Sixth-generation video game consoles
| Sixth-generation video game consoles | |
| Designer | Microsoft, Nintendo, Sega, Sony Computer Entertainment, various |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Microsoft, Nintendo, Panasonic, Sega, Sony, various |
| Distributor | Microsoft, Nintendo, Panasonic, Sega, Sony, various |
| CPU | various |
| Graphics | various |
| Memory | various |
| Media | CD-ROMs, ROM cartridges |
| Released | November 27, 1998 - 2013 |
| Added to Museum | See fifth-generation consoles |
Sixth-generation video game consoles, or 128-bit consoles, were the last to be marketed using bits.
The bits designation was arbitrary for this generation, as the designation wasn't referring to CPU, but rather their vector units. Sega Dreamcast and Sony PlayStation 2 were the only consoles marketed as 128-bit.
The consoles in this generation in actuality used 32-bit or 64-bit CPUs. The CPUs in the consoles marketed as 128-bit, the Dreamcast and PlayStation 2, used the 32-bit Hitachi SH-4 and the 64-bit Toshiba R5900-based Emotion Engine, respectively.
This generation was the first to use DVD-ROM media. Nintendo used a proprietary optical media known as GameCube Game Disc and Sega used a proprietary optical media known as GD-ROM as well as a proprietary CD-ROM format known as MIL-CD.
Other firsts include downloadable content, built-in modems, and add-on hard drives.
Companies involved
This generation of consoles had multiple companies involved, including some that were active in previous generations. Sony returns from the fifth generations. Microsoft first released consoles in this generation.
This generation found Nintendo as the last company to have consoles in this and all previous generations, including the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth generations. It would also be the last to contain consoles by Panasonic and Sega.
Home consoles
Consoles by Nintendo and its licensees
| Image | Title | Chipset | Release | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Nintendo GameCube | IBM Gekko | 2001 | |
|
Panasonic Q | IBM Gekko | 2001 | Combined a GameCube with a standard DVD player. |
Console by Sega
| Image | Title | Chipset | Release | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Sega Dreamcast | Hitachi SH-4 | 1998 |
Consoles by Sony
| Image | Title | Chipset | Release | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Sony PlayStation 2 | Toshiba R5900-based Emotion Engine | 1998 |
Handheld consoles
Consoles by Nintendo and its subsidiaries
| Image | Title | Chipset | Release | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Nintendo Game Boy Advance | Acorn ARM7TDMI | 2001 | |
|
Nintendo Game Boy Advance SP | Acorn ARM7TDMI | 2003 | |
|
iQue Game Boy Advance | Acorn ARM7TDMI | 2004 | |
|
iQue Game Boy Advance SP | Acorn ARM7TDMI | 2004 | |
|
Nintendo Game Boy Micro | Acorn ARM7TDMI | 2005 | |
|
iQue Game Boy Micro | Acorn ARM7TDMI | 2005 |
.