https://io55.net/wiki/ 2026-04-15T08:36:00+00:00 https://io55.net/wiki/ https://io55.net/wiki/_media/favicon.ico text/html 2023-11-28T23:08:28+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://io55.net/wiki/eop/video_game_consoles-home/1st_and_2nd_generation/atari_2600?rev=1701212908&do=diff Atari 2600 Atari's entry in the home console industry, and one that innovated across the board, despite the fact that the 2600 was not really the “first” in anything. Releasing in September 1977 in the USA, the 2600 was quite capable for the time, although this pales in comparison to the power consoles held even a few years later. In this power, the 2600 ran off 128 bytes of RAM, a MOS 6507 at 1.19MHz, and could display 16 possible colors with 8 levels of brightness within each color, or 128 di… text/html 2022-04-13T22:36:02+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://io55.net/wiki/eop/video_game_consoles-home/1st_and_2nd_generation/atari_5200?rev=1649889362&do=diff Atari 5200 Atari's failed attempt to follow up their wildly popular 2600. Released on May 21st, 1984, the 5200 was a failure mostly for it's poor design, awkward controllers, and lack of 2600 backwards compatibility. For specs, it features a MOS 6502C, 128/256 colors, 16 KB of RAM, and a varying set of resolutions that can go up to approximately 240p. text/html 2022-03-03T03:16:24+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://io55.net/wiki/eop/video_game_consoles-home/1st_and_2nd_generation/coleco_colecovision?rev=1646277384&do=diff Coleco ColecoVision Coleco's relatively successful (but not really) venturing into the video game industry. Releasing in August 1982 for the US, the ColecoVision mainly excelled in it's ability to create more “Concise” games, akin to an arcade. For specifications, it contains a Zilog Z80, 1 KB of RAM with 16 KB VRAM, an 8 KB ROM, and a display output resolution of text/html 2022-01-26T19:21:56+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://io55.net/wiki/eop/video_game_consoles-home/1st_and_2nd_generation/fairchild_channel_f?rev=1643224916&do=diff Fairchild Channel F Fairchild's only console, and the first console to feature interchangeable ROM cartridges. Releasing in November 1976 for the USA (1 year before the Atari 2600), the Channel F was quite revolutionary but not particularly successful in any sense. Specifications-wise, it contains a Fairchild F8 CPU, 2 KB of RAM, a resolution of text/html 2022-04-13T22:35:52+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://io55.net/wiki/eop/video_game_consoles-home/1st_and_2nd_generation/magnavox_odyssey_2?rev=1649889352&do=diff Magnavox Odyssey 2 The true successor to the Magnavox Odyssey. Releasing in February 1979 for the US, the Odyssey 2 was one of the “major players” of the 2nd generation of consoles, although it may have been in last place for this realm. Specifications-wise, the Odyssey 2 has an Intel 8048 CPU, a text/html 2023-11-28T23:08:55+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://io55.net/wiki/eop/video_game_consoles-home/1st_and_2nd_generation/mattel_intellivision?rev=1701212935&do=diff Mattel Intellivision Mattel's first, but oddly enough not their last console. Releasing sometime in 1979 for the US, the Intellivision was the firm “2nd place” behind the Atari 2600, but was unable to challenge the 2600's position in sales. Specifications-wise, however, the Intellivision is reasonably capable, featuring a GI CP1610 CPU, 1 KB of RAM, and a resolution of text/html 2022-05-11T03:05:31+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://io55.net/wiki/eop/video_game_consoles-home/1st_and_2nd_generation/summary?rev=1652238331&do=diff 1st and 2nd Generation The first 2 generations of home game consoles, commonly considered as having began in 1972 with the Magnavox Odyssey and ending in 1985 with the release of the NES. This page is essentially for just the 2nd generation, as the 1st generation's capabilities are too limited to allow even the slightest EOP to be developed.