Nintendo released their first home console, the Famicon, in Japan in 1983 which helped revitalize the video game industry. In 1985, the Famicon was released internationally as the Nintendo Entertainment System and sold over 60 million units, peaking in popularity in 1987. Nintendo also released the original Gameboy handheld system in 1989, which used an LCD screen and was sold with the game Tetris, gaining widespread attraction. Major Nintendo console releases in the 1990s included the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1991 and the Nintendo 64 in 1996, which was their first system to support 4-player games and 64-bit processing. The 2000s saw the release of the Game Cube, Nintendo DS and Wii consoles, with

1. Nintendo Game Systems A Brief History

2. The 1980s

3. 1983 The Famicon is released in Japan as Nintendo’s first home gaming system System is described as “Almost single-handedly revitalizing the video game industry”

4. 1983-1984 Video Game Crash! Very few popular systems or games were released

5. 1985 Famicon is released in America under the title Nintendo Entertainment System 60 million copies were sold Popularity increased and peaked in 1987

6. 1989 The Nintendo Gameboy was released First handheld system to be successfully marketed 220g Used 8-bit processing technology Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) screen used Sold with Tetris to gain attraction

7. The 1990s

8. 1991 Super Nintendo Entertainment System was released Improved processing system Used 16-bit technology

9. 1996 Game Boy Pocket is released 30% smaller + flatter than original Game Boy 125g LCD screen The Nintendo 64 is released First system with: four player game options 64 bit processing technology

10. 1998 Game Boy Color is released First handheld system to use color Total of 32,000 colors 52 could be shown simultaneously Used Next-Generation Liquid screen

11. The 21 st Century

12. 2001 The Nintendo Game Cube is released Speed of 162 MHz Has a Memory Bandwidth of 2.6 GB per second

13. 2004 Nintendo DS is released The processing power of a N64 in a handheld device (64 bits) Clear graphics 2 screens, 1 touch screen Microphone Wi-Fi

14. 2006 Nintendo DS Lite is released More light weight than original DS Screen backlight is brighter Nintendo Wii is released First Nintendo system with: Wireless controllers Motion sensors

15. 2010 Nintendo DSi is released Cameras added to DS Nintendo DSi XL is released Slightly larger screen Netflix service provided though system

16. 2011 Nintendo 3DS is released Incorporated 3D technology without glasses