The document provides a timeline and overview of the development of major video game consoles from the 1960s to the 2000s. It describes some of the earliest consoles like the Magnavox Odyssey in the 1970s and the breakthrough success of the Nintendo Entertainment System in the 1980s. It then summarizes the arrival of some iconic 32-bit and 128-bit consoles in the 1990s-2000s like the Sony PlayStation, which sold over 100 million units, and the Microsoft Xbox, which benefited from its integrated online multiplayer Xbox Live service.

1. Timeline
Development of the Consoles

2. 1960’s
German-born television engineer Ralph Baer with his coworkers
designed the first video-game console that worked on standard
television. The game was named “Chase Game”. Baer and his
colleagues build a vacuum-tube circuit that connects to television and
allows players to control two squares chasing each other on the
screen. The team added a light gun and developed 12 games and the
console called the Brown Box became known.

3. 1970’s
Odyssey
After Baer’s team presents their Brown Box prototype to Magnavox, the company
begins production of the first commercial video-game console, the Magnavox
Odyssey. Console used cartridges to play to up 12 games featuring dots and lines on
the screen.
Pong
In 1975 Atari sells a home version of Pong, which was a first big hit with the arcade
games since Nolan Bushnell found Atari in 1972.. Pong’s unique feature is a single
chip that produces on-screen score and the sound the game makes when the ball
touches the paddle.

4. 1980’s
Nintendo Entertain System
The Nintendo was originally Japanese playing-card company. They released the
Nintendo Entertainment System in the U.S, which as known as Famicom in Japan.
Retailers were skeptical about marketing a new console after a video-game crash but
with the popular titles like Super Mario Bros., Metroid and The Legends of Zelda NES
breaks the sales records and became best selling gaming console of its time.
Game Boy
Nintendo scored it second smash hit with the introduction of the Game Boy in 1989.
The first major handheld game console ! The release of Tetris for the Game Boy
made sales go through the roof.

5. 1990’s
Super NES ( Nintendo Entertainment System )
After getting beaten by Sega Genesis, Nintendo company releases the Super
Nintendo Entertainment System ( SNES ) in 1991. The console introduced
advanced graphics and sound capabilities compared with other consoles at the
time. The SNES was a global success, becoming the best-selling console of the
16-bit era despite its relatively late start.
PlayStation
The launch of Sony’s PlayStation marks the arrival of the most popular console of the
32-bit era of video games. With a CD-ROM technology PlayStation included
Popular franchises like : Resident Evil, Tekken, Crash Bandicoot, Metal Gear
Solid and Gran Turismo. By March 31, 2005, the PlayStation had shipped a
combined total of 102.49 million units, becoming the first video game console to
sell 100 million units.

6. 2000’s
PlayStation 2
Sony releases the PlayStation 2, the first 128-bit system in 2000. Console features
the back wards compatability; the ability to play older games from the first
PlayStation on the new console. It also featured the functions as DVD player.
With the strength of the titles like: Grand Theft Auto series and the games
introduced on PlayStation ( Metal Gear and Final Fantasy ), the console
becomes really popular.
Xbox
Microsoft’s first game console the Xbox was released in 2001. Company used the
PC technology in building the Xbox which allows it to have greater performance
than PlayStation 2 and Nintendo Game Cube. The integrated Xbox Live service
launched in November 2002 allowed players to play games online with a
broadband connection. It was one feature that made the Xbox so popular.