NerdyEdge: Evolution of Gaming Consoles, Part 1

Evolution of Gaming

1967-1985 Retro Consoles Part 1

We look at gaming now as how realistic does it look? How hard is it? Does it have awesome multiplayer? What about downloadable content? But what about where we started? Does anyone remember how basic gaming used to be and how amazing the journey gaming has had in just 30 byears? Take a stroll down gamer memory lane with me!

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1967 – The Brown Box

Ralph Baer and his co-workers designed the first video game system that worked with a standard television. The team at Sanders Associates built a chase game that had two lights that chased each other. They did add a light gun and eventually had 12 games with the system.

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1970 – Coin Operated System

The first arcade video game system was the coin operated game called Computer Space. This was a very retro game system that would remind anyone who has been to a vintage arcade exactly what gaming looked like in the 70s and 80s.

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1972 – Magnavox Odyssey

The Odyssey was the second system made by Ralph Baer. The Odyssey was powered by six C batteries but could also use an optional A/C power supply. There was no sound with the Odyssey. The Odyssey used printed circuit board game cards which are similar to a ROM cartridge. The cartridge had just simple electrical connections that interconnected to the logic and signal generators inside the Odyssey. The Odyssey had a game inventory of 27 printed circuit boards.

Specs:

Processor: NONE

Media Format: Pin Out Cards

Controller Ports : 2 Hardwired

Power supply: AC Adapter 9V DC 40 mA or Six (6) type C batteries

View the original manual here (its actually really cool and really nerdy!!)

http://www.videogameconsolelibrary.com/images/Manuals/72_Magnavox_Odyssey-Manual.pdf

computercloset.org

1972 – Atari

Pong was the first game on gaming console Atari to have sound. Atari and Pong were sold exclusively at Sears under the Tele-Games label. The single chip technology that integrated the visual and the sound of the pong ball hitting the paddle was a first for home gaming. The success of Pong catapulted Atari into a household name.

Specs:

Hardware: Discrete logic, no CPU.
Number of Chips: 66
Graphics: 455x262 pixels, monochrome

wikipedia.com

1977 – Atari 2600 VCS

After the success of Pong on the original Atari system, Atari realized that a console needed to be able to play multiple games. The Atari 2600 VCS is born. Atari is sold to Warner Communication and Atari begins using the cartridge based system. The system is a massive hit with games like Missile Command, Space Invaders and Combat.

Full Specs:

Processor: 6507 (A slightly stripped down version of the 6502)

Speed: 1.19Mhz

RAM: 128 bytes

ROM: 4K Cartridge ROM space without bankswitching

Sound: TIA custom Atari graphics/sound chip.

Graphics: TIA custom Atari graphics/sound chip

    Graphics RAM: None
    Colors: 128
    Sprites: 2, 8 bit wide; 2, 3, 1 bit wide; All sprites full screen height
    Background Graphics: 40 pixels wide by 192 lines high.

I/O: Joystick and console switch IO handled byte 6532 RIOT and TIA

Ports: 2 Joystick ports, 1 Cartridge port, Power in, RF output

wikipedia.com

1980 – Mattel Intellivision

The Intellivision was developed by Mattel and was the first system to have more realistic sounds and a more 3d feel than the cruder graphics of the systems before it. The system came with the game, Las Vegas Poker & Blackjack. The retail cost was $299. The downside of the system was the promise of all these peripherals that were always “coming soon” but never made its way onto the market.

Specs:

CPU: GI 16 bit microprocessor

Memory: 7K internal ROM, RAM and I/O structures, remaining 64k address space for external programs.

Controls: 12 button numeric key pad, four action keys, and 16 direction disc

Sound: Sound generator capable of 3 part harmony with programmable ASDR envelopes.

Color: 16 colors

Resolution: 192v x 160h pixels

wikipedia.com

1985 – Nintendo Entertainment System

The first Nintendo to hit the market came with an arsenal of games that blew all the other consoles out of the water. Nintendo had in its game library Super Mario Bros, The Legand of Zelda, and Final Fantasy. The 8-bit NES was the best selling home video game system of its time. The NES had cartridges and an eject button to help push the cartridge out that the developer also though the children would just like pushing.

Specs:
CPU: 8-bit 6502 NMOS (1.79MHz)
RAM: 2KB (16Kb), 2KB Video RAM
Colors: 52 (24 on screen)
Sprites: 64
Sprite Size: 8x16 pixels
Resolution: 256x240 pixels
Sound: PSG audio

wikipedia.com

1989 – Game Boy

The Gameboy was the first major handheld game console. The Game Boy featured 8-bit CPU just like the NES and had a black and white LCD screen. The Game Boy’s popularity skyrocketed with the release of the game, Tetris.

Specs:

CPU: 8-bit Z80 CMOS (4.19MHz)
RAM: 8KB
Colors: 4 (Grayscale)
Sprites: 40
Sprite Size: 8x16 or 8x8 pixels
Resolution: 160x144 pixels
Sound: 4 channel audio

Have some 8-bit fun today!!