A video game console is a central hub that connects to a television or other video display and controls multiple controllers. It also contains a power supply that converts utility power into direct current for the electronics inside. It has ports for connecting power, external storage devices and Internet connectivity.
Hardware
The hardware of a video game console combines computer circuitry with specially designed software to create a device that plays video games. This hardware includes a CPU, GPU and other chips that handle the gaming process. These chips are made of a variety of materials, including gold, copper, lead, nickel, zinc and beryllium. The people who design these chip systems are electrical and mechanical engineers.
Most consoles have a dedicated graphics processor that performs specialized mapping, texturing and geometric functions. Another dedicated chip typically handles audio processing.
With each generation of console, the processing technology has improved. These machines can now produce a wider range of colors, more sprites and introduce new graphical technologies. This is often communicated to consumers by using the bit-value of the system’s processor – for example, the TurboGrafx-16 and Genesis/Mega Drive used 16-bit processors. In the later generations, most consoles have eliminated this reader and instead use optical media to store games (such as CD-ROM, DVD or Blu-ray). Optical media also offers better storage capacity than the cartridges used in earlier generations.
Software
A video game console converts the digital signals it receives into a picture for display on a screen, such as a TV or monitor. It also has audio hardware that produces sound for the player to hear. Often, the software of a video game console contains compiled programs that contain a lot of data, including custom graphics data and sound data.
Aside from games, the console has hardware that allows it to communicate with other consoles and players online. This includes the ability to download and share games through the console’s hard drive. It also stores IP addresses and daily connection logs for each console connected to it.
Most seventh generation consoles, such as the PlayStation 3 and Wii, offer Internet game distribution services, allowing consumers to download games for a fee onto their consoles without using physical game media. Some of these games are arcade classics and others are original titles. The service also includes television shows and film trailers.
Optical media
The console needs a way to transmit the video signal it processes to a screen and audio output device. Originally this was done through an RF connector, but modern systems use industry standard RCA composite cables for the video and left and right audio.
The first video game consoles were silent, with primitive graphics and no text or sound. This changed with the success of Atari’s Pong arcade game in 1973, and Magnavox’s Odyssey home console two years later.
The NES (Nintendo Entertainment System) was the console that put gaming back on the map after the crash of ’83, and it has spawned many popular games. It is one of the most iconic and influential consoles of all time. It is a front-loading system with four built-in games, and it has many region hacks that enable it to play over 700 additional games. It is also one of the most expensive consoles to buy. It has strict licensing for the games developed for it, requiring developers to pay a fee to Nintendo for each unit sold.
External storage
Newer video game consoles often offer the ability to expand storage via USB or other external media. Many of these devices are surprisingly affordable, as well.
The Xbox Series X and Series S consoles support an internal SSD for high performance gaming, with load times cut by up to 40%. But if you want to play older games, or newer titles optimized for these consoles, you’ll need an external hard drive or a Seagate or Western Digital expansion card that’s compatible with the console.
Most modern HDD or SSDs function well with Xbox Series X and XS consoles, as long as they have a partition and meet the minimum speed requirements for running backward-compatible games. Plug the device into one of the large USB-A ports on the back of the console or the small USB-C port around front. Then choose Settings and pick Storage devices to format the drive.