The third generation of video game consoles is considered by many to be the first in the modern era of console gaming. The era began after the video game crash of 1983 with the release of the 8-bit Famicom in Japan (known as the Nintendo Entertainment System elsewhere) and lasted until 1987.
The market during this period was dominated in North America by the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), whilst in Europe and Brazil the Sega Master System gained greater popularity. Other major players included the Atari 7800 and the niche Japanese machine the Sharp X68000.
The 8-bit era also saw the start of many famous video game series, such as Bomberman, The Legend of Zelda, Super Mario Bros, Metal Gear and Final Fantasy.
In this section, you'll find a guide to game consoles such as the Atari XEGS and Commodore 64 Games Machine, along with the home computers of the day including the ZX Spectrum, VIC-20 and the highest selling personal computer model of all time, the Commodore 64.
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