The Sprite Decade: An architecture analysis of home video game consoles from 1983 to 1990 (Architecture of Consoles: A practical analysis) Paperback – May 22, 2025

Looking at the evolution of video game consoles is fascinating. While conventional PCs tend to evolve 'incrementally', new generations of consoles introduce completely new ways of working. The writings you see here are part of a series aimed at uncovering the rationale behind the latest trends in technology. They will also demonstrate why each system can't be summarised by its 'bits', megahertz, amount of RAM and whatnot.This volume includes the hardware and software analysis of the NES / Famicom (1983), Master System (1985), PC Engine / TurboGrafx-16 (1987), Mega Drive / Genesis (1988), SNES (1990), and Neo Geo (1990)—an iconic collection I have dubbed 'The Sprite Decade'.About this editionThis edition originates from the articles initially published on my personal website, it's been re-styled to take advantage of the capabilities of the book format.While similar in content, this edition is free from the digital limitations of the web, such as storage and bandwidth constraints. As a result, diagrams and photography are imported from raw files at full resolution, enabling to publish the best quality that the printer allows. Additionally, extra chapters are provided to assist in the navigation of this book and to acknowledge those who helped build its content. Read more