Video Game Crash 1984
Category: Other
Updated: 5 Nov 2017
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1976 : Fairchild F Console (Fairchild Semiconductor)
- Also known as Video Entertainment System (VES)
- First console with removable cartridges
- First with microprocessor
- Two games + 27 game cartridges on sale
- Games were considered mediocre
- Did not do well in Market ($170 retail price and only 250,000 units sold)
- Overpowered by Atari 2600 in 19771977 : Aari 2600 (Atari)
- Launched at price of $200 by Atari Video Computer System (VCS)
- 2 joysticks with 1 action button
- "Combat" Cartridge included 27 games in one cartridge
- Included trackball for "Centipede" and Missile Command and Paddle controller for "Pong"
- Most successful video game console of its generation
- First to popularise interchangeable cartridges
- Had license for popular arcade games (i.e. "Space Invaders" and Pac-Man)
- Sold 30 million units1979 : Activision Founded
- Founded by David Crane and Alan Miller, both programmers who left Atari
- Atari did not give credits for game designers
- First developer and distributors of video games for home consoles
- Third party companies began to make games for Atari 2600
- Most known for side scrolling platform games of the era
- legitimised third-party development in video game industry1978 : Magnavox Odyssey2 (Magnavox)
- Released by Magnavox, successor of the first home video game console "Magnavox Odyssey"
- built-in keyboard
- sold moderately well before the North American Video Game Crash in 1984
- offered simple programming practice software cartridge
- voice-module add-on for voice compatible games
- detachable controlelrs1979 : Intellivision (Mattel)
- First serious competitor of Atari 2600
- Controller with a disc and 12-button numeric keypad
- Buttons on each side of controller
- 16 recognisable direction instead of 8
- 12 button keypad were mapped to play different functions
- Superior in graphic capabilities and processing power
- Promised a add-on Keyboard Component, but was constantly delayed
- Mid 1982, Mattel was ordered by the Federal Trader Commission to pay monthly fine or false advertisement
- Sold 3 million u1982 : ColecoVision (Coleco)
- started creating video games and electronics when Atari 2600 was released
- Controller similar to Intellivision, but with joystick on top and keypad on bottom
- 16 colour display, best in the era
- had exclusive right to Donkey Kong arcade game, showcased superior graphic capabilities
- Near-perfect versions of popular arcade games
(i.e. Zaxxon, Burger Time, Lady Bug, Spy Hunter)1982 : Vectrex (Smith Engineering/ General Consumer Electronics GCE)
- built-in vector graphics monitor
self-contained portable unit
- only capable of black and white line and polygons
- semi-transparent colour overlays similar to Odyssey
- 4-button mini-joystick controller connected to monitor
- Built-in "Mine Storm" game
- discontinued in 19841982 : Atari 5200 (Atari)
- presented as successor of Atari 2600
- Intended to compete with Intellivision and ColecoVision
- High $270 retail price
- rushed into market and lacked hardware quality control
- each controller had poorly made analog joystick and 4 awkwardly placed action buttons1984 : Atari 7800 (Atari)
- announced to replace the failure of Atari 5200- Revenues peaked at $3.2 billion in 1983
- Revenues dropped 97%, fell to $100 million
- ended the second generation of home console gaming in north America
- Almost destroyed video game industry and bankrupted many video game companies1984 : The North American Video Game Crash
Causes :
- Oversaturation of the video game industry and market
- Lack of quality control caused by the rush of creating many mediocre games for profit
- Competition against other entertainment sources such as the music video revolution, VCRs, personal computers, etc.Periods
1984 : The North American Video Game Crash
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