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− | Video games and their respective consoles are often split into groups known as "Generations".
| + | #redirect [[sega:Generations of video games]] |
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− | ==First generation==
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− | * Time period: 1972 to 1977.
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− | ==Second generation==
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− | * Time period: 1976 to 1984.
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− | ==The video game crash of 1983==
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− | ==Third generation==
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− | * Time period: 1983 to 1992
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− | Also known as the '''8-bit era''', the third generation of video games began with the release of the [[Nintendo]] Famicom, known to the English-speaking world as the [[Nintendo Entertainment System]], or "NES". It is considered to be the first of the "modern" era video game generations.
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− | As most consoles used 8-bit processors around this time, this generation became known as the '''8-bit era''', a trend which continued for quite some time as processor strength increased.
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− | It was in this generation that the [[console wars]] between Nintendo and [[Sega]] began. In response to the NES system, Sega released its [[SG-1000 Mark III]], later revamped and released in the English-speaking world as the [[Sega Master System]]. Nintendo and Sega both released a hand-held video game consoles during this generation: the [[Gameboy]] and [[Game Gear]], respectively.
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− | ==Fourth generation==
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− | * Time period: 1987 to 1996.
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− | Also known as the '''16-bit era''', the fourth generation of video games began with the release of the [[Wikipedia:Nippon Electric Company|Nippon Electric Company]]'s release of the PC Engine, known as the [[TurboGrafx 16]] in North America. However, the PC Engine was quickly overshadowed by Nintendo and Sega's 16-bit consoles: Nintendo's [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]] ("SNES", or Super Famicom in Japan) and Sega's [[Sega Mega Drive|Mega Drive]] (Genesis in North America).
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− | It was during this era that our good old friend [[Sonic]] was created.
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− | Other consoles released during this time included the [[Sega Mega CD]] and the [[Sega 32X]].
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− | ==Fifth generation==
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− | *Time period: 1993 to 2002.
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− | Also known as the '''32-bit era''' or later the '''64-bit era''', the fifth generation of video games saw the explosion of 3D graphics and compact disks, and the rise of [[Sony]] as a video game console developer. Consoles released during this era include the [[Sega Saturn]], [[Sony Playstation]], and the [[Nintendo 64]] (a 64-bit system), as well as the [[Gameboy Pocket]] and [[Gameboy Light]].
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− | ==Sixth generation==
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− | *Time period: 1998 to 2006.
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− | Sometimes erroneously referred to as the ''128-bit era'', the sixth generation of video games began the 21st century for gaming. With the release of the [[Sega Dreamcast]], [[Sony Playstation 2]], and [[Nintendo Gamecube]], consoles abandoned cartridges as a medium and switched to [[DVD]]s and other media. Even [[Microsoft]] entered the race with its [[Xbox]] system.
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− | While sometimes referred to as the ''128-bit era'', most consoles from this generation onward use 32-bit processors. For example, while the Nintendo 64 used a 64-bit processor, its successor, the GameCube, used a 32-bit one. The "bit" naming convention was largely dropped by advertisers at this point.
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− | ==Seventh generation==
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− | *Time period: 2004 to present.
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