A video game is an electronic game that has two specific features. One is its fundamental status of a game and second, is the usage of technology, specifically electronic technology, in executing the game (Wolf 3). The electronic systems that are used to play the games are platforms – like personal computers and video game consoles. The platforms range from mega computers to small devices that fit into the palm. Thus video-game-console refers to a device that consumers buy for the sole purpose of operating video games as distinct from a personal computer. Computer games made its first debut in the 1950s.
The Xbox video game console is a product of Microsoft – it being the first attempt by the company to enter the gaming market. Sony’s PlayStation2 was one of its prime competitors. The integrated Xbox Live enabled the players to participate in online competition till 2010 April.
Microsoft collaborated with Sega in making its first foray into the market of video game console. The first edition was the handwork of a small team that included Seamus Blackley. It was first mentioned in 1999 by Bill Gates but the debut was repeatedly delayed. But when it finally entered the stage in 2000 at the Game Developers Conference the viewers were awestruck. Initially Microsoft concentrated on the market in Japan but later European markets proved more receptive. Two members of the original team, Seamus Blackley and Kevin Bachus exited from Microsoft but Otto Berkes and Ted Hase (founding members) are continuing with the company although they are not with the project of Xbox.
Prior to its launching Microsoft took over Bungie and made use of its launch title – Halo:Combat Evolved. It was a good marketing move. Microsoft outpaced Nintendo and came to rank second in the North American console market. Some of the popular games included in the console are Dead or Alive 3, Amped: Freestyle Snowboarding, Halo: Combat Evolved, Fuzion Frenzy and Project Gotham Racing (Marks 89).
PlayStation is a fifth generation video game console (32bit) released by Sony Computer Entertainment from Japan in 1994 December. It was the first of this PlayStation series of consoles and game devices that could be held in the palm. Those succeeding it as upgrades were Net Yaroze, PlayStation one, PSX, PocketStation, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, and PlayStation 3. PlayStation was the first of its kind to ship 100 million units – a number it could achieve in 9 years and six months since its initial launching.
The concept was born in 1986. Nintendo had been trying to operate with CD-ROM technology but facing problems. Its rewriteable feature could be erased easily that meant it lacked durability. Moreover the discs were facing copyright infringement allegations. Nintendo contacted Sony to develop a CD-Rom add-on that was for the time being named SNES-CD. After the inking of a contract the work commenced. Nintendo pitched in with Sony because of something that had happened earlier. Yamauchi, refusing to accept this situation, secretly cancelled all other plans regarding Nintendo-Sony SNES CD attachment. The event was dramatic. When everyone was prepared at nine in the morning to hear about the partnership between Nintendo and Sony, Howard Lincoln the chairperson of Nintendo walked onto the stage and announced the alliance between Nintendo and Philips. Moreover it was said that Nintendo was going to abandon all the work hitherto done by Nintendo and Sony. Unknown to others the deal had been signed in the headquarters of Philips in Europe.
Sony forayed out alone to develop the console on its own. It then faced a lawsuit from Nintendo. However in 1992 a deal between the two was reached by which PlayStation would continue to have a port for SNES games but Nintendo would have independent rights and the lion’s share of the profits. SNES would be continuing the use of the audio chip designed by Sony. The PlayStation- apart from games can read as well as play CDs. It can orderly playback songs and repeat either one song or the entire disc (Wolf 57).
The home video game Wii of Nintendo is a 7th generation console and competes with Xbox 360 of Microsoft and PlayStation 3 of Sony. Its uniqueness is that it aims at wider demographic consumers then the previous two. March 2010 sales show that Wii is leading over Sony and Microsoft in this field in one month. The distinctive feature of the console is that it has a controller that is wireless. The remote is a pointing tool and has three dimensions. Moreover while on a stand-by mode it can receive updates and messages from the Internet. Wii is the 5th console of Nintendo. The console was first mentioned in 2004 and a prototype was shown at the time of the Tokyo Game Show in 2005. It won many awards in 2006 and was launched in four important markets. The man behind the game designing is Shigeru Miyamoto. The Wii is 1.5 to 2 times more powerful than Nintendo GameCube. Wii sounds like “we” indicating that it is meant for everyone (Perkins 113).
Works Cited
Marks, Aaron. The Complete Guide to Game Audio: For Composers, Musicians, Sound Designers, Game Developers. NY: Focal Press, 2008.
Perkins, Todd. Nintendo Wii Flash Game Creator’s Guide: Design, Develop, and Share Your Games Online. NY: McGraw-Hill Professional, 2008.
Wolf, Mark. The video game explosion: a history from PONG to Playstation and beyond. London: Greenwood Publishing Group, 2007.