VIDEO GAMES CONSOLESPAST, PRESENT, AND FUTUREJONATHAN RIVERA

ENGL 231

PROF. CYNTHIA GARCIA

TURABO UNIVERSITY

INTRODUCTION

A video game consoles is best describe as a console for home or handheld that allows users(players) to play a variety of video games on the go or on their home. For the past 50 years there have been numerous game consoles from the Magnavox Odyssey by Magnavox, In 1972 to Samsung Gear V.R., In 2014 with each one breaking the level of imagination and creativity possible in their release time. In this presentation we will explore a little about the history, present and the future of video games.

PAST

In 1950 the first video game appear by Ralph H. Baer, instead of using T.V. they were played by using vector displays. This was the first step of the creation of video games consoles. IN 1960 Baer created a series of video games consoles designs. One of this design was bought by Magnavox bringing to life the Magnavox Odyssey selling a 100,000 units, making it moderately successful. In 1977 Atari, Inc. launches the Atari 2600 selling over 30 millions units in his 15 years life before getting discontinued and his best selling game Pac-Man selling almost 4 million units.

PRESENT

• Since the 2000s thanks in the advancement of technology we have appreciate another level of video games from the PlayStation 2 to the Xbox One and PlayStation 4. Even after 14 years of the PS2 release the console is still the best selling console in all history of video games selling more than 155 million units, pulling 250 millions dollars on his first day of his release beating the Sega Dreamcast 97 million dollars on the day of his release. Thanks to this success Sega who released the Sega Dreamcast in November 1998 was forced to discontinued his console on March 30, 2001. It was not until 2004 that Nintendo release his handheld Nintendo DS which sold 154 millions units this is the only unit in current history who only came close to the PlayStation 2 success.

FUTURE

• Since last year we have seen the next level of consoles with the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One both consoles have sold over 10 millions units with the PS4 on lead with 13.5 million units sold. To add more entertainment now big companies like Samsung and Sony are creating Virtual Reality Headset Samsung Gear V.R. and Project Morpheus(Sony) their goal is to achieve a 3D world in the palm of your hand while the Gear V.R. is available for sale at $200 Dollars as a Beta Version, Project Morpheus is still in development. The Gear VR has a 96 degrees viewing angle and you can watch anything from movies, play games or explore the world that the headset provide.

REFERENCES

• Wikipedia

• Google

Questions?