History of video game consoles (fifth generation) facts for kids

The fifth generation of video game consoles began in 1993 and ended in 2002. The fifth generation was also called the 32-bit, 64-bit or the 3D generation of video game consoles. Throughout the fifth generation, only three consoles were among the most popular video game consoles in this era. These consoles include, the Sega Saturn (1994), the Sony PlayStation (1994), and the Nintendo 64 (1996). In different parts of the world, console sales varied widely. However, the PlayStation was the best-selling system of the fifth generation. The 3DO, Atari Jaguar, Amiga CD32 and PC-FX and other consoles were also part of this generation. However, those systems were not very successful.

The handheld game consoles of the fifth generation were not that successful. The first handheld, Sega Nomad had a lifespan of two years. The Virtual Boy only had less than one year. Both of them were discontinued. Nintendo's Game Boy Color became the best-selling handheld video console of the fifth generation. There were two updated versions of the original Game Boy such as the Game Boy Light (Japan only) and the Game Boy Pocket.

The bit ratings of consoles in the 5th generation began to blur & were less of a selling feature than the previous "bit wars" of the 8 and 16 bit era. The number of "bits" in console names referred to the CPU word size. It had been used by hardware marketers as a "show of power" for many years. The fifth generation saw the increase of emulation. The development of the Internet made it possible to save and download tape and ROM images of older games. This led the seventh generation consoles to make many older games available for purchase or download.

Home systems

Comparison

Name	3DO Interactive Multiplayer	Atari Jaguar	Sega Saturn	PlayStation	Nintendo 64
Developer	The 3DO Company	Atari	Sega	Sony	Nintendo
Console
Launch prices (USD)	US$699.99	US$249.99	US$399.99	US$299.99	US$199
Release date	NA 19931004October 4, 1993 JP 19940320March 20, 1994 EU 1994	NA 19931115November 15, 1993 JP 19941121November 21, 1994 EU Q4, 1994	JP 19941122November 22, 1994 NA 19950511May 11, 1995 EU 19950708July 8, 1995	3 December 1994	JP 19960623June 23, 1996 NA 19960929September 29, 1996 EU 199703March 1997
Media	CD-ROM	Cartridge	CD-ROM, cartridge (limited, Japan only)	CD-ROM	Cartridge, (proprietary magnetic disk via Japan-only add-on)
Best-selling game			Virtua Fighter 2, 1.7 million in Japan	Gran Turismo, 10.85 million shipped (as of April 30, 2008)	Super Mario 64, 11.62 million (as of May 21, 2003)
CPU	ARM60 32-bit RISC CPU at 12.5 MHz	"Tom" (26.6 MHz), "Jerry" (26.6 MHz) and a Motorola 68000 (13.3 MHz)	Two Hitachi SuperH-2 7604 32-bit RISC processors at 28.63 MHz	MIPS R3000A-compatible 32-bit RISC chip running at 33.8688 MHz	NEC VR4300 64-bit at 93.75 MHz
GPU	Two accelerated video co-processors	5 processors contained in 3 chips: "Tom", "Jerry" and Motorola 68000	Two custom 32-bit video display processors at 28.63 MHz	66 MIPS vector math unit in the main CPU	Reality Co-Processor: MIPS R4000-based 8-bit integer vector processor at 62.5 MHz
Memory	2MB RAM, 1MB VRAM	2 MB of fast page mode DRAM(4 chips x 512 KB)	1MB SDRAM, 1MB DRAM, 6x 512KB for 3D graphics, 3D frame buffers, 2D graphics, sound, CD subsystem, BIOS ROM	2MB, 1MB VRAM, 512KB sound	4MB (8MB with Expansion Pak)
Accessories (retail)	MPEG cards FZ-EM256 save memory backup unit Gamegun Mouse		Arcade Stick Saturn digital gamepad 3D controller Light guns Multitap (up to 12 players) Sega NetLink – modem and keyboard Keyboard Mouse 1.44 MB 3.5" disk drive DirectLink Memory card MPEG cards RAM expansion cartridges	Multitap (up to 8 players) Fishing reel controllers (Bass Landing and Reel Fishing) Dual Analog Controller DualShock GunCon Jogcon Konami Justifier NeGcon PocketStation PlayStation Mouse Analog Joystick Dance pad LCD screen (for PSone systems only) Memory card Link Cable	Controller Pak Memory Expansion Pak Rumble Pak Memory card Fishing Reel Transfer Pak Nintendo 64DD (Japan only) Microphone TiltPak
System sales (worldwide)	2 million	500,000	9.4 million	102 million	32.93 million

Other consoles

Name	FM Towns Marty	Pioneer LaserActive	Amiga CD32	Neo Geo CD	PC-FX	Apple Bandai Pippin
Developer	Fujitsu	Pioneer	Commodore	SNK	NEC	Apple
Console
Launch prices	US$450	¥89,800, US$970	US$500	US$300	US$250	US$599
Release date	JP 19930220February 20, 1993	JP 19930820August 20, 1993 NA 19930913September 13, 1993	NA October 1993 EU September 1993	JP 1994 NA 1994	JP December 20, 1994	JP March 28, 1995 NA September 1, 1996
Media	CD-ROM, 3½-inch floppy disk	Laserdisc	CD-ROM	CD-ROM	CD-ROM	CD-ROM

Non-mass-market systems

Worldwide sales

Handheld systems

Milestone titles

• Crash Bandicoot
• Dragon Warrior VII
• Final Fantasy VII
• Gran Turismo
• GoldenEye 007
• Star Fox 64
• The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
• Metal Gear Solid
• The Need for Speed
• Nights into Dreams...
• PaRappa the Rapper
• Perfect Dark
• Nintendo's Pokémon titles for the Game Boy
• Super Mario 64
• Resident Evil
• Silent Hill
• Spyro the Dragon
• Tomb Raider

Images for kids

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  FM Towns Marty, created by Fujitsu. Released on February 20, 1993.

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  Amiga CD32, created by Commodore. Released on September 17, 1993.

• 

  PC-FX, created by NEC. Released on December 23, 1994.

• 

  Apple Bandai Pippin, created by Apple and Bandai. Released on March 28, 1995.

• 

  Playdia, created by Bandai. A console consisting of simple multiple choice games. Released in Japan on September 23, 1994, for ¥24,800.

• 

  Casio Loopy, created by Casio. Released in October 1995 in Japan, targeted at female gamers.

• 

  Genesis Nomad Released in 1995 in the U.S. only

• 

  R-Zone Released in 1995 in the U.S. only

• 

  Virtual Boy 1995–1996

• 

  Game.com Released in 1997

• 

  Game Boy Color Released in November 1998

• 

  Neo Geo Pocket Released in 1998

• 

  Neo Geo Pocket Color Released in 1999

• 

  PocketStation Released in 1999 in Japan only

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  WonderSwan Released in 1999 in Japan only

• 

  WonderSwan Color Released in 2000 in Japan only

See also

In Spanish: Videoconsolas de quinta generación para niños