Editing Video game console (section)

==Functionality==
Most consoles are considered programmable consoles and have the means for the player to switch between different games. Traditionally, this has been done by switching a physical [[ROM cartridge|game cartridge or game card]] or by using [[optical media]]. It is now common to download games through [[digital distribution of video games|digital distribution]] and store them on internal or external digital storage devices.

===Dedicated console===
[[File:Sega Mega Drive Mini 02.jpg|alt=Image of the Sega Genesis Mini|thumb|The [[Sega Genesis Mini|Sega Genesis (Mega Drive) Mini]] dedicated console]]

Some consoles are considered [[dedicated console]]s, in which [[game]]s available for the console are "baked" onto the hardware, either by being programmed via the circuitry or set in the read-only flash memory of the console. Thus, the console's game library cannot be added to or changed directly by the user. The user can typically switch between games on dedicated consoles using hardware switches on the console, or through in-game menus. Dedicated consoles were common in the first generation of home consoles, such as the [[Magnavox Odyssey]] and the [[Pong#Home version|home console version of ''Pong'']], and more recently have been used for retro style consoles such as the [[NES Classic Edition]] and [[Sega Genesis Mini]].

Dedicated consoles were very popular in the [[first generation of video game consoles|first generation]] until they were gradually replaced by [[second generation of video game consoles|second generation]] that use [[ROM cartridge]]s. The [[fourth generation of video game consoles|fourth generation]] gradually merged with [[optical media]].

===Retro style console===
{{See also|List of retro style video game consoles}}
During the later part of video game history, there have been specialized consoles using computing components to offer multiple games to players. Most of these plug directly into one's television, and thus are often called plug-and-play consoles.  Most of them are also considered dedicated consoles since it is generally impossible to access the computing components by an average consumer, though tech-savvy consumers often have found ways to [[hacker|hack]] the console to install additional functionality, voiding the manufacturer's warranty. Plug-and-play consoles usually come with the console unit itself, one or more controllers, and the required components for power and video hookup. Many recent plug-and-play releases have been for distributing a number of [[Retrogaming|retro games]] for a specific console platform. Examples of these include the [[Atari Flashback series]], the [[NES Classic Edition]], [[Sega Genesis Mini]]<ref name="usgamer plugplay">{{cite web | url = https://www.usgamer.net/articles/are-the-latest-plug-and-play-retro-consoles-worthwhile | title = Are the Latest Plug-and-Play Retro Consoles Worthwhile? | first = Jaz | last = Rignall | date = March 28, 2017 | access-date = July 29, 2020 | work = [[USGamer]] | archive-date = May 12, 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210512142524/https://www.usgamer.net/articles/are-the-latest-plug-and-play-retro-consoles-worthwhile | url-status = dead }}</ref> and also handheld retro consoles such as the Nintendo [[Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros.|Game & Watch color screen]] series.