Video Game History Page 3
In 1985 a new system hit the markets that would slowly rebuild the video game market from what some called a "fad" to what is now an every growing and billion dollar industry.
It was the Nintendo Entertainment System ( just call me NES)
It was the start of the 8 bit era. (sorta since the Atari was an 8 bit system in reality, but did not have the graphics power of 3rd generation consoles.) A new family of systems would rise from the ashes of old to create the 3rd age of Video game systems. (Atari was considered the second age since there are technically systems that came before but never took off in the market)
The bigest 1st gen system was the Odyssey which was a cartridge system where you actually put overlays on your TV to represent borders and advanced graphics. It never took off.
Even though some systems from before the crash were in fact 8 bit systems, the Nintendo marketed this fact to differentiate itself (A trick used to market new systems all the way from the 16 bit Genesis to Nintendo 64)
The Nintendo gave us advanced graphics, a light gun, and the first D-pad controller. Amazingly, the first Nintendo was originally to be released by Atari in the US, but the deal fell through. Too bad since over the next 3 years Nintendo would edge out the 2600 and the newer Atari 7800.
The
system sold in 2 bundles for $200 or $250.00 and included everything to start
playing right away. This would also be the first big release of Super Mario
Brothers (still around today) as well as some other huge titles that have
grown to cult status like Zelda, Metroid, and Castlevania.
For those who recall a robot, that was the master system that had a total of 2 games that supported the robot function.
For
you RPG freaks, the NES also gave us the very first Final Fantasy game with
now over 12 sequels.
Super Mario 3 Game for NES
Atari Strikes Back
Around
1986 Atari tried to win back some market share by releasing the 7800 system,.
While it did last about 3 years it could not complete with Nintendo's strong
hold on the market or library of games.
The 7800 was innovative in that it was designed to work as a video game console or upgrade to a functional home computer (Something we see more of today than back then) but Atari's very limited game supply and a reputation of releasing unfinished/unpolished games tarnished the system as well as future releases.
In
looking at side by side screen caps it's hard to compare the Atari 7800 to
either the Sega or NES.
Atari 7800 Pole Position Game
Other 3rd generation players!
The
NES and 7800 were not the only players in town. Sega released the Master System
in 1985 as well and met with pretty good demand. Very similar the the NES
the Sega sported a black slim case and top loading cartridge. Sega would give
us characters like Alex Kid and Sonic the Hedgehog. While the system only
ran $200.00 it lacked some the games Nintendo held not to mention it would
not see the US for a year after the NES giving the NES an edge.
Sega
tried to revamp the system with a lower price tag and slimer model in the
late 1980's called the Master System II, but at this time The 4th generation
of consoles had begun to hit the market, and newer systems began to shun their
former brothers.
Alexx
Kidd in Miracle World for Sega MS