Fifth generation of video game consoles
The 32/64-bit era is the era of video games when Sony and Nintendo dominated the market with the Playstation and Nintendo 64. The N64 was also on the firsthand market. The Sega Saturn and Atari Jaguar were also part of this era, but were very overshadowed by the N64 and Playstation. This era also saw a slightly improved version of Nintendo's GameBoy, the GameBoy Color.
It is the era that followed the 16-bit era. It is the birth of most video game players call "new school" gaming, which uses 3D computer graphics. The Sony Playstation was released in Japan near the end of the 16-bit era in 1994, and in the United States in 1995. The Nintendo 64 was released in Japan and the United States in 1996. Many critics, who some call themselves old school gamers, call this the beginning of an industrial revolution of video gaming, and think that SNES games are more amusing than 32-bit era video games and today's video games. The 32-bit era was also the time console emulation started to become popular. NES and SNES ROMs have been easier to find during the 128-bit era than they were during the 32-bit era.
Consoles in this era
- Nintendo 64 (1996-2001)
- Sega Saturn (1995-1998)
- Sony PlayStation (1995-2000)
- Atari Jaguar (1993-1995)
- Virtual Boy (1995-1996)
- Nintendo GameBoy Color (handheld) (1998-2000)
- Nintendo GameBoy Pocket (handheld) (1996-2000)
- Famicom (1985-2003 in Japan)
- Sega Master System (1986-1997 in Europe) (in production in PAL territories only)
- Super Nintendo Entertainment System (1991-1999 in U.S.); Super Famicom (1990-2003 in Japan)
Video game franchises born in this era
- Arc the Lad
- Banjo-Kazooie
- Chrono
- DOOM
- Doubutsu no Mori (Animal Forest)
- Front Mission
- Grand Theft Auto
- Gran Turismo
- Legend of Legaia
- Mario Party
- Perfect Dark
- Pokémon
- Resident Evil
- Silent Hill
- Soul Calibur
- Super Smash Bros.
- Syphon Filter
- Tekken
- Tomb Raider
- Tony Hawk's Pro Skater
- Turok
- Wave Race
- WildARMs