Third generation: Nintendo saves the day

Newcomer Nintendo reignited the console business, with over 60 million Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) machines sold. Sega also made its mark in Europe during this time, with its Master System running neck and neck with Nintendo.

This period was also the first time that consoles were marketed by bits.

The NES (Famicom in Japan), released in 1983, sowed the seeds for videogame franchises with games like 'Super Mario Bros', 'Metroid', 'Legend of Zelda', 'Final Fantasy', 'Bomberman' and 'Castlevania'. Nintendo garnered notoriety with third party developers thanks to restrictive contracts barring them from working on games for rival machines.

First launched in 1985, the Sega Master System was Sega's second foray into the gaming world. Technically superior to the NES, the system featured card slots mainly used for budget games. Later machines also had various games built into the system, such as 'Alex the Kidd', often seen as Sega's mascot (before the arrival of 'Sonic the Hedgehog', of course).

Fourth generation: the Golden Age of Gaming

With a highly publicised console war, Sega and Nintendo emerged as the undisputed leaders of the videogame industry during this era. But it would be NEC and Hudson's collaboration, the PC Engine, that kicked off this generation.

Launched in 1989, the PC Engine was initially marketed as a competitor to the NES, and then the Mega Drive in North America. With its 8 bit CPU and 16 bit graphics chip, the PC Engine was a bit of an oddity in the gaming world at the time.

With 10 million units sold, the PC Engine wasn't a great success, though it flourished in Japan thanks to a variety of shooters, erotic games and quirky platformers. At 14cm by 14cm, the PC Engine holds the Guinness record for the smallest videogame console ever made.

On the other end of the spectrum, anticipation for Nintendo's new SNES system was so high that rumours of a Yakuza robbery meant that the consoles were shipped at night. The SNES, with its gorgeous Mode-7 pseudo-3D graphics, was also the first system to introduce shoulder buttons mounted at the top of the controller.

A huge library of quality games, such as 'Super Mario World', 'Secret of Mana' and 'Pilot Wings' means that the SNES is still a highly sought after console for collectors.

Nintendo's draconian censorship laws also reared its ugly head, such as characters in Capcom's 'Final Fight' having to undergo name and clothing changes. This strategy did not work to Nintendo's advantage, as the first iteration of 'Mortal Kombat' for the Sega Megadrive (also known as the Genesis in the USA) outsold the bloodless SNES version by 3-1.

The SNES was nevertheless a huge success for Nintendo, selling over 49 million units.

The Sega Megadrive was a far bigger success than its predecessor, the Master System. This system saw the debut of 'Sonic the Hedgehog', as well as timeless classics like 'Gunstar Heroes', 'Streets of Rage' and 'Echo the Dolphin'.

Marketed as the 'cool' system in the USA, the Megadrive was enthusiastically lapped up by teenagers. With countless confusing add-ons and variations, Sega planted the seeds for what would be the demise of the company's hardware business.

Not to be outdone by Nintendo and Sega, arcade stalwart Neo Geo entered the console market. The most powerful console of its generation, the Arcade Entertainment System (AES) delivered arcade-perfect visuals, but at a massive $650 price tag.

The AES was also home to some of the rarer games made such as 'Metal Slug'. Released in 1996 with a limited print run, an original 'Metal Slug' cart is worth more than R20 000 today.

The AES is the console every hardcore gamer wishes they had in their collection.

Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)

Sega Master System. Creative Commons Share Alike

PC Engine

Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES)

Sega Megadrive. Creative Commons

Neo Geo AES

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