Third-generation video game consoles

Third-generation video game consoles
Designer	Atari, Epoch, Nintendo, Sega, various
Manufacturer	Atari, Epoch, Hyundai, Nintendo, Samurai Electronics, Sega, Sharp, various
Distributor	Hyundai, Mattel, Samurai Electronics, Sharp, Worlds of Wonder, various
CPU	various
Graphics	various
Memory	various
Media	ROM cartridges
Released	July 15, 1983 - 1996
Added to Museum	See third-generation consoles

Third-generation video game consoles were marketed as 8-bit consoles due to the use of 8-bit central processing units.

The video game consoles in this generation utilized ROM cartridges. The first third-generation consoles, the Nintendo Family Computer and the Sega SG-1000, were both released on July 15, 1983.

The consoles in this generation followed the North American video game crash of 1983.

Companies involved

This generation of consoles had multiple companies involved, including some that were active in the first and second generations, including Atari, Epoch, and Nintendo. Atari and Nintendo would continue into the fourth generation, alongside newcomer Sega.

Home consoles

Consoles by Sega and its licensees

Image	Title	Chipset	Release	Notes
	Sega SG-1000	Zilog Z80A	1983	The original release of the Sega SG-1000 in Japan.
	Sega SG-1000	Zilog Z80A	1983	The color scheme of the updated release of the Sega SG-1000 in Japan.
	Grandstand Sega 1000	Zilog Z80A	1983	The New Zealand version, distributed by Grandstand.
	Sega SG-1000 II	Zilog Z80A	1984	The Japan version of the SG-1000 II.
	Sega Mark III	Zilog Z80A	1985	The Japanese version of the Sega Master System.
	Aaronix SG-1000 II	Zilog Z80A	1986	The Taiwan version of the SG-1000 II, distributed by Aaronix.
	Sega Master System	Zilog Z80A	1986	The worldwide release of the Sega Mark III.

Consoles by Nintendo and its licensees

Image	Title	Chipset	Release	Notes
	Nintendo Family Computer	MOS 6502	1983
	Nintendo Entertainment System	MOS 6502	1985	The international version of the Family Computer.
	Nintendo Famicom Disk System	Ricoh 2C33	1986	A floppy disk add-on for the Family Computer. The Ricoh 2C33 adds an additional channel of wavetable synth.
	Sharp Twin Famicom	MOS 6502 Ricoh 2C33	1986	Sharp released an official console that combined a Family Computer and Famicom Disk System in one unit.
	Samurai Electronic TV Game	MOS 6502	1987	Samurai Electronics distributed the Nintendo Entertainment System in India as the Electronic TV Game.
	Hyundai Comboy Nintendo Entertainment System (Korean Version)	MOS 6502	1989	Hyundai distributed the Nintendo Entertainment System in South Korea under the Comboy brand.

Famiclones

Clones of the Nintendo Family Computer, colloquially known as Famiclones, were popular in regions where Nintendo had little or no official presence. They were usually accompanied by bootleg video games and software.

Image	Title	Chipset	Release	Notes
	Lunfei Family Portrait	UMC UA6527 UMC UA6528	1990	A Taiwanese Intel 8088 computer with a built-in Famiclone. Sold internationally as the Twinhead PC-100.
	Samurai Electronics Micro Genius	UMC UA6527 UMC UA6528	1990	Samurai Electronics was originally the official Nintendo distributor in India. In 1989, relations broke down and Samurai switched to cheaper Famiclones. The Samurai Micro Genius was a rebranded TXC Micro Genius IQ-201.
	Twinhead PC-100	UMC UA6527 UMC UA6528	1990	An Intel 8088 computer with a built-in Famiclone. International version of the Lunfei Family Portrait.
	Steepler Dendy Computer Game	UMC UA6527 UMC UA6528	1992	A rebranding of the TXC Micro Genius IQ-501. Rebranded as the Dendy Classic after the release of the Dendy Classic II in 1993. In 1994, Dendy became Nintendo's distributor in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States. An unknown manufacturer also released a console named Dendy Classic with a different board inside.
	Steepler Dendy Junior	UMC UA6527 UMC UA6528	1992	A rebranding of the TXC Micro Genius MG-02. An unknown manufacturer also released a console named Dendy Junior which included a lightgun.
	Steepler Dendy Junior II	UMC UA6527 UMC UA6528	1992	A rebranding of the TXC Micro Genius IQ-180. Unlike most Dendy consoles, the Junior II included hardwired gamepads.
	Steepler Dendy Junior IIP	UMC UA6527 UMC UA6528	1992	A rebranding of the TXC Micro Genius IQ-180. The P signifies that, along with hardwired gamepads, it included a lightgun.
	Steepler Dendy Classic 2	UMC UA6527 UMC UA6528	1993	A rebranding of the TXC Micro Genius IQ-502.
	Dendy Junior III	UMC UM6561 (NOAC)	1995	There were never any Steepler Dendy Junior III consoles. There were several from unknown manufacturers. The TXC Micro Genius IQ-180 model comes with a lightgun, has a box in Polish, and was also released as a Junior II. The TXC Micro Genius IQ-502 model resembled the Dendy Classic 2 and came with a lightgun. The pictured variant has a design unlike any other Dendy console. It included a lightgun.
	Dendy Junior IVP	UMC UM6561 (NOAC)	1995	A rebranding of the TXC Micro Genius IQ-180. It was a black console with hardwired gamepads and a lightgun. Dendy/Steepler skipped the Dendy Junior III due to unknown competitors using that name.
	Dendy Eagle	UMC UM6561 (NOAC)	1996	An unknown company manufactured a rebranded TXC Micro Genius IQ-180 named the Dendy Eagle. It resembled the Dendy Junior and came with a lightgun that resembled the grey NES Zapper.
	Dendy Subor-225	UMC UM6561 (NOAC)	1996	In 1996, as 8-bit sales were declining, Dendy signed with the Chinese company Xiaobawang to distribute its consoles. The Dendy Subor-225 was a black Famiclone with hardwired gamepads and a lightgun.

Elektronika console

Image	Title	Chipset	Release	Notes
	Elektronika ALF TV Game	Elektronika T34VG1	1990	A ZX Spectrum 48K clone in console form.

Handheld consoles

Nintendo consoles

Image	Title	Chipset	Release	Notes
	Nintendo Game Boy	Sharp SM83	1989	Green LCD screen with no front or back light.
	Nintendo Game Boy Bros./Play It Loud!	Sharp SM83	1995	Known as Game Boy Bros. in Japan and as Play It Loud! in North America. Only a cosmetic change with a dark grey bezel and models in red, yellow, green, blue, black, white, and clear.
	Nintendo Game Boy Color	Sharp SM83	1996	Slimmer case and runs on two AAA batteries. It has a larger, improved, black-and-white screen with increased visibility.
	Nintendo Game Boy Color	Sharp SM83	1998	Successor of the Game Boy. It has a color LCD screen with no front or back light.
	Nintendo Game Boy Light	Sharp SM83	1998	Backlit screen with the slimmer case of the Pocket and runs on two AA batteries. Japan-exclusive.

Sega console

Image	Title	Chipset	Release	Notes
	Sega Game Gear	Zilog Z80	1990	Color LCD screen with no front or back light.

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