Home video game console

A computer system designed primarily to play video games on a television or monitor in a domestic setting. It typically combines dedicated hardware, game software, and controllers in a consumer product.

Central processing unit: The processor that executes program instructions and coordinates a computer’s operations. It runs game logic and schedules work across a console’s hardware.
Ralph H. Baer: An engineer whose television game prototypes led to the Magnavox Odyssey. His work established an early commercial model for playing games on a home television.
Video game: An interactive digital game in which players influence events through input devices. Consoles are built chiefly to run video games.
Arcade video game: A video game designed for public play on dedicated coin-operated or pay-per-play equipment. Arcade machines share dedicated gaming hardware but are built for public venues, not homes.
Online gaming: Playing video games through network connections, often with other people remotely. Network services let consoles support multiplayer beyond the living room.
Graphics processing unit: A processor specialized in producing and manipulating images, often through parallel computation. It renders the scenes that consoles display during gameplay.
Magnavox Odyssey: A home video game console released in 1972 that used removable circuit cards and television overlays. It was the first home video game console sold commercially.
Embedded system: A computer system built into a larger product to perform a defined set of functions. A console is a specialized consumer computer rather than a general-purpose desktop.
Gaming PC: A personal computer configured to run video games, often with upgradeable components. Gaming PCs compete with consoles while offering broader hardware customization.
Digital distribution of video games: The delivery of video games over the internet rather than on physical media. Console storefronts make games and updates available without cartridges or discs.

Linked from 8 pages