Game consoles are now one of the main forms of entertainment within the modern home. Years ago, people had to find other ways and means to entertain themselves. Board games and jump ropes were soon replaced by an electronic device called a “game console.” The first console to hit the market was the Magnavox Odyssey in 1972, which was designed by Ralph Baer. Although the technology back then was groundbreaking, today it would be dwarfed by the processor running a digital clock. The console was analog, it only worked with batteries and it did not even produce sound. It took four years to get to development and distribution from having a working prototype. The console sold quite well and its only demise was due to its own marketing.
The first wave of console systems were cartridge based, if they didn’t already have the games built into the drive. These included a memory chip and plugged into the console. The advantage of this type of system was that the games loaded almost instantly. As the technology progressed and became available, it was integrated and used for game consoles. One of the first systems to use CDs was the Nintendo GameCube. This killed two birds with one stone, as it could also play music and play games. CDs could also hold more data, giving software developers more reach and durability when encoding games.
As game consoles became faster, sharper, and more powerful, other technological elements were introduced, such as wireless technology. In recent years, the wireless controller was introduced that allowed you to connect and play games on one console without a cable connecting the two. One of the first was the Nintendo Wavebird. This was by no means the first, but it was probably the first decent one. It used a radio frequency and had a range of up to 20 feet. These days, most consoles come with wireless controllers as standard, some of which use Bluetooth technology and have the same gaming reliability as controllers that are connected with cables.
Towards the end of 2006, a new generation of game consoles was born. This didn’t quite match the sheer power or graphical capabilities of the big gamers like the Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3, but it does take a huge chunk of the market due to its innovation and the way it has moved away from traditional gaming. This console was called the Nintendo Wii. It uses wireless technology to track the movement of handheld controllers and uses the data to interact with the game. This change in direction has allowed Nintendo to dominate the market and achieve the best sales in the industry. The console initiates a physical type of game and is great for small groups of people to enjoy at the same time. It is not aimed at serious and hardcore gamers, and is even labeled as a “novelty” by some.
The Nintendo Wii has also been responsible for the widest range of aftermarket gaming accessories to hit the market. After seeing the potential of the Nintendo Wii, many manufacturers and retailers have developed Wii accessories that add more fun and realism to the game. Wii accessories include Wii boxing gloves, steering wheels, sports bags with golf clubs and tennis rackets, Wii guns and many other accessories. These enhance gameplay and help usher the Nintendo Wii into a new era of gaming.