History of video game consoles (fifth generation) facts for kids

The fifth generation of video game consoles was a really exciting time for gaming! It started in 1993 and ended in 2002. This era is also known as the 32-bit, 64-bit, or 3D generation because games started looking much more realistic with 3D graphics.

During this time, three consoles were super popular: the Sega Saturn (released in 1994), the Sony PlayStation (also 1994), and the Nintendo 64 (1996). The PlayStation was the most popular system worldwide. Other consoles like the 3DO, Atari Jaguar, Amiga CD32, and PC-FX were also part of this generation, but they weren't as successful.

Handheld game consoles weren't as big during this generation. The Sega Nomad only lasted two years, and the Virtual Boy less than one year before they were stopped. However, Nintendo's Game Boy Color became the best-selling handheld of this era. There were also updated versions of the original Game Boy, like the Game Boy Light (only in Japan) and the Game Boy Pocket.

In this generation, the "bit" numbers (like 32-bit or 64-bit) became less important for selling consoles. Before, companies used to brag about how many "bits" their console's CPU had to show off its power. The fifth generation also saw a big increase in emulation. This meant people could play older games on new computers. The growth of the Internet made it easy to find and download old game files. This trend later led to newer consoles offering many classic games for purchase or download.

Popular Home Consoles

This generation brought us some amazing home consoles that changed how we play games.

PlayStation

The original PlayStation console with its controller.

The PlayStation was released by Sony in December 1994. It quickly became the most successful console of the fifth generation, selling over 100 million units worldwide! It used CD-ROMs for games, which could hold much more data than older cartridges. This allowed for bigger games with better graphics and full-motion videos. Its best-selling game was Gran Turismo, a racing game.

Nintendo 64

The Nintendo 64 console with its unique controller.

The Nintendo 64 was released by Nintendo in June 1996 in Japan and September 1996 in North America. Unlike the PlayStation and Saturn, it still used game Cartridges. It was known for its powerful 3D graphics and popular games like Super Mario 64 (its best-selling game) and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. It also introduced the Rumble Pak, which made the controller vibrate during gameplay, adding to the experience.

Sega Saturn

The Sega Saturn console.

The Sega Saturn was released by Sega in November 1994 in Japan and May 1995 in North America. It also used CD-ROMs for games. While it was popular in Japan, it struggled to compete with the PlayStation in other parts of the world. Its best-selling game was Virtua Fighter 2.

Other Home Consoles

Besides the big three, several other home consoles were released during this time. They weren't as successful but still played a part in gaming history.

• The 3DO Interactive Multiplayer was one of the first 32-bit consoles, released in 1993. It was quite expensive.
• The Atari Jaguar was released in 1993 and was marketed as the first 64-bit console.
• The Amiga CD32 was released in 1993, mainly in Europe.
• The PC-FX was released by NEC in Japan in 1994.
• The Apple Bandai Pippin was a console released by Apple and Bandai in 1995.

Worldwide Console Sales

Here's how many units some of the consoles sold around the world:

Handheld Systems

This generation also saw some interesting handheld game systems, though not all of them lasted very long.

Important Games of the Era

Many classic games that are still loved today came out during the fifth generation. Here are some of the most famous ones:

• Crash Bandicoot
• Dragon Warrior VII
• Final Fantasy VII
• Gran Turismo
• GoldenEye 007
• Star Fox 64
• The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
• Metal Gear Solid
• The Need for Speed
• Nights into Dreams...
• PaRappa the Rapper
• Perfect Dark
• Nintendo's Pokémon games for the Game Boy
• Super Mario 64
• Resident Evil
• Silent Hill
• Spyro the Dragon
• Tomb Raider

Images for kids

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  The FM Towns Marty, made by Fujitsu. It came out on February 20, 1993.

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  The Pioneer LaserActive, which played games and movies from Laserdiscs.

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  The Amiga CD32, made by Commodore. It was released in September 1993.

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  The Neo Geo CD, a console from SNK that used CDs.

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  The PC-FX, made by NEC. It was released on December 20, 1994.

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  The Apple Bandai Pippin, a console from Apple and Bandai.

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  The Playdia, made by Bandai. It had simple multiple-choice games.

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  The Casio Loopy, released in Japan in 1995 and aimed at girls.

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  The Tiger R-Zone, a unique headset console released in 1995.

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  The Game.com, a handheld released in 1997.

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  The Game Boy Color, a very popular handheld released in November 1998.

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  The Neo Geo Pocket, a handheld released in 1998.

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  The Neo Geo Pocket Color, an updated version released in 1999.

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  The PocketStation, a small memory card and mini-console released in Japan in 1999.

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  The WonderSwan, a handheld released in Japan in 1999.

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  The WonderSwan Color, an updated version released in Japan in 2000.

See also

In Spanish: Videoconsolas de quinta generación para niños