KONSOLLER

The machine that helped revive the home console market and turned characters such as Mario and Link into global icons.

Released

1983 (Japan) / 1986 (Europe)

Units sold

approx. 61.9 million

CPU

Ricoh 2A03/2A07, 8-bit CPU

Memory

2 KB RAM + 2 KB video-RAM

Video

256 × 240 (typisk)

Media

Cartridge

16-bit Nintendo with strong graphics, Mode 7 effects and a library packed with some of the medium’s most beloved classics.

Released

1990 (Japan) / 1992 (Europe)

Units sold

approx. 49.1 million

CPU

Ricoh 5A22, 16-bit CPU

Memory

128 KB RAM + 64 KB video-RAM

Video

up to 512 × 478 (PAL, interlaced)

Media

Cartridge

Nintendo’s leap into 3D gaming with an analogue stick, four controller ports and classics such as Super Mario 64 and Ocarina of Time.

Released

1996 (Japan/USA) / 1997 (Europe)

Units sold

approx. 32.9 million

CPU

NEC VR4300, 64-bit, 93,75 MHz

Memory

4 MB RDRAM (8 MB with Expansion Pak)

Video

up to 640 × 480

Media

Cartridge

Nintendo’s compact sixth-generation console with mini optical discs, four controller ports and its distinctive cube shape.

Released

2001 (Japan/USA) / 2002 (Europe)

Units sold

approx. 21.7 million

CPU

IBM PowerPC “Gekko”, 485 MHz

Memory

24 MB 1T-SRAM + 16 MB DRAM

Graphics

ATI “Flipper”, 162 MHz

Media

8 cm optisk GameCube-disk

Wii brought motion controls to a mass audience with the Wii Remote, bringing families, casual players and Nintendo fans together around a different kind of console experience.

Released

2006 (Europe: 8 December)

Units sold

101.63 million

CPU

IBM PowerPC “Broadway”, approx. 729 MHz

Memory

88 MB total system memory

Graphics

ATI “Hollywood”

Media

Wii Optical Disc / GameCube disc (on models with GameCube compatibility)

SEGA’s fast 16-bit machine became known especially for Sonic, arcade-style games and its distinctive black hardware.

Released

1988 (Japan) / 1990 (Europe)

Units sold

approx. 30.8 million

CPU

Motorola 68000 + Z80

Memory

64 KB RAM + 64 KB video-RAM

Video

up to 320 × 240

Media

Cartridge

A technically forward-looking console with a built-in modem, VMU memory cards and a strong arcade gaming legacy.

Released

1998 (Japan) / 1999 (Europe)

Units sold

approx. 9.1 million

CPU

Hitachi SH-4, 200 MHz

Memory

16 MB RAM + 8 MB video-RAM

Video

up to 640 × 480

Media

GD-ROM

PlayStation brought CD media and polygon-based 3D into the living room and became Sony’s major breakthrough in the console market.

Released

1994 (Japan) / 1995 (Europe)

Units sold

over 102.4 million

CPU

MIPS R3000A, 32-bit, 33,9 MHz

Memory

2 MB RAM + 1 MB video-RAM

Video

up to 640 × 480

Media

CD-ROM

DVD playback, backwards compatibility and an enormous game library made PS2 the best-selling game console ever.

Released

2000

Units sold

over 160 million

CPU

Emotion Engine, 294 MHz

Memory

32 MB RDRAM + 4 MB video-RAM

Video

varies, up to HD in selected titles

Media

DVD-ROM / CD-ROM

PlayStation 3 brought Blu-ray, HD graphics, PlayStation Network and the Cell processor into the PlayStation family and became home to titles such as Uncharted, The Last of Us and LittleBigPlanet.

Released

2006 (Japan/USA) / 23 March 2007 (Europe)

Units sold

over 87.4 million

CPU

Cell Broadband Engine, 3,2 GHz

Memory

256 MB XDR + 256 MB GDDR3 VRAM

Graphics

NVIDIA RSX

Media

Blu-ray Disc / DVD / digital

Microsoft’s first console brought a built-in hard drive, powerful PC-like hardware and later Xbox Live into the console world.

Released

2001 (USA) / 2002 (Europe)

Units sold

approx. 24 million

CPU

Intel Pentium III-based, 733 MHz

Memory

64 MB DDR SDRAM

Video

up to 1920 × 1080i

Media

DVD-ROM + hard drive

Xbox 360 made HD gaming and Xbox Live a central part of the console experience and became home to series such as Gears of War, Forza Motorsport and Halo.

Released

2005 (Europe: 2 December)

Units sold

approx. 84 million

CPU

IBM Xenon, 3 cores @ 3.2 GHz

Memory

512 MB GDDR3 (shared)

Graphics

ATI Xenos, 500 MHz

Media

DVD-ROM / digital distribution

One of the greatest icons in home-computer history. The C64 combined games, programming and the characteristic SID sound in millions of homes.

Released

1982

Units sold

estimated 12.5–17 million

CPU

MOS Technology 6510, approx. 1 MHz

Memory

64 KB RAM

Graphics / audio

VIC-II / SID

Media

Cassette · floppy disk · cartridge

Amiga 500 became a European favourite with advanced graphics and sound, strong games and a vibrant demo and home-computer scene.

Released

1987

Units sold

several million; exact model totals vary between sources

CPU

Motorola 68000, approx. 7.1 MHz

Memory

512 KB RAM as standard

Chipset

OCS: Agnus · Denise · Paula

Media

3.5” floppy disk