1^st and 2^nd Generation

1972 – 1984

Odessey 100 - Pong

Atari 2600 – Space Invaders, Donkey Kong, Mario Brothers

3^rd Generation

1985 - 1986

`Video Game Crash’

Low quality, played on home computers mostly, people had lost faith in consoles to some extent, it was the first console of the `modern era’

Nintendo Famicom – first ‘role play’ game. – Dragon Quest, Super Mario Bros. Final Fantasy

4^th Generation

1987 – 1996

Game Boy, Sega Mega Drive and Super Nintendo

Mortal Kombat, Sonic The Hedgehog

5^th Generation

1993 – 2000

PlayStation 1, Gameboy Colour, SEGA Saturn, Nintendo 64

Gran Tourismo, Goldeneye, Legend Of Zelda

6^th Generation

Xbox, Dreamcast, GameCube, PlayStation 2

Alternative controllers e.g. Guitar Hero, Car Wheels, Dance Mat

Limited complexity, shortened sequences e.g. SIMS

PlayStation – More complex, adult orientated

GTA 3, Halo, Resident Evil 4

7^th Generation

2004 – Present

Nintendo Wii, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3

The Wii was designed because people were pointing the finger at fast food and video games for rising obesity in children. So they used motion sensors and other technology to combat this.

Handheld Nintendo DS, Sony PSP, PSP Go

Wii Sports, Metal Gear Solid 4, Halo 3, GTA 4, Bioshock, FIFA, Call Of Duty