Video Games today are the leading source of entertainment around the world. Its hard to believe that there was actually a point in time when families would gather around a radio for the evenings entertainment. In 1972 the first video game company was born. Atari created a simple tennis like game called Pong. I challenge you to ask anyone over the age of 40 years old if they remember 'Pong'.
Shortly after, many video game consoles began to flood the market, like Intellivision. But none made a big impact like the NES (Nintendo Entertainment System) in 1986. However, Sega, who got its name by taking the first two letters from the words "SERVICE GAMES", quickly put out the NES's competition called Sega Master System.
From there out, Nintendo and Sega have gone neck and neck. Atari continued to put out such things as the Atari Linx and the Atari Jaguar but neither system could hang in the race between Nintendo and Sega. Not many people know that Nintendo has had one of the greatest alliances it could hope to get. The electroic company Sony stood by many on Nintendo's great systems. When Nintendo put out SNES (Super Nintendo Entertainment System), Sega once again rose to the challenge creating the Sega Genesis. Nintendo's handheld game called 'Gameboy' was also put to the challenge by Sega, when they created the Sega Game Gear and the Sega Nomad which played regular Sega Genesis cartriges.
With Sega's release of the Sega Saturn, Nintendo fell behind in the race. Down but not out, Nintendo released yet another hand held game system, a sequel of sorts to the Gameboy, 'The Gameboy Color'. Although it wasn't enough to put Nintendo back in the lead, it still kept them in the race. But, trouble was about to hit Nintendo AGAIN, this time where it really hurts. Nintendo and Sony decided to sever their relationship. In 1996 the Nintendo company takes video games to a new level when they release the great Nintendo 64.
But Sony wasn't going to be counted out.Sony threw their hat into the world of video games on their own terms, putting out the Playstation. Nintendo 64 was a great system, but Sony's Playstation was just that much better. Not only has Playstation put Nintendo in its place, but it also did circles around the Sega Saturn. Sega decided it was time once again to put out another system. The Sega Dreamcast was every bit as good as the Playstation, if not better. There was no shortage of games for either system.
Sony decided to stay in the lead a couple years later when they create the Sony Playstation 2. Shortly after, Microsoft enters the world of video games, releasing the Microsoft XBOX. At this point, everyone expects for Sega to make the ultimate system and return to the lead. However, sadly, Sega decides to stop making consoles and concentrate on making just games for other systems. With Sega gone, Nintendo's new Gamecube, Microsoft's XBOX, and Sony's Playstation 2 are the top three video games out today.
In the year 2007, it is speculated that we will see yet another system from Nintendo, a new system from XBOX (XBOX2) and the PS3 from Sony.