TheNintendo Entertainment System(or NES) is regarded by many as the saving grace of the video game industry. Prior to its release, the gaming market had suffered a crash due to market saturation of home gaming consoles. However, the NES, released as the Famicom in Japan, turned the gaming industry into what it is today.
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Nintendo quickly became one of the most famous video game manufacturers of all time, still releasing consoles to this day. However, they weren’t the first to try to bring arcades into the homes of families. These ten consoles released before the Nintendo Entertainment System, despite not catching on with most households.
10The Magnavox Odyssey
The first home video game console to be sold to the public was the Magnavox Odyssey. This spaceship-looking device released in 1972 at a price of $99.95,which was quite expensive at the time. The system only displays moving white squares, so most of the fun came from plastic layouts that could be placed over TV screens.
Essentially, all the “games” for this system are simply just board game-style maps that encourage users to maneuver the white squares accordingly. The most engaging of these overlays would probably beCat and MouseorTennis, due to their familiarity and simplicity. It’s easy to see why this expensive console never caught on.
9Home Pong
Pongwas one of the first video games ever made, originally released for arcades in 1972. Designed by engineer Allan Alcorn, the game quickly took off, prompting Atari co-founder Nolan Bushnell to capitalize on the game’s success. This included a home console version ofPong, which released to the public in 1975.
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The first 150,000 units ofHome Pongwere released through Sears, though Atari later came out with their own version of the console a year later. As expected, theHome Pongconsole only contains one game, so there’s not much variety in the library. However, for video game fans in the 70s, it was probably the best iteration ofPong.
8Coleco Telstar
While Atari and Magnavox were some of the first companies to dip their toes in video game console production, more were soon to follow. Among these companies was Coleco, known for mass-producing Cabbage Patch Kids. They also manufactured some early gaming consoles, such as the Coleco Telstar series.
The first iteration of the Coleco Telstar, released in 1976, featured two fixed paddles that hooked up to a television. It was only capable of playing three games: tennis, hockey, and handball.The tennis game was essentially another rip-off ofPong, which was standard among these early video game consoles.
7Color TV-Game
The Color TV-Game was the first home video game console manufactured by Nintendo. It was originally released in 1977 as the soon-to-be gaming giant decided to move away from producing toys and card games. However,the Color TV-Game only saw release in Japan, despite its high sales figures.
The first two Color TV-Game consoles were essentiallyHome Pongclones, with two fixed paddles. The third console, the Color TV-Game Racing 112, came with a steering wheel for a built-in top-down racing game. While this console was again limited in its usage, it laid the groundwork for Nintendo’s future in gaming development.
6Atari 2600
One of the more memorable video game consoles prior to the NES was the Atari 2600, which released in 1977. With the console’s support for third-party developers, the Atari 2600 quickly became the most popular gaming console for years to come. This included some of the first ports of games likePac-ManandSpace Invaders.
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One of the best games for the Atari 2600, surprisingly, isAdventure, where players control a yellow square looking for a magical chalice. For a game with limited artistic features, it’s surprisingly fun and engaging. However, games likeE.T.: The Extra Terrestrialbecame synonymous with the impending 1983 video game crash.
5Intellivision
Mattel Electronics entered the video game market with the Intellivision in 1979. Surprisingly, this is considered the first 16-bit console, predating the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, which didn’t debut until 1990. However, with the remote-control-esque controller, the Intellivision made some great strides.
The Intellivision was also significant in that it featured the first home console ports ofDonkey Kong Jr.andQ*Bert,which were very popular in arcades at the time. It also featured aPac-Manclone calledLock N' Chase, replacing the iconic circular mascot and ghosts with a bank-robbing tomato being chased by police officers.
4Game & Watch
Nintendo continued experimenting in the video game console world, manufacturing theGame & Watchseries of consoles in 1980. Inspired by LCD calculators, these handheld devices were sold individually with one game each.Its nostalgic factors have led Nintendo to continue to produceGame & Watchsystems to this day.
Most fans probably know theGame & Watch’s best games through the moveset of Mr. Game & Watch in theSuper Smash Brosseries. Some of these games includeBall,Lion, andOctopus. The handheld console also featured early iterations ofDonkey Kong,Mario Bros, andPunch-Out!!
3ColecoVision
Coleco followed up their Telstar series with the ColecoVision in 1982. This console was more of a competitor to consoles like the Atari 2600 and Intellivision in terms of hardware capability. It also was notable for featuring the first home console version ofDonkey Kong, which was included as a pack-in title with the system.
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Between 1982 and 1984, the system saw over 100 games published by developers. Some of their best includedFrogger,Pitfall, andTapper, as well as other popular arcade titles. It also featured many games based on existing properties, such as Dr. Seuss books, the James Bond movies, and even action star Chuck Norris.
2Atari 5200
Atari followed up their popular system with the Atari 5200 in 1982 as a way to compete with the Intellivision and ColecoVision. Not to be outdone by Coleco’s newest console, the Atari 5200 shipped withSuper Breakoutas its pack-in game. It also expanded on the 2600’s joystick by adding a number pad, and start, pause, and reset buttons.
The 5200 featured ports of many popular arcade games at the time, such asDig Dug,Joust, andSpace Invaders. It also featured decent versions ofMario BrosandMs. Pac-Man, as well as other console mainstays likeSpace InvadersandQ*Bert. Overall,the console wasn’t as well-received as its predecessor.
1Vectrex
The Vectrex was unique among other home video game consoles at the time, as it came with its own television display. This meant console owners didn’t need to own a TV to play it, making it desirable to TV-less households. However, all the graphics on this console were displayed via a vector monitor, limiting its graphical capabilities.
This console was susceptible to the video game crash of 1983, resulting in its discontinuation only two years after its release. Like the Magnavox Odyssey, its games came with screen overlays that would theoretically enhance the gaming experience.Aside from games likeStar TrekandPole Position, there wasn’t much it had to offer.
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