Categories
The systems and games are classified by year and category. The following is a list of categories along with a short description on how they are defined on this blog, because the terms are often used rather loosely.
- Laboratory: Mostly very early experiments on laboratory equipment.
- Computer: Games on large computers and mainframes that were not affordable for the general public. Mainly at universities, and often distributed over early computer networks.
- Arcade: Dedicated games built for use in arcades, at fun fairs, etc.
- Dedicated console: A console dedicated to one or several games that are already built into the device, hence are not extensible. (Note: this is not a stand-alone category, see Console instead)
- Console: Game consoles that players hook up to their home television set, and that play multiple games through exchanging modules, discs, or a similar media. This includes some early consoles that did not work with microprocessors and ROM chips, but were extensible nonetheless.
- Handheld: Combining a game system with all necessary equipment (controls, display, speakers, power source) in a compact and light design for portability.
- Home computer: From the earliest affordable all-purpose personal computers to todays machines. The distinction between home computers and consoles is not always clear, but generally home computers are more multi-purpose, use a keyboard as the main method of input, are user-programmable, and extensible with various equipment.
