(Redirected from
Game console)
- Game console redirects here, for the command line in modern computer games, see PC game console.
A video game console is a dedicated electronic machine designed to play video games. Often the output device is a separate television or a computer monitor. The main input device is a controller.
There was a time when video game consoles were easily distinguishable from personal computers: consoles used a standard television for display, and did not support standard PC accessories such as keyboards or modems. However, as consoles have become more enhanced, the distinction has blurred: some consoles can have full Linux operating systems running with hard drives and keyboards (like the Sony PlayStation 2).
The console market has steadily developed from simple one-off games, such as PONG, to fully featured general purpose games systems, such as a PS2.
Older game consoles and their software now live on in emulators as they are no longer supported by their manufacturers. However, console makers try to prevent their games from being played on emulators using copyright-like exclusive rights in mask works and a protection of encrypted media created by the United States' Digital Millennium Copyright Act and foreign counterparts.
Note that the advertised "bitness" of post-32-bit consoles were in large part created by the console makers' marketing departments and may have little to do with the actual architecture or processing power of the systems.
Video game consoles have created a whole self-supporting market for thousands of different video game accessory manufacturers who would otherwise not be able to produce their own video game consoles. These manufacturers have expanded upon the original uses for the game consoles and have even created entirely new ways to both play and use some of the most popular video game systems.
Game console types
Generic
Generic consoles include shoe box-sized systems with controller ports and interchangeable media. They also have output ports for a television, and in rarer cases, computer monitors. PCs (or home computers) are not officially considered game consoles, although the Commodore 64 and similar systems had a TV-out port, and composite outputs. However, the officially distinction of computer systems and game consoles has blurred from the aforementioned elements above.
Handheld systems usually have their own monitor and built-in controls, and almost always have cartridge or disk slots.
Dedicated consoles are game consoles which have built-in games. These include TV games; which were the bring-back of dedicated consoles. Modern dedicated consoles however have batteries.
Only-types
This section deals with consoles containing characteristics that put them into obscurity which only have one-of-a-kind:
- Pelican VG Pocket - a dedicated handheld console, however it has a TV-out port which is more normal for handheld consoles. However, similar so-called handheld electronic games which may only have one game and a low-end means of display are excluded from this obscurity.
- Vectrex - only non-portable console which has a monitor of it's own, and that consoles with an integrated monitor are usually handheld, and that Vectrex was not. Vectrex was also the only console with real vector graphics.
Timeline
Note: This is an abridged timeline of video game consoles in North America.
Note: This is an abridged timeline of video game consoles in Japan.
Note: This is an abridged timeline of video game consoles in Europe.
Seventh generation consoles
- PlayStation 3, will be released in mid-late 2006 in Japan and early 2007 in US (tentative).
- Revolution will be released in Late 2006 (tentative).
- Xbox 360, released in November 2005.
Sixth generation consoles
- Dreamcast Sega's last console.
- Gamecube Nintendo's sixth generation videogame console.
- PlayStation 2 The sequel to the PlayStation.
- Xbox Microsoft's first videogame console.
See also
Books
Forster, Winnie (2005). The Encyclopedia of Game Machines - Consoles, handheld & home computers 1972-2005, GAMEplan. ISBN 3-00-015359-4. [1]
External links
