Read Replay: The History of Video Games Online
Authors: Tristan Donovan
Social networking
The explosive growth of social networks after 2005 has been accompanied by a rush of games tied to websites such as Facebook and MySpace that revolve around co-operation between friends.
Indie & Doujin-soft
Both the western indie game scene and Japan’s equivalent doujin-soft movement are treasure troves of surprising, confusing, delightful and appalling games that are growing in number at a bewildering rate. This list can only scratch the surface:
Miscellaneous
The square pegs that won’t fit the round holes:
Hardware Glossary
A brief overview of the computers and consoles mentioned in this book. If you want to learn more the Old Computers website is an excellent starting point: www.old-computers.com
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3DO Interactive Multiplayer
Manufacturers: Creative Labs, Goldstar, Panasonic, Sanyo
Year released: 1993
Origin: USA
Type: Home console
Electronic Arts founder Trip Hawkins’ bid to create a common standard for video games. Several companies produced versions of the 3DO, starting with the Panasonic FZ-1. Creative Labs’ Creative 3DO Blaster was an expansion card that turned PCs into 3DO systems.
A
Acorn Archimedes
Manufacturer: Acorn Computers
Year released: 1987
Origin: UK
Type: Personal computer
The first computer to use Acorn’s ARM microprocessor technology.
Altair 8800
Manufacturer: MITS
Year released: 1975
Origin: USA
Type: Kit computer
One of the first computers available for home use. Inspired the formation of Microsoft.
Amiga
Manufacturers: Commodore International, Amiga Technologies
Year released: 1985
Origin: USA
Type: Personal computer
After Commodore went bust in 1994, a German company called Amiga Technologies bought the rights and continued making the Amiga line of computers until it too shut down in 1997. The Amiga now lives on as the AmigaOS operating system.
Amstrad CPC
Manufacturer: Amstrad
Year released: 1984
Origin: UK
Type: Personal computer
A popular competitor to the Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum in Europe. Especially big in France.
Amstrad GX4000
Manufacturer: Amstrad
Year released: 1990
Origin: UK
Type: Home console
Amstrad’s bid to create a European rival to the NES. Based on the technology of the Amstrad CPC line of computers.
Apple I
Manufacturer: Apple Computer
Year released: 1976
Origin: USA
Type: Personal computer
One of the first fully assembled home computers. Only around 200 were made.
Apple II
Manufacturer: Apple Computer
Year released: 1977
Origin: USA
Type: Personal computer
Part of the first wave of mass-produced home computers.
Astrocade
Atari 400 / 800
Manufacturer: Atari Inc.
Year released: 1979
Origin: USA
Type: Personal computer
Originally the 400 had 4Kb of RAM and the 800 had 8Kb. Later this was upped to 48Kb.
Atari 5200 SuperSystem
Manufacturer: Atari Inc.
Year released: 1982
Origin: USA
Type: Home console
Based on the hardware of the Atari 400 and 800 computers.
Atari 7800 ProSystem
Manufacturer: Atari Inc., Atari Corporation
Year released: 1984 and 1986
Origin: USA
Type: Home console
Originally released in 1984 but when Jack Tramiel bought Atari’s consumer division soon after it was pulled from sale. Re-released in 1986 to compete with the NES.
Atari Jaguar
Manufacturer: Atari Corporation
Year released: 1993
Origin: UK
Type: Home console
Designed by Flare II, a company founded by a team that had previously worked for Sinclair Research and on the unreleased Konix Multisystem.
Atari Lynx
Manufacturer: Atari Corporation
Year released: 1989
Origin: USA
Type: Handheld console
Full colour handheld rival to the Game Boy. Designed to cater for left-handed players too. Created by some of the same team that developed the Amiga computer.
Atari Pong
Atari ST
Manufacturer: Atari Corporation
Year released: 1985
Origin: USA
Type: Personal computer
The first home computer to support the MIDI electronic music standard and became widely used by professional electronic music acts such as 808 State. The Amiga’s main rival in Europe.
Atari VCS 2600
Manufacturer: Atari Inc.
Year released: 1977
Origin: USA
Type: Home console
The system that popularised the cartridge-based console. Released in Japan as the Atari 2800 in 1983. Combat, a remake of Atari’s 1974 coin-op Tank, was built in.
Auto Race
Manufacturer: Mattel Electronics
Year released: 1976
Origin: USA
Type: Handheld game
The first handheld video game. Used LED lights for its visuals.
B
Ball
Bally Professional Arcade
Manufacturer: Bally, Astrocade
Year released: 1978
Origin: USA
Type: Home console
Designed by Dave Nutting As
sociates. In 1982, Bally sold the rights to Astrocade, who relaunched it as the Astrocade.
Bandai Intellivision
Bandai SuperVision 8000
Bandai TV Jack 1000
Manufacturer: Bandai
Year released: 1977
Origin: Japan
Type: Home console
Part of Japan’s home Pong boom of 1977. Bandai’s first step into the video game business.
BBC Micro
Manufacturer: Acorn Computers
Year released: 1981
Origin: UK
Type: Personal computer
Line of home computers commissioned by the BBC.
Brown Box
Casio Loopy
Manufacturer: Casio
Year released: 1995
Origin: Japan
Type: Home console
Short-lived console aimed at female players. Included a built-in thermal printer that allowed users to print colour stickers. It could also capture images from videocassette recorders.
C
Cassette Vision
Manufacturer: Epoch
Year released: 1981
Origin: Japan
Type: Home console
Until Nintendo released its Famicom, this was Japan’s leading console.
CD32
Manufacturer: Commodore
Year released: 1993
Origin: USA
Type: Home console
A CD-based console reincarnation of Commodore’s Amiga computer.
CD-i
Manufacturer: Magnavox, Philips
Year released: 1991
Origin: Netherlands
Type: Home console
Released under the Magnavox brand in North America.
CDTV
Manufacturer: Commodore International
Year released: 1991
Origin: USA
Type: Home console/Personal computer
Sold as a console but could be turned into a Amiga computer.
ColecoVision
Manufacturer: Coleco
Year released: 1982
Origin: USA
Type: Home console
Its initial success was cut brutally short by the US video game crash.
Color TV Game 6
Manufacturer: Nintendo
Year released: 1977
Origin: Japan
Type: Home console
Nintendo’s first games console containing six Pong-style games.
Color TV Game 15
Manufacturer: Nintendo
Year released: 1978
Origin: Japan
Type: Home console
Yet another Pong console with 15 variations on offer.
Color TV Game Block Breaker
Manufacturer: Nintendo
Year released: 1979
Origin: Japan
Type: Home console
Home version of Nintendo’s 1978 coin-op game Block Breaker.
Color TV Game Racing 112
Manufacturer: Nintendo
Year released: 1978
Origin: Japan
Type: Home console
Console offering a selection of driving games. The console’s casing was designed by Shigeru Miyamoto.
Commodore 64
Manufacturer: Commodore International
Year released: 1982
Origin: USA
Type: Personal computer
The best-selling home computer model of all-time with around 17 million sold worldwide. Included the SID sound chip that was on of the most advanced for its time.
Commodore PET