From Pong To Grand Theft Auto
Rapidly changing technology has turned the video game industy on its head several times in the last two decades.
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Atari is founded and the coin-operated Pong game is one its first successses.
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Atari introduces the Atari 2600 video computer game system for the home.
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Mattel, the toy company, releases a competing Intellivision game system.
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Atari gets competition when Nintendo, maker of the wildly popular Donkey Kong game, ships its NES entertainment system to U.S. markets.
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Atari and Sega accuse Nintendo of operating like a monopoly, prompting a Justice Department inquiry.
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Nintendo introduces Game Boy, the first portable, hand-held game system with interchangeable game packs. It becomes the best selling portable electronics device in history.
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Intellivision is discontinued.
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Nintendo releases its new Super NES system but cartridges from the old console cannot be used in this system. Sega brings its Genesis console to the market.
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Congress hold hearings on video game violence. Sen. Joseph Lieberman and Herbert Kohl chair sessions.
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Sega joins with Time Warner and TCI to start the Sega Channel, a subscription-based network providing games over cable lines. The Entertainment Software Ratings Board establishes a rating system to warn consumers of violence or offensive material.
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The battle of consoles continues as Sony introduces PlayStation and Sega releases its Saturn system.
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The Nintendo 64 system hits the market and sales reach 500,000 in the first month.
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Sega teams up with Microsoft to develop the Dreamcast game console.
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Microsoft unveils its Xbox game console. Sony's new PlayStation 2 is also a DVD player. And Atari ceases to manufacture arcade games.
The Sony PlayStation 2 hits stores in October with a $299 price tag; it becomes the Sega Dreamcast's rival in the Next-gen console wars.
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Sega had no choice but to stop production of the Dreamcast console because of losses from both the Saturn and Dreamcast consoles.
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Nintendo releases its third improvement of its best-selling video game system, the Game Boy Advance. It costs $100.
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Microsoft enters the console industry with their Xbox gaming system, priced at $299.
Nintendo releases its competition against the Sony PlayStation 2 and the Xbox - the Gamecube. It costs $199.95.
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Microsoft lauches its online-gaming service, Xbox Live.
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Nintendo releases the Game Boy Advance SP, which includes a front light screen and can be folded into a small square. Cost: $99.95.
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Aiming to continue with its portable market, Nintendo launchs the Nintendo DS. The DS is a dual-screen portable handheld gaming system. Cost: $149.99.
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Sony releases its first portable gaming system using a new Universal Media Disc (UMD) format. The controls aare identical to Sony's Playstation console. Cost: $249.
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Microsoft releases its Next-Gen platform the Xbox 360. The 360 as it is known, features a wireless controller, and the console features a 20GB detachable Xbox 360 Hard Drive. Cost: $399 with the Hard Drive and Controller.
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Credits:
Nintendo.com; Intellivisionlives.com; Sega.com; Atari Historical Society and xbox.com, Cnet.com
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