Soon after video games played by connecting game consoles to home television sets debuted during the 1970s in the United States, manufacturers from the United States, Japan, and other countries began to enter the new market. Nintendo's introduction of the Famicon ("Family Computer") in 1983 triggered a dramatic increase in the popularity of game consoles. The Famicon was remarkable in that it offered a large selection of appealing games, among them the 1985 game "Super Mario Brothers", which gained unprecedented popularity in Japan and later in the United States.
  Video game performance increased thanks to the advance in component technologies. The market saw the introduction of the Super Famicon and Mega Drive 16-bit consoles, and the debut of models with CD-ROM storage as game software became larger and more complex. In the mid-1990s came the introduction of high-performance machines using CD-ROM drives in models such as the PlayStation and the Saturn, which drove growth in the market. A series of multifunctional machines with network connectivity and DVD playback capabilities debuted during the second half of the decade, moving the segment beyond its traditional gamer base to attract broad interest from across society. It was during this period that U.S. giant Microsoft entered the video game market. Today, the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Wii are the major contenders in an increasingly intense competition for market share worldwide.
  In parallel with developments in the console market was the debut of handheld gaming devices such as the GameBoy and the Game Gear in the second half of the 1980s, a period that also saw manufacturers launch numerous game titles. Pocket Monsters, released in 1996 as the first game for the new crop of devices, experienced success with a mixed-media approach that blended manga, television anime, film, and character merchandising elements. Makers of handheld gaming devices continued to add functionality and increase their products' performance, and monochrome LCDs were replaced by color LCDs. Devices launched in the late 1990s included the WonderSwan and Neo Geo Pocket, which were followed by the GameBoy Advance in 2001. The PlayStation Portable (PSP) and Nintendo DS were launched in 2004, and continue to drive the handheld gaming market today.

  Japan has produced numerous games that are highly regarded worldwide. Many international hits have originated in Japan, including "Super Mario Brothers", "Dragon Quest", "Final Fantasy", "Street Fighter", and "Pocket Monsters."
  Today, gaming is no longer limited to video game consoles and handheld gaming devices. A wealth of content awaits the would-be gamer in the form of online games played over the Internet and games designed to be played on mobile phones. Moreover, game titles are not only seeing use in the entertainment domain, but also in a range of areas including education, business, housework, and child raising. The market is expected to enjoy further growth in the future.