Talk:History of video game consoles (second generation)
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[edit] Determination Of Game Console Generations Must Be Hammered Out
I have always believed the Intellivision along with the Atari 2600 to be in the 1st generations of video game systems. Due to their direct competition and relative time release, they (along with the Magnavox Odyssey 2) were the first of the real game consoles. The previous pong machines are even classified as pre-generation or generation 0 many times. The Colecovision and Atari 5200 were 3rd generation, NES 4th, SNES 5th, N64 6th, Gamecube 7th, and now you have what is viewed at the 8th generation machines coming out. I have not the time to list them now, but I wish I could. This is one subject I am partly an expert on. The next generation not only is upgraded in technology but are direct competitors to others in the same generation on the most part. One would not argue against the nintendo line NES, S-NES, N64, Gamecube, and the next one.... follow that line of thought. Please discuss more!
[edit] How can all these consoles be classed in the same category?
I don't believe it is accurate to describe all of the consoles listed here as being in the same "generation".
The first 3 consoles are little more than "first generation" as they are really just "pong" type consoles (Fairchild Channel F, RCA Studio II, 1292 Advanced programmable Video System)
The consoles released during 1977 - 1981 (Atari 2600, Intellivision etc) are vastly superior to these and are definitely a later generation.
Similarly the consoles from 1982 onwards are vastly superior to these systems (Atari 5200, Colecovision, Sega SG-1000 etc), with games approaching the quality of the Commodore 64 or ZX Spectrum home computers.
Should we consider splitting up this category? Gp100mk 10:16, 24 February 2006 (UTC)]
- As far as I know these are the groupings commonly accepted outside of wikipedia. All the consoles in this article are similar in terms of overall design (use cartridges, have a cpu etc.). They are even 8-bit like the "third generation" systems except that they were released before the Video game crash of 1983. - Diceman 13:10, 24 February 2006 (UTC)
The following website seems to give a much more accurate classification (in my view) http://www.informit.com/articles/article.asp?p=378141&rl=1 They come from the book "A History of Home Video Game Consoles" by Michael Miller. It splits the consoles into the exact categories I have suggested Gp100mk 15:06, 10 March 2006 (UTC)]
- Well the classifications are the same as here (might need to move eg. "8-bit" to "third generation" etc.), except that he bumps up everything from the NES on up a generation, so the PS3 and Xbox 360 would be eighth generation. The only trouble is that '"eighth generation" colsoles' ran through google returns nothing.
- As far as first and second generation consoles go the link actually confirms what is already here. - Diceman 12:52, 11 March 2006 (UTC)
No - look again and you will see that the extra generation arises because second generation has been split into two, as I originally suggested (plus the very early second generation consoles are classified as first generation). However, I accept that this might not be what is "commonly accepted" Gp100mk 16:37, 14 March 2006 (UTC)]
- Might be worth mentioning the differences in the article as what's here is just a general rundown. I have to say that I don't think creating a seperate article just for the 5200 and Colecovision is the way to go. Or if you include more consoles, where do you draw the line. - Diceman 12:30, 15 March 2006 (UTC)
I agree that there are an awful lot of consoles in this category. Personally I think it would be more accurate to move the Colecovision, 5200 and Sega SG-1000 up to 3rd Generation. And move everything prior to the Atari 2600 down to 1st Generation MarkL 10:47, 05 April 2006 (UTC)]
- Using a sock puppet is hardly going to bring credibility to your view. Don't forget that the console articles would have to be changed as well. I'm not against anything you're saying but everyone seems to have their own opinion of which generation is which. Check out this article [1], the author has an 0th generation. Still another one includes the NES in the first generation [2]. There aren't any generations really, it seems to be how people have broken them up since they started being released in a regular cycle.
- BTW the console groupings were inherited from what was already here on wikipedia (I can't seem to find the original text, it might have been erased), I didn't come up with them myself. - Diceman 13:51, 5 April 2006 (UTC)
When the ColecoVision and Atari 5200 were current systems, there were commonly referred to as "Third Generation Systems" in the video game press, and perceived by most console owners to be significant upgrades over existing consoles.
Apparently Coleco used (invented?) the term "Third Generation" in their marketing. See this old FAQ: http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.video.classic/browse_thread/thread/c5ad3d591db9bc9b/fd70bb2f80e1abec
Given that this was the only time that "generation" was ever widely used when discussing console history, the Wikipedia probably should follow this convention rather than collapsing these systems into the previous generation. 64.171.162.76 02:32, 31 May 2006 (UTC)IntlHavester
- How would you group the later generations? - Diceman 11:36, 22 June 2006 (UTC)
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- Logic would dictate that the later consoles would have to be moved up a generation. Consoles have been released on a regular cycle since the very first ones were released. The question is, does this article reflect that? Gp100mk 11:43, 27 July 2006 (UTC)]
[edit] Games Computers
Shouldn't early games computers such as the Commodore Vic-20 be mentioned alongside these consoles, for completeness? Gp100mk 10:16, 24 February 2006 (UTC)]
- I've thought about that, it does seem slightly odd that this series of gaming articles are console-only. Maybe they should all be renamed "History of video games consoles" to reflect this. - Diceman 13:10, 24 February 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Early handheld / table top games
What about the early LED handheld & table top games from this era, such as "Astro Wars", "Scramble", "Crazy Kong", "Caveman", "Invader from Space" etc. These types of game were incredibly popular in the UK. Not sure whether they were released worldwide or not.
- These kinds of games are covered in the History of computer and video games article, though you may want to add examples from the UK that are missing. Also, please sign your posts with four tildes (~) since that will list your screen name and record the time and date. Thanks! Coll7 19:16, 31 August 2006 (UTC)
