retro video game consoles

CHIYO BROWN

1977; Color TV Game 6 - The Color TV-Game 6 was Nintendo's first home console. It was released in 1977, and was only sold in Japan. The Color TVGame 6 had only one game - Light Tennis, which looked and played much like Pong.

1980; Game and Watch - The Game & Watch system was released in Japan in 1980. It was the very first handheld gaming console created by Nintendo. Some consider the Game & Watch to be the handheld version of the Color TV Game series - The Game & Watch also only featured one game for each system.

1983; Family Computer (Famicom) - The Family Computer (Famicom for short) is a home video game system released by Nintendo in 1983. It came with two controllers, and home versions of three Nintendo arcade games: Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Jr, and Popeye. The Famicom’s use of interchangeable cartridges meant that video game companies other than Nintendo could produce games for the system.

1989; Game Boy - The Game Boy was the first dedicated handheld system from Nintendo which used interchangeable cartridges to play many different titles. The Game Boy was affordable, had a long battery life, and could play various video games such as Tetris, Super Mario Land, Kirby's Dream Land, and Pokémon.

1996; Nintendo 64 - The Nintendo 64 was first released in Japan in 1996. It was the first console of its time with built-in four player gaming. The controller for the Nintendo 64 was very unique, and featured three grips and a total of eight buttons. Time magazine praised the realistic movement and gameplay provided by the console, stating that it was the “fastest, smoothest game action yet attainable”

2004; Nintendo DS - The Nintendo DS features a clamshell design, and has two screens - the lower one a touch screen. The DS was Nintendo’s first handheld console with Wi-Fi capabilities. The Nintendo DS is the best selling Nintendo game system, and sold over 150 million units worldwide. It is the world’s second best-selling game system only behind the PlayStation 2.

2006; Wii - The Wii comes packaged with a Wii Remote and Nunchuk. Wii Remote is able to sense movement in 3D space, and is thus able to simulate things such as having a sword fight, playing a wide variety of sports, and much more. The remote was designed to closely resemble a tv remote, which made it easier for inexperienced players to relate to. 2011; Nintendo 3DS - The 3DS is the successor of the Nintendo DS, and has the ability to display the upper screen in 3D. The 3DS is compatible with DS games, has motion detection for various games that use movement, a better camera, and features a new circle control, appropriately named by Nintendo as the 'Circle Pad'. This control is seen later in the Nintendo Switch and Switch Lite consoles.

2017; Nintendo Switch - The Nintendo switch is the first hybrid console/handheld - The main unit is a portable tablet with a multi-touch screen, and it can be inserted into a special dock that allows it to be connected to the TV. Games are controlled using the Joy-Con, wireless controllers that can be attached to either the sides of the tablet, or taken off to be used as two separate controllers. The Switch is the first home console to utilize physical games as cartridges in over 20 years - The last game which used these cartridges was the Nintendo 64.