page_title: 1970s in video games
section_title: First generation consoles
hierarchical_section_title: 1970s in video games / Consoles of the 1970s / First generation consoles
caption_attribution_description: English: The "Video game" pong console sold by Polistil. Made in Italy in 1978. Based on the AY-3-8500 general instrument chip.Italiano: Console italiana della prima generazione chiamata "Video games" venduta da Polistil a partire dal 1978. Basata sul chip AY-3-8500 di general instrument
context_page_description: The 1970s was the first decade in the industry's history. The 1970s saw the development of some of the earliest video games, chiefly in arcade versions, but also several for the personal computer and the earliest video game consoles.
context_section_description: The so-called first generation of consoles were on sale between 1972 and 1980 and included the Magnavox Odyssey, Telstar, Home Pong and Color TV-Game.
  Typical characteristics of the first generation of consoles:
  Discrete transistor-based digital game logic.
  Games were native components of consoles rather than based on external or removable media.
  Entire game playfield occupies only one screen.
  Players and objects consist of very basic lines, dots or blocks.
  Colour graphics are basic (mostly black and white or other dichromatic combination; later games may display three or more colours).
  Either single-channel or no audio.
  Lacked features of second generation consoles, such as microprocessor logic, ROM cartridges, flip-screen playfields, sprite-based graphics, and multi-color graphics.
caption: Polistil VG2 Pong clone (1978), made in Italy
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