The History Of Nintendo Game Consoles
The history of video game consoles goes back through the 1970's, but many people believe that the Video Game Era properly began with the dawn of Nintendo game consoles in the form of the Nintendo Entertainment System. They're probably right. Ever since the launch of the NES, video games have been propelled forward to greater heights of graphics, gameplay, and story immersion. Video games aren't just games anymore; they're cinematic experiences. And a lot of that is thanks to the Nintendo game consoles that pushed the industry forward.
With that in mind, let's briefly review the history of Nintendo gaming systems. (Note: for a very thorough review of gaming history, check out TheGameConsole.com)
1985: The Nintendo Entertainment System
Nintendo was around in Japan earlier than 1985, but it was the Nintendo Entertainment System that really made Nintendo's mark on the video game world and blew the industry open. Backed by the Super Mario Bros. franchise - released on the Nintendo Famicom in Japan that same year - this version would simply become known as the "Nintendo." By 1986, the NES would reach a much larger scale and start outselling its competitors - by a lot.
1991: The Super Nintendo
Also known as SNES, the Super Nintendo system expanded on the franchises established by the original Nintendo. More buttons were added to the controller - which was now round - and graphics were expanded to provide for a greater range of experiences. Instead of looking like computer screens, the video games now looked more like cartoons, providing a smoother gaming experience and more immersed video game reality.
1996: The Nintendo 64
The next great leap took place with the Nintendo 64. Although the video game market had expanded by this time and the industry had become more competitive, the Nintendo 64 brought its 3-D graphics and settings to a continually growing audience. Popular games like "GoldenEye" also contributed to the expanding world of the first-person shooter, which is now one of the most popular types of games available on the market.
Nintendo has continued to strike a chord with audiences and reach a new generation of gamers with its Nintendo Wii, which wisely sidesteps the strides made by Microsoft and Sony by engaging the player in a more proactive way. Together with Wii bundles, the Nintendo Wii reaches a new audience of adults by providing "games" like the Wii Fit, further expanding the genre of interactive gaming into a more serious role.
