History of Video Game Technology

World Fair

1940

Edward Condon, nuclear physicist, pioneer in quantum mechanics, and contributor in the development of nuclear and radar weapons in WW2 created a computer game for the World Fair. The goal of the game Nim was to avoid picking the last matchstick and the computer was victorious 90% of the time.

Checkmate

1950

Claude Shannon and Alan Turing created a chess playing computer.

XOX

1952

A. S. Douglass created a game that is now known as tic tac toe. This game was part of his research conducted on human-computer interaction.

SpaceWar!

1962

MIT student Steve Russell invented Spacewar! the first computer-based video game. For the net 10 years, the game's popularity grew to reach thousands.

In home gaming systems begin

1977

Atari introduces its first home Video Computer System (Atari 2600). The rest as they say is history.

Nintendo

1985

The Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) reintroduces gaming to the US after a period of reduced interest.

Solitaire

1990

Microsoft introduces a video game bundle of card games including solitaire, becoming one of the most popular electronic games.

XBox

2001

Microsoft introduces the Xbox, and later the Xbox 360. The Xbox introduces its users to advanced graphics and online play.

Nintendo Switch

2017

Nintendo introduces the first hybrid mobile/home video gaming console which allows players to play games remotely.