Platform

The first-generation era refers to video game consoles available from 1972 to 1983. Notable platforms of the first generation include the Magnavox Odyssey, Odyssey series, Atari Home Pong, Coleco Telstar series and the Color TV-Game series. The first generation of home video game consoles were mainly dedicated systems which only gave the ability to play different varieties of one game.

The second-generation era refers to video game consoles available from 1976 to 1992. Notable platforms of the second generation include the Fairchild Channel F, Atari 2600, Intellivision, Odyssey², and ColecoVision. The first generation of home video game consoles were mainly dedicated systems which only gave the ability to play different varieties of one game. With the games built into the system there was no option to add additional games that were developed after the console’s release. These systems initially gave the general public the ability to play some of their favorite video arcade games in the comfort of their homes.

The third generation began on July 15, 1983, with the release of the Nintendo Family Computer also known as the Famicom and the Sega SG-1000 in Japan. This generation is commonly referred to as the 8-bit era, even though the previous generation of consoles also used 8-bit processors. It wasn’t until the end of the third generation that consoles were referred to and marketed by bits.