UNIT 14- GAMING

By Tori-Rose O'Mara

Creative media production

Level 2 BTEC Diploma

Deconstructing computer games

Lecturer: Emma Maugham

60 ’S

This is the first game console made. It was made by a man called Ralph H. Baer and created in Germany. The game

console is called ‘Brown Box’. It is just a brown wooden box that connects to two controllers and then can be set up

to be used on a normal TV set. As it is the first console made it only contains six simple games such as volleyball,

chase game, Ping-Pong, tennis, light-gun game and handball. When the brown box was created it was not very

popular with the public but eventually the system started making money and ended up with 12 games.

Atari created one of the earliest arcade video games its was a very simple game

that consists of two paddles that would hit a ball over a line in the middle of the

screen. Then the scores where added up at the side, featuring simple 2D

graphics. The game was alot like a electronic version of ping pong. The gaming

device was created by Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney in 1972.

70’s

80’S

Intellivision is a game console released by Matell. The console features better

graphics than atari 2600 the console contains 4 games avalible to play.

Intellivision was the first game console to include synthesized voices throughout

the game. It appears to have been very succsessful as it sold over 3 million

units.

90’S

Nintendo introduced the Gameboy It was the first major handheld games

console.

The Gameboy features an 8-bit CPU and a black and white LCD screen. The

Gameboy has spacific cartrage games that you buy separately from the console.

1995

Sony's PlayStation was launched in 1995 it was the arrival of the most popular

console of the 32-bit era of games. They changed from cartridge-based games

and upgraded with CD-ROM technology this helped the sales go up dramatically.

2000

Sony released the second addition to the PlayStation calling It the PlayStation 2. It

was the first 128-bit system. The PlayStation 2 has the ability to play older 32-bit

PlayStation games and also functions as a DVD player. The PS2 also helped to

raise popularity of console games played over high-speed internet connections.

2002

The Gameboy has now released its newest addition calling it the Gameboy Advance.

This is also handheld with a LCD screen that can display more that 32,000 colours.

The Gameboy advance features a rechargeable lithium-ion battery and folding case.

2004

Nintendo releases the Nintendo DS, in attempt to add more computing functions

to its handheld games consoles. The DS features two screens and touch screen

technology and also features backwards compatibility for older Gameboy games.

You can buy loads of games to play on the Nintendo DS but the console does not

contain games on the memory.

2005

To challenge the Gameboys handheld console market Sony released the PlayStation

portable. The PSP features wireless capability, high quality graphics and also some non-

gaming functions such as photo storage and digital audio/video capabilities.

2006

Nintendo have released there latest games console called the Nintendo Wii. The

Wii has several advanced features such as wireless motion-sensitive remote

controllers, built in Wi-Fi and lots of other features that have made the Wii the

best selling latest generation console system in the world. You can buy many

games for the Wii and it also has a lot of accessories that you can buy to play

the games such as the Wii fit board.

2012

The PlayStation Vita is a handheld games console manufactured and marketed

by Sony computer entertainment. It was released in Europe, north America and

south America on February 22, 2012. The PlayStation vita includes 3G/Wi-Fi, a

limited addition carry case, a 4GB memory card and Bluetooth. The vita has a

5inch screen that is mute-compatible to touch screen.