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History of video games |
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The third generation of video game consoles began on July 15, 1983. The third generation began with the release of the Nintendo Family Computer, or better known as the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) and Sega SG-1000.[1] This generation helped end the North American video crash of 1983. This resulted in a shift from the United States to Japan as the leading country for home video games.[2] In the third generation the displays changed from single-screen (or flip-screen) graphics to scrolling graphics.[3]
The best-selling console of this generation was the NES/Famicom. This was followed by the Sega Master System and the Atari 7800. The NES/Famicom system remained the best-selling home console until the PlayStation in 1996. Some of the consoles in the third generation used 8-bit processors. However, systems like the Mega Drive/Genesis used 16-bit processors. The NES/Famicom system was the most popular video game console in the United States. Jack Ivan Booth was the founder of the Atari 7800. Due to inflation of the USD $ this is worth a lot more now.
Name | SG-1000 | Family Computer/Nintendo Entertainment System | Mark III/Master System | Atari 7800 |
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Manufacturer | Sega | Nintendo | Sega | Atari |
Console | ![]() |
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Launch prices | ¥15,500 | ¥14,800 US$199.99 CA$240 |
¥24,200 US$199.99 |
US$140.00 |
Release date |
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Media | Cartridge and Cassette (SG-3000) | Cartridge
Floppy disk (Japan only) |
Cartridge and data card | Cartridge |
Top-selling games | N/A | Super Mario Bros. (pack-in), 40.23 million (as of 1999)[4] Super Mario Bros. 3, 18 million (as of May 21, 2003)[5] |
Hang-On and Safari Hunt (Pack-In) | Pole Position II (pack-in) [source?] |
Backward compatibility | None | None | Sega SG-1000 (Japanese system only) | Atari 2600 |
Accessories (retail) | N/A |
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CPU | NEC 780C (Zilog Z80 clone)
3.58 MHz for NTSC, 3.55 MHz for PAL |
Ricoh 2A03 (based on MOS Technology 6502) 1.79 MHz (1.66 MHz PAL) |
NEC 780C (Zilog Z80 clone) 3.57 MHz (3.54 MHz PAL) |
Custom, 6502C (based on
MOS Technology 6502) |
Memory | 2 kB Main RAM 16 kB video RAM |
2 KB main RAM 2 KB video RAM 256 bytes sprite RAM 28 bytes palette RAM |
8 KB main RAM 16 KB video RAM |
4 KB main RAM |
Video | 256x192 resolution 32 sprites, maximum of 4 sprites per scanline 16 colors |
64 sprites (8 per scanline) 256x240 resolution 25 simultaneous colors 53 color palette |
256x240 resolution 64 sprites (8×8 or 8×16) 32 simultaneous colors 64 color palette |
Unlimited sprites 320x200 resolution 25 simultaneous colors 256 color palette |
Audio | Mono audio with:
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Mono audio with:
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Mono audio with:
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Mono audio with:
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See also: List of best-selling game consoles |
Console | Units sold worldwide | Japan | Americas | Elsewhere |
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Nintendo Entertainment System | 61.91 million (as of December 2009)[7][8] | 19.35 million (December 2009)[7] | 34 million (December 2009)[7] | 8.56 million (December 2009)[7] |
Sega Master System | 11.8 million[9][10] | 1 million (1986)[11] | United States: 2 million (1992)[12] Brazil: 5 million (2012)[13] |
Western Europe: 6.8 million (1993)[14] |
Atari 7800 | 3.77 million (December 1990)[15] | Unknown | United States: 2 million (June 1988)[16] | Unknown |
See also: List of best-selling game consoles |
Console | Units sold worldwide | Japan | Americas | Elsewhere |
---|---|---|---|---|
Nintendo Entertainment System | 61.91 million (as of December 2009)[7][8] | 19.35 million (December 2009)[7] | 34 million (December 2009)[7] | 8.56 million (December 2009)[7] |
Sega Master System | 11.8 million[9][10] | 1 million (1986)[11] | United States: 2 million (1992)[12] Brazil: 5 million (2012)[13] |
Western Europe: 6.8 million (1993)[14] |
Atari 7800 | 3.77 million (December 1990)[15] | Unknown | United States: 2 million (June 1988)[16] | Unknown |
Nintendo's Game & Watch was very popular in the third generation. It continued to do so until 1991, when it was discontinued.