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Gaming

Console Generations, 1972 - 2020
list

Console Generations, 1972 - 2020

Prepare yourself for the new generation of consoles with this brief overview of generations past

Magnavox Odyssey, 1973
video

Magnavox Odyssey, 1973

This ingenious device can transform your television into a game that two can play

Computer football, 1980
video

Computer football, 1980

Videogames have come a long way in the last few decades

Space Invaders vs Christopher Biggins, 1980
video

Space Invaders vs Christopher Biggins, 1980

Friday Night, Saturday Morning's Toyah Wilcox holds the fort as Biggins tries to fight off alien invaders

Computer graphics, 1981
video

Computer graphics, 1981

A look at its evolution, from Spacewar! to cutting edge 3D modelling techniques

Something Else: Video Games, 1981
video

Something Else: Video Games, 1981

The first two minutes of this feature on arcade machines are truly baffling

Beware of Space Invaders Wrist, 1982
video

Beware of Space Invaders Wrist, 1982

"The only cure is a couple of weeks away from the game"

Unwelcome invasion, 1982
video

Unwelcome invasion, 1982

Welsh vicar tries to drive away Space Invaders by ringing church bells

He's a Pac-Man wizard, 1982
video

He's a Pac-Man wizard, 1982

"How many gobbles have you made? Is that the right expression?"

Paul Daniels' Magic Adventure, 1983
video

Paul Daniels' Magic Adventure, 1983

The computer enthusiast shows off his self-programmed game - you'll like it...

'It's user mendacious', 1985
video

'It's user mendacious', 1985

"It's full of extraordinary ways of dying"

Commodore Amiga, 1985
video

Commodore Amiga, 1985

Micro Live reviews the Commodore Amiga, using a mysterious 'mouse' to interact with some 'windows'

More than just shoot-em-ups, 1986
video

More than just shoot-em-ups, 1986

"A good adventure game will keep you busy for days on end, be warned"

Text adventure games, 1986
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Text adventure games, 1986

Fred Harris goes behind the scenes at Infocom (of Zork and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy fame)

128K Spectrum computer, 1986
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128K Spectrum computer, 1986

Sir Clive Sinclair shows off his latest model, complete with built-in tape loader and an obscene amount of RAM

Robot Operated Buddy, 1987
video

Robot Operated Buddy, 1987

"For the first time, you can play computer games with a robot"

At home with the Codemasters, 1988
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At home with the Codemasters, 1988

"The sales manager has to turf his bosses out of bed in the morning"

Populous, 1989
video

Populous, 1989

"You can almost watch the evolution of a complete race"

Inside Nintendo, 1990
video

Inside Nintendo, 1990

"The secret of Nintendo's extraordinary success is in this room"

Will videogames kill the radio star? 1992
video

Will videogames kill the radio star? 1992

"The predator disturbing their dreams is an electronic hedgehog"

Mortal Kombat examined, with Will Self, 1993
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Mortal Kombat examined, with Will Self, 1993

Discussion on the violence of Mortal Kombat, AI and the future of video gaming as entertainment

Game Genie cheat device, 1993
video

Game Genie cheat device, 1993

No need to Right, Left, Up, Down your way to getting an advantage - the Game Genie does it all for you

Night Trap controversy, 1993
video

Night Trap controversy, 1993

"It seems to me it's absolutely outrageous!"

Playstation, 1995
video

Playstation, 1995

"Compact disc quality sound and fast-moving 3D graphics"

Making Grand Theft Auto, 1996
video

Making Grand Theft Auto, 1996

"On the back of the success of a game called Lemmings"

SegaWorld indoor theme park opens, 1996
video

SegaWorld indoor theme park opens, 1996

"Burn rubber on a racetrack, fly a harrier jet or even travel in space"

Nintendo 64, 1997
video

Nintendo 64, 1997

"For the computer giants, this is not a game"

The rise of Britsoft, 1997
video

The rise of Britsoft, 1997

"British publishers responsible for a third of all games sold worldwide"

Sega Dreamcast, 1999
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Sega Dreamcast, 1999

"Dreamcast is here and it's very, very good"

Retro computers, 1999
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Retro computers, 1999

"This was the People's Computer, if you ask me!"

Midnight pre-orders for Playstation 2, 2000
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Midnight pre-orders for Playstation 2, 2000

"My little girl wants one, so this is why I'm here"

Enter the Xbox, 2002
video

Enter the Xbox, 2002

"The stakes are high - it's blowing half a billion dollars on promotion alone"

Newsnight: Wii or PS3? 2006
video

Newsnight: Wii or PS3? 2006

"It is a bit odd to be doing some of those actions - they're very private actions"

Wii launch, 2006
video

Wii launch, 2006

"I'm a 40-year-old child, at heart - I love consoles"

More archive things

Children's
collection

Children's

See how programmes for younger viewers have changed with the times

Science and technology
collection

Science and technology

The inventions and discoveries that transformed our world.. and the ones that didn't

Sport
collection

Sport

A grandstand view of sport, from grassroots fan culture to the superstars who thrilled us all