History of video game consoles (first generation)

The first generation of video game consoles lasted from 1972 until 1977. The start of the first generation began with the release of Magnavox Odyssey. The first generation ended in 1977 because of the video game crash of 1977.

 Home systems  
Comparison
Name Magnavox Odyssey Magnavox Odyssey Series Atari/Sears Tele-Games Pong Coleco Telstar Nintendo Color TV Game Manufacturer Magnavox Magnavox Atari Coleco NintendoConsole 140px 120px 120px 120px 120pxLaunch price US$100 US$100–230 US$98.95 US$50 ¥8,300 - ¥48,000 (Roughly $100 – $594.80 USD Today)Release date        Media Cartridge n/a Inbuilt Chip Cartridge (Telstar Arcade) n/aAccessories (retail) Light gun n/a n/a Controller styles n/aSales 330,000  150,000 1 million 3 million

Pong on a chip
 Chip code/name Year Manufacturer Colors Games Consoles AY-3-8500 1976 General Instrument No (1) Tennis, soccer, squash, practice, 2 rifle games Telstar (Telstar, Classic, Deluxe, Ranger, Alpha, Colormatic, Regent, Sportsman)  Odyssey (300,2000,3000)  Radio Shack TV Scoreboard Unisonic Sportsman/Tournament Philips Tele-Spiel ES2203 and ES2204  Zanussi/Seleco Play-O-Tronic Videomaster (Strika, Strika 2,ColourScore 2, SuperScore)  APF TV Fun (Model 401) BSS 01 AY-3-8510 1978? General Instrument Yes Tennis, hockey, squash, jai alai Telstar Colortron  AY-3-8512 1978? General Instrument Yes Tennis, hockey, squash, jai alai, skeet, target Telstar Marksman  AY-3-8600 1977 General Instrument No(2) 8 games with balls and paddles Telstar Galaxy  Odyssey 4000  Philips Tele-Spiel ES2218 AY-3-8610 1977 General Instrument No(2) 8 games with balls and paddles + 2 rifle games Videomaster Sportsworld  Philco/Ford Telejogo II AY-3-8550 1976? General Instrument No(1) The same of 8500 but with the addition of horizontal movement of player Philips Tele-Spiel ES2208 AY-3-8700 1978? General Instrument  4 games with tanks Telstar Combat! MPS-7600-001,002,003,004 (3)(4) 1977 MOS Technology  The four versions of chip usually support 4 games. Telstar Gemini(only version 004). Telstar Arcade(all 4 versions). Commodore TV Game 2000K/3000H (only version 001). MM-57100/MM-57105(PAL) 1976 National Semiconductor Yes Tennis, Hockey, Squash National Adversary Philips Odyssey 2001 Videomaster (ColourScore, VisionScore, ColourShot)  Philco/Ford Telejogo MM-57106/MM-57186(PAL) 1977 National Semiconductor Yes Tennis, Hockey, Squash, Breakout, Flipper e Football. Philips N30 Philips Odyssey 2100 F4301 1976 Universal Research Labs N/A Two games with balls and paddles and two games of car racing Indy 500 system (Video Action 4) Sears/Atari Speedway e Speedway IV Interton Video 2800 MBO Tele-Ball VIII SN76410N 1977 Texas Instruments N/A Six games of balls and paddles Tele-Match 3300R Ricochet Super Pro (modello MT-4A) Venture Electronics Video Sports VS-5 3659-1C/C2566 1975 Atari No Pong Atari PONG 3659-3 1975 Atari No Pong Atari PONG Doubles Sears PONG IV C010073-3 1976 Atari No 4 Pong games Atari/Sears Super PONG C010073-01/C2607 1976 Atari N/A 10 Pong games Atari Super PONG Ten C010765 1977 Atari N/A Atari Ultra PONG Atari Ultra PONG Doubles C011500-11/C011512-05 (4) 1977 Atari N/A 7 games (example: Pinball, Basketball and Breakout) Atari Video Pinball

 References 

 Other websites 
 How Video Games Invaded the Home TV Set by Ralph Baer
  by Michael Miller
 Video Game Consoles (1970-1976)
 The Dot Eaters: Bits From the Primordial Ooze 
 ClassicGaming Expo 2000: Baer Describes the Birth of Videogames 
 Video Games Turn 40 (1UP.com)  Slap Those Hoes

Category:History of video game consoles