Systems

Commodore 64 (1982)

The Commodore 64 (C64) is perhaps the best known 8-bit computing platform ever designed. Within a few short years after its introduction in 1982, the Commodore 64 dominated the low-e...

MSX (1983)

MSX was the name of a standardized home computer architecture in the 1980s. It was a Microsoft-led attempt to create unified standards among hardware makers, conceived by one-time Mi...

NES (1985)

The Nintendo Entertainment System (or NES, for short) is arguably one of the most popular consoles ever created. Released in Japan as the Famicom ('Family Computer'), Nintendo's 8-bi...

Master System (1985)

After testing the waters with a range of consoles, including the SG-1000 and the Sega Mark III, Sega decided to launch the Master System in order to compete with Nintendo's NES. The ...

Mega Drive (1988)

Sega's 8-bit Master System was a massive success in Europe, putting even the mighty NES in the shade, but in the rest of the world it was largely ignored. When Sega decided the produ...

TurboGrafx-16 (1989)

The PC Engine was a joint venture between Japanese software house Hudson and electronics giant NEC. The machine was released at the height of Nintendo's dominance and surprised many ...

Neo Geo (1990)

Based on SNK's successful arcade technology, the Neo Geo AES (Advanced Entertainment System) sent shock waves around the globe when it was first released. It effortlessly outmatched ...

Super Nintendo (1991)

Widely regarded as possibly the best videogame console ever created, the SNES is a machine that needs little introduction. Released in the early '90s, the machine built on the alread...

Virtual Boy (1995)

Released in 1995 the Virtual Boy is possibly Nintendo's most significant failure in the hardware arena. The brainchild of Game Boy creator Gunpei Yokoi, this unusual machine promised...

Nintendo 64 (1996)

After the amazing NES and SNES, people expected the N64 to run away with the industry and put Sony and Sega in the shade. It didn't happen. Nintendo decided to stick with carts while...

GameCube (2001)

After the N64 lost the battle against the 32-bit Playstation Nintendo decided to design a machine that was intended to go head-to-head with Sony's next console. Codenamed 'Dolphin' i...

DS (2004)

WiiWare (2008)

WiiWare is a game-creation service that will allow developers large and small to create new downloadable video game content for sale by Nintendo through the Wii Shop Channel of the N...

Virtual Console Arcade (2009)

Say hello to Virtual Console Arcade - the new addition to the Virtual Console family of retro gaming systems! Inserting coins is now a thing of the past, as classic arcade games beco...