Many video gamers imagine there are two eras to video games: pre-3-D games and post-3-D games. This turning point was marked by two iconic video game systems: the Sony PlayStation and Nintendo 64.
Sony came first, releasing the PlayStation 1 in Japan in 1994 and in the United States in 1995. Sony's 32-bit processor, which ran on the new CD-ROM technology, gave unprecedented depth to games with 3-D graphics and extensive multimedia abilities: The audio, graphics, and movement made games like Doom and Ridge Racer a more immersive experience than ever before. Plus, PlayStation spent extra time revamping the handheld controller, adding extra buttons and extended grips for better control of the new 3-D characters, an innovation that changed controllers forever. For a time, PlayStation was the clear standout in the video game industry.
At least until 1996 when Nintendo released its Nintendo 64. Heralded as the first video game console equipped with a 64-bit processor, the Nintendo 64 took 3-D gaming to new heights. The iconic Super Mario 64 game had players adventuring with the titular plumber in a clearer and more controlled way than ever before. The Nintendo 64 also included a key addition to the controller, the analog stick, which provided 360-degree control of character movement. The gaming console was released to huge hype and sales, and helped popularize a new era of 3-D gaming that changed the industry forever.
