It's not a very talked about concept but I have always thought it was neat when a game system had a game or two built inside so you could play it without putting a cartridge or disc in. So, here's a quick history to discuss. I didn`t include consoles that only have built-in games (dedicated) or pirate systems (Famiclones and such) or PCs (since there are a million different versions), just regular game systems.
---Fairchild VES/Channel F---
Gaming's first programmable console, like its dedicated console predecessors, had some Pong-like sports games built in. Here are Tennis and Hockey.
http://www.the-nextlevel.com/hosted/...-in-Tennis.jpg
http://www.the-nextlevel.com/hosted/...-in-Hockey.jpg
---RCA Studio II---
The Studio II missed out on the 1976 Christmas season but it arrived in January of '77 and included five built-in games and programs. Bowling and Freeway were soon to be made less impressive by similar yet more advanced games on other consoles.
http://www.the-nextlevel.com/hosted/...in-bowling.gif
http://www.the-nextlevel.com/hosted/...n-Speedway.gif
There was also a math game as the token educational title, Doodle was for drawing, and Pattern was a program where you could doodle something and the system would spread the pattern across the screen.
---Bally Professional Arcade/Astrovision Astrocade---
Bally's 1978 console had a few games and programs built in. Gunfight was port of the arcade duelling game.
http://www.the-nextlevel.com/hosted/...n-Gunfight.png
Checkmate is a game in the "trap the other guy" genre of games like Blockade. Post-TRON these are usually called "light cycle" games. Checkmate's pretty good. I prefer Atari's Surround/Chase for single-player but Checkmate has the advantage of four-player simultaneous play.
http://www.the-nextlevel.com/hosted/...-Checkmate.png
The other built-in programs were Calculator and Scribble, a drawing program.
---GCE/Milton Bradley Vectrex---
25 years ago the Vectrex had an excellent Asteroids clone called Mine Storm built in. I still think this is one of the best shooters ever made. Still screens don't do justice to its smoothness.
http://www.the-nextlevel.com/hosted/...-MineStorm.jpg
---Atari 7800---
Asteroids was built into the PAL version of the console (it was sold separately in North America). It's a fine version of game, much smoother than the earlier ports but it wasn't exactly a good choice from a marketing perspective. While the NES and SMS were offering new experiences, Atari had a port of a 1979 arcade game.
http://www.the-nextlevel.com/hosted/.../Asteroids.png
---Sega Master System---
The SMS had several variations with built-in games. The original domestic 1986 model had only the hidden game Snail Maze accessible by holding up and both buttons on the controller while turning the power on.
http://www.the-nextlevel.com/hosted/...t-in-Snail.gif
In 1988, Sega took the old pack in cartridge, Hang On & Safari Hunt, and had it built inside instead. Hang On was a port of the arcade game and Safari Hunt was an awesome gun game similar to Nintendo's Duck Hunt but with more variety.
http://www.the-nextlevel.com/hosted/...-Hang%20On.png
http://www.the-nextlevel.com/hosted/...ari%20hunt.gif
Sega also offered a less common package with the 3d glasses. This included the gun game Missile Defense 3-D. Gameplay-wise I think this is the best of the SMS 3d glasses games.
http://www.the-nextlevel.com/hosted/...fense%203d.gif
In 1990, when the console was remodeled as the Sega Master System II, it included the classic platformer Alex Kidd in Miracle World. Snail Maze was not included in SMS2 models.
http://www.the-nextlevel.com/hosted/...acle_world.gif
PAL countries later got an SMS2 model with Sonic The Hedgehog built in. A pet peeve of mine is this game being referred to as a port of the Genesis game. It's not a port but an original game developed by Ancient with some levels similar to the Genesis original. This is one of the best 8-bit platformers.
http://www.the-nextlevel.com/hosted/...t-in-Sonic.png
---Atari XEGS---
In 1987, Atari decided release a console version of their XE computer. The XEGS had Missile Command built in; it booted up automatically as long as the keyboard attachment wasn`t plugged in.
http://www.the-nextlevel.com/hosted/...%20Command.png
Personally, I love this port but the game was ancient by this point and the public understandably wasn't wanting old Atari games. This version wasn't upgraded from the earlier Atari 400/800/5200 release either.
---Tiger Game.com---
1997's Game.com's built-in game almost foreshadows the DS' casual scene. It was a touchscreen version of Solitaire. It also had calendar and calculator functions built in.
http://www.the-nextlevel.com/hosted/...0Solitaire.jpg
---Microsoft Xbox 360---
The 360 with hard drive comes with the puzzle game Hexic HD preloaded in addition to game demos. The difference between this built-in stuff compared to past consoles is that you have the option of erasing them.
http://www.the-nextlevel.com/hosted/...Hexic%20HD.jpg
So, what do you think about built-in games (not including dedicated consoles)? What are your favourites? (I'm leaning towards Mine Storm). Add any systems I missed.
