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

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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. 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. In the third generation the displays changed from single-screen (or flip-screen) graphics to scrolling graphics.

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.

Home systems

Comparison

Name SG-1000 Family Computer/Nintendo Entertainment System Mark III/Master System Atari 7800
Manufacturer Sega Nintendo Sega Atari
Console Sega-SG-1000-Console-Set.jpg NES-Console-Set.jpg Sega-Master-System-Set.jpg Atari-7800-Console-Set.jpg
Launch prices ¥15,000 ¥14,800
US$199.99
CA$240		 ¥24,200
US$199.99		 US$140.00
Release date
  • JP July 15, 1983
  • JP July 15, 1983
  • US October 18, 1985
  • AME February 1 1986

  • EU September 1, 1986
  • WW January 1 1987
  • JP October 20, 1985
  • AME June 1, 1986
  • WW September 1, 1987
  • AME June 1, 1986
  • WW September 1, 1987
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)
Super Mario Bros. 3, 18 million (as of May 21, 2003)		 Hang-On and Safari Hunt (Pack-In) Pole Position II (pack-in)
Backward compatibility None None Sega SG-1000 (Japanese system only) Atari 2600
Accessories (retail) N/A
More...
  • XG-1
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)
1.79 MHz
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:
  • 3 voices
  • noise/vibrato effect
 Mono audio with:
  • Two square waves
  • One triangle wave
  • One noise generator
  • One DPCM channel
  • One FM synthesizer (Famicom Disk system, Japan only)
 Mono audio with:
  • Three square waves
  • One noise generator
  • 9-channel, 2-operator FM synthesizer (Japan only)
 Mono audio with:
  • Two square waves

Sales comparison

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) 19.35 million (December 2009) 34 million (December 2009) 8.56 million (December 2009)
Sega Master System 11.8 million 1 million (1986) United States: 2 million (1992)
Brazil: 5 million (2012)		 Western Europe: 6.8 million (1993)
Atari 7800 3.77 million (December 1990) Unknown United States: 2 million (June 1988) Unknown

Sales comparison

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) 19.35 million (December 2009) 34 million (December 2009) 8.56 million (December 2009)
Sega Master System 11.8 million 1 million (1986) United States: 2 million (1992)
Brazil: 5 million (2012)		 Western Europe: 6.8 million (1993)
Atari 7800 3.77 million (December 1990) Unknown United States: 2 million (June 1988) Unknown

Handheld systems

Nintendo's Game & Watch was very popular in the third generation. It continued to do so until 1991, when it was discontinued.

Popular games


Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Videoconsolas de tercera generación para niños

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