Product package:Sony PlayStation Console Product Package

In 1966, Ralph H. Baer began designing a video game for a standard television. His system became the Magnavox Odyssey, the first home video game console. Released in 1972, Baer's invention launched the home video game industry. In the nearly four decades since the release of the Magnavox Odyssey, home video game consoles have become a significant part of American culture and the industry has grown into a multi-billion dollar enterprise.

Sony scored an incredible success with the PlayStation home video game console. Released in the United States in 1995, the PlayStation quickly became the must-have system, and by 1999 the console sat alongside televisions in more than a third of all American homes. Born of an abandoned joint project with Nintendo, Sony's PlayStation appealed to a broader gaming audience. Standardizing the disc format allowed for greater quantity and quality of game content. By creating a conducive market environment, Sony attracted numerous third-party developers who produced scores of outstanding games. The PlayStation's production run lasted 11 years, sold over 100 million units worldwide, and over 1,000 titles.