The Console manufacturer reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Apr-2004
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Console manufacturer

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A console manufacturer is a company that manufactures and distributes video game consoles. It is also known as a first-party video game publisher. Current console manufacturers are Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft. Nintendo is the longest-time console manufacturer and oldest current one. Sony became a console manufacturer in 1995 with the Playstation. Microsoft became a console manufacturer in 2001 with the Xbox. As of now, Sony is #1 in the recent console competition, Nintendo is 2nd, and Microsoft is 3rd. Nintendo also came in 2nd of the 32/64-bit era under the PlayStation and over the Sega Saturn.

Former console manufactuers