NES (Nintendo Entertainment System, 1985)
It was not until 1985, with the launch of the NES (Nintendo Entertainment System), that Nintendo managed to definitively enter the world of home game consoles. The NES was an 8-bit video game platform that allowed a large number of titles to be played, since the games came in the form of removable cartridges. Nintendo has sold a total of 61 million NES units worldwide.
Game Boy (1989)
Nintendo’s first bet on a portable console was the Game Boy, a console powered by 4 AA batteries offering a battery life of around 15 hours. It included a black and white screen on a green background and used game cartridges, 8-bit games
Game Boy Pocket (1996)
As technology advanced, in 1996 Nintendo released the Game Boy Pocket, a version that used only two AA batteries, offered less battery life, and had a monochrome screen.
Color Game Boy (1998)
The next generation of Game Boy was released to the market in 1998 and the main feature of this model was that it included a color screen without backlight. To move the color screen and games, Nintendo used a more powerful processor. It was compatible with Game Boy games and included an infrared port to provide multiplayer support with other consoles.
Game Boy Advance (2001)
The Game Boy Advane was the first console with a backlit screen which also debuted a new horizontal format design and was later used in other models. The graphics quality was similar to what could be found on the SNES. Like previous generations of Game Boy, the Game Boy Advance was compatible with games from the original Game Boy and Game Boy color.
Game Boy Advance SP (2003)
The Game Boy Advance’s graphical evolution came with the Game Boy Advance SP, a clamshell console with much higher graphics quality and a backlit screen. It was compatible with all titles released on the market for the first generation Game Boy, Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance.
Game Boy Micro (2005)
The last version of the Game Boy was the Game Boy Micro, a small console (50x101x17 mm) with a horizontal format screen smaller than the Game Boy Advance and which eliminated support for original Game Boy games, with the exception of Game Boy Advance and Advance. SP.
SNES (Super Nintendo, 1991)
The second generation of the NES, called SNES, arrived on the market in 1991 and did so with support for 1n 16-bit games, which represented a significant change in the graphics section compared to the NES launched in 1985. The Japanese manufacturer has sold 49 million copies. units worldwide. It should be noted that at this time, SEGA also had the Sega Genesis on the market, the SNES’s main competitor.
Virtual Boy (1995)
This was Nintendo’s first commitment to virtual reality through a headset comprising two screens, one for the eyes and whose graphics were only displayed in black and red. Many users have reported experiencing headaches and nausea while using it. This, coupled with poor sales, led it to leave the market less than a year ago.
Nintendo 64 (1996)
5 years after the launch of the SNES, Nintendo presented the Nintendo 64, a model which made it possible to offer video games in 3D, a far cry from the traditional 2D of the NES and SNES. It was the first Nintendo console to adopt a new controller design instead of the traditional oval shape and to offer support for up to 4 players at a time. The lack of titles, the fact that it continued to use cartridges and that it arrived shortly after the launch of the original PlayStation, did it no favors and it only sold 32 million units .
Nintendo GameCube (2001)
With the arrival of the GameCube, Nintendo introduced the digital disc format, moving away from traditional cartridges. Like every generation of consoles, this new model represented a radical change from previous versions in terms of graphics. In order to save game progress, it was necessary to use a memory card, being the only console to offer this function. Once again, the PlayStation 2 surpassed it and sold 22 million units.
Nintendo DS (2004)
A year after the release of the Game Boy Advance SP, Nintendo released the Nintendo DS, a shell-shaped console with two screens displaying different information. This model was compatible with Game Boy Advance games, but not previous models. Although it was widely criticized for being excessively thick, it sold 154 million units.
Nintendo DS Lite (2006)
The first redesign received by the Nintendo DS was the Lite version released to the market two years later. This version is lighter and smaller than the first generation and has a brighter screen. In addition to being compatible with original Nintendo DS games, it was also compatible with Game Boy Advance titles.
Nintendo DSi (2008)
4 years after the launch of the Nintendo DS, it launched the Nintendo DSi, a console with a design very similar to the DS Lite which had multimedia support, with a 0.3 MP camera, the possibility of recording voice and to apply effects. listen to music in MP3 format. It was the first console to include a digital game store without eliminating support for Game Boy Advance games.
Nintendo DSi XL (2009)
The Nintendo DSi’s XL name is due to the larger screen size, 4.3 inches. The rest of the specifications, functions and limitations were the same as those that could already be found in the previous generation.
Nintendo-Wii (2006)
In 2006, and after careful consideration, Nintendo put its finger on the problem with the launch of the Wii. The main feature of this console was that it included control commands capable of detecting movements, allowing it to reach a much wider audience. It was the first to offer online support over the Internet.
This model was not characterized by a very high graphics section, maintaining practically the same graphics quality of the GameCube. The Wii was compatible with both games and controllers released for the GameCube, another aspect that also allowed it to become the manufacturer’s best-selling console to date with 101 million units sold worldwide.
Wii Home Edition (2011)
To try to continue to stretch the Wii’s rubber, Nintendo released the Family Edition version of the Wii, a console that eliminated the support for GameCube video games that the original model had and was designed to be placed horizontally instead of vertically.
Wii Mini (2012)
A year after launching the Wii Family Edition, the Japanese manufacturer is launching the Wii Mini. The Wii Mini was nothing more than a smaller version of the home version, so it didn’t support GameCube games, had no internet connection, and could only be placed horizontally. It also didn’t include a memory card slot.
WiiU (2012)
After the success of the Wii, Nintendo launched the Wii U. This controller for this console included a 6.2-inch screen and allowed it to be connected to the computer to enjoy HD graphics and displayed information additional to that on the controller screen. It was released in versions with 8 and 32 GB of memory, included NFC support and was compatible with Wii games and controllers.
However, users never really understood what this new proposal from Nintendo was and it became Nintendo’s biggest failure to date, as it only sold 13 million units while it was on the market until 2017.
Nintendo 3DS (2011)
5 years after the launch of the Nintendo DS, Nintendo released the Nintendo 3DS. Unlike the DS family, where the top screen was a 4:3 aspect ratio, this one used a 16:9 aspect ratio and included a joystick and allowed 3D graphics to be displayed without the need to use glasses. It was compatible with all Nintendo DS and Nintendo DSi games. Nearly 76 million consoles of this model have been sold.
Nintendo 3DSXL (2012)
As with the redesign received by the DSi XL, this version offered a larger screen size and longer battery life. It was compatible with the same games as the Nintendo 3DS.
New Nintendo 3DS (2014)
The second generation of the Nintendo 3DS hit the market in 2014, a model featuring exclusive games and support for Amiibo. The 3D section has been significantly improved, additional buttons have been added and the hardware is also more powerful.
New Nintendo 3DS XL (2014)
The only difference between the New Nintendo 3DS version and the New Nintendo 3DS XL is the screen size.
Nintendo 2DS (2013)
Due to the success of the 3DS version, Nintendo released the 2DS version, a version that did not fold with the 3DS and lacked support for viewing 3D images without the need for glasses.
New Nintendo 2DS XL (2017)
This model significantly enlarges the screen size while maintaining the same tablet-like format. The hardware is the same as the New Nintendo 3DS and also includes the same features and new buttons.
Nintendo Switch (2017)
With the Nintendo Switch, Nintendo got it right from the start and created a hybrid console that allowed users to enjoy a portable console and a desktop console via a charging dock. This console works with cartridges, includes an expansion slot to expand limited storage space, and to date, more than 130 million units have been sold worldwide, including the two variants that arrived later.
Nintendo Switch Lite (2019)
To reach a wider audience, the Japanese manufacturer launched the Nintendo Switch Lite in 2019, a console with a smaller screen and without a dock for playing from a television. These limitations made it possible to reduce the price of the console by 100 dollars.
Nintendo Switch OLED (2021)
In 2021, Nintendo renewed the Nintendo Switch to replace the LCD screen with a larger AMOLED type, a remodel that this manufacturer took advantage of to resolve some design issues that had accompanied the original Nintendo Switch.
Nintendo consoles that have not left Japan
Nintendo’s first foray into the console market was Color TV game. This console, of which 5 different models were marketed, did not have interchangeable cartridges and the games included were included in the device’s memory. Most are inspired by traditional board games. Nintendo’s first home console was available on the market until 1980.
In 1993, Nintendo released a new version of the NES (HVC-101) for the Japanese market named Famicom (Family Computer), with modifications to the cartridge introduction system and with a more compact and modern design than the original NES (NES-001) and which included a redesigned version of the control button. The HVC-101 was very similar in design to one also released in the United States the same year (NES-101), but eliminated design details for the Japanese market.
With the launch of the GameCube, Panasonic and Nintendo teamed up to launch the Panasonic, a hybrid version of the GameCube that supported playback of music CDs and DVDs, as well as the MP3 format. This hybrid had very little market success and was removed from the market before it was a year old. There Game Boy Lighta version exclusive to Japan, had a backluminescent screen that allowed gaming in low light conditions and for up to 12 hours.
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