till:01/01/1984 color:2ndgen text:"Intellivision"

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

bar:NEC2 from:10/10/1992 till:01/01/1995 color:16bit text: "TurboDuo"

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

bar:SEGA1 from:01/01/1986 till:01/01/1991 color:8bit text:"Master System"

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

bar:SEGA1 from:01/01/1995 till:01/01/1998 color:32bit text:"Saturn"

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

bar:Sony2 from:10/26/2000 till:01/05/2005 color:6thgen text:"PS2"

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

bar:Sony2 from:01/05/2005 till:12/31/2006 color:projection text:"(proj.)"

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