Dec 05

Video Game Console : Second Generation

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Video Game Console : Second Generation

In 1976, Fairchild release the Fairchild Video Entertainment System (VES). The game consoles that used cartridges had no information and served the same function as flipping switches, or it console itself was empty and the cartridges contained all of the game components.

However, The VES cartridges only needed a single ROM chip to store microprocessor instructions because its contained a programmable micrprocessor.

VES killed the Magnavox Odyssey, the star of First Generation Video Game Consoles, invented by Ralph H Baer.

Video game crash of 1977

In 1977, a glut in the market was happens and causing Fairchild and RCA to abandon their game consoles. It is because manufacturers of older, obsolete console sold their system at a loss to clear stock.

Rebirth of the home console market

The trend of advertisements for game consoles claiming to bring the arcade experience home and, its because many consumers bought an Atari just for space invaders. Space invaders unprecedented success started the trend of console manufacturers that trying to get exclusive rights to arcade titles.

Many of video game systems were released throughout early 1980s by others companies, but Atari dominated the console market, although they system were technically superior to the Atari and marketed as improvements over the Atari.

Video game crash of 1983

A flood of consoles, low quality video games by smaller companies in 1983 are the factors that making the video games business suffered a much more severe crash. The others factor is a growing number of home computer users caused consumers and retailers to lose faith and interest in video game consoles.

Most video game companies filed for bankruptcy, or moved into other industries, abandoning their game consoles. Mattel Electronics sold the rights for its Intellivision system to the INTV Corporation, who continued to produce Intellivision consoles and develop new games for the Intellivision until 1991. All other North American game consoles were discontinued by 1984.

The second generation in history of video game console are Fairchild Channel F, Atari 2600, Interton VC 4000, Odyssey², Intellivision, Arcadia 2001, Atari 5200, Coleco Vision, Vectrex and Sega SG-1000.