1. The ‘Staggered’ nature of technology development in this sector is cynical
and strategic
New consoles are introduced so regularly that the time for which a console
is ‘best’ is limited to a few months
Each major player has a portable handheld version of their consoles to
accompany the fixed on at home
1st
– 2nd
Generation 1972 – 1984
Odyssey 100
Atari 2600
Games: Space Invaders, Donkey Kong, and Mario Brothers
3rd
Generation 1983 – 1992
Videogame crash of 1983: Industry lost faith in game consoles with growing use
of home computers.
Nintendo Famicon
NES
Games: Dragon Quest, Super Mario Bros, Metal Gear, MegaMan, And Final
Fantasy.
4th
Generation 1987 – 1992
Game Gear
Super Nintendo
Sega Megadrive
GameBoy
5th
Generation 1993 – 2002
Playstation 1
GameBoyColour
Sega Satin
Nintendo64
Games: Goldeneye, Mario Cart, Gran Tourismo, Metal Gear Solid, and Legend
of Zelda
6th
Generation 1998 – 2006
Alternative controllers: Dance mat, guitar, and steering wheels
Rise of casual games (e.g. The Sims) Playstation were seen as increasingly
complex, sophisticated and adult-orientated gameplay.
Xbox
Sega Dreamcast
GameCube
Playstation 2
Games: GTA 3, Halo, Resident Evil 4
7th
Generation 2004 – Present

2. HD Graphics, Interactive Gaming (Online and In the home), Rock Band, Wii Fit,
Motion control
Wii
Xbox360
Playstation 3
Nintedno DS
PSP
Games: Wii sports, Metal Gear Solid 4, Halo, GTA 4, Bioshock