The Evolution of Video Game
Consoles
John Morrison
Rowan McManus
Period 7

Definition
• A video game console is an interactive
entertainment computer system that
produces a video display signal which can be
used with a display device (a television,
monitor, etc.) to display a video game.

Magnavox Odyssey
• Created by Ralph Baer
• Released May of 1972
• He wanted to make television interactive
• Tennis for Two (Pong)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnavox_Odyss
ey

Design
• Used a printed circuit board (similar to N64
cartridges)
• Jumper Cables were used to connect the
system’s signal to the television
• They did not have color, so Magnavox sold
plastic slips to go over screen and simulate
colors

Improvements

Timeline

1985
1989
1994
1996
1998
2001
2001
2001
2005
2006
2006
Future

Improvements
• More buttons, more in depth games
• Large Battery to Wall Plug in
• On Screen Scoring (Odyssey 200)
• Cartridges to Compact Disks (Playstation)
• Black and White to Color
• Online Game Play (Dreamcast) Later improved by
Xbox with the ethernet cable
• 3 dimensional (N64)
• Faster Running Speed

Controller Evolution

Who Plays Videogames?
• 65% of American Households Play Computer
or Video Games
• Average Gamer is 35 years old and has been
playing 13 years by that point
• 190 million households are expected to have a
next generation console by 2012
• In 2007 an average of nine games were sold
every second!

Effects On Society
• Many people find enjoyment from video
games, but they make some people more
violent
• A very large factor in obesity and lack of social
skills
• It is however a pastime throughout America
and is good for bringing people together.

References
• Polsson, Ken (May 9, 2007). "Chronology of Video Game Systems".
http://www.islandnet.com/~kpolsson/vidgame/vid1995.htm. Retrieved 2007-06-09.
• The First Video Game". Brookhaven National Laboratory, U.S. Dept. of Energy.
http://www.bnl.gov/bnlweb/history/higinbotham.asp. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
• The Game Console. "A History of Home Video Games from Atari to Xbox, Playstation and Wii." Google. Web. 13 Sept. 2010.
<http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:iVxqnERYCBAJ:www.thegameconsole.com/ evolution of video
games&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&safe=active>.
• Stack, Patrick. "Video Game Console Timeline - Video Game History - Xbox 360 - TIME Magazine." Breaking News, Analysis,
Politics, Blogs, News Photos, Video, Tech Reviews - TIME.com. 23 May 2005. Web. 13 Sept. 2010.
<http://www.time.com/time/covers/1101050523/console_timeline/>.

THE END