Sega

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Sega began as Standard Games in the United States in 1940 then became SErvice GAmes in 1951-52 when it moved to Japan. It is one of the few companies on our list that actually started out as a video game company. Sort of. Sega spent its first 43 years concentrating on coin-operated entertainment including video arcade games.

All in one year, 1983, Sega saw the launch of its first console, the SG-1000, came out with the first 3D arcade video game (SubRoc-3D) and introduced the first laserdisc arcade game (Astron Belt). Sadly that was also the year that Sega imploded and had to be sold off. Easy come, easy go, right?

In 1984 came the SG-1000 II and in 1986 (a couple of changes in ownership later) Sega launched the Master System. (Also known as the Mark III in Japan.) Up against the Nintendo Entertainment System, Sega's console didn't fare so well in the larger, more competitive markets but did well enough in smaller markets to enjoy 10 years of game production.

In 1989 Sega rolled out the Genesis video game console (Mega Drive in Japan) and launched a massive anti-Nintendo marketing campaign. Soon after, Sonic the Hedgehog took on the role of Sega's mascot. The combination of newly injected "coolness" and the "Nintendon't" ads worked quite well for Sega until not only the release of Sony's PlayStation but also of their very own Saturn console.

Sega's final major video game console production was the incredibly popular Dreamcast system in 1999. But as the gaming industry goes it was quickly over-shadowed by the announcement and eventual launch of Sony's PS2. Sega officially stopped making video game systems in 2002 but still remains a viable threat to the likes of Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft. Though denied by Sega executives, it is still possible that Sega will surprise the gaming world with their rendition of "the next best thing" in gaming. After all, it's not like we've never heard of executives that lie or anything.