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The First Computer Game
In 1958, the first computer game was designed. It was created by a man named Willy Higinbotham and named "Tennis for Two." The game simulated the sport tennis by allowing players to hit a virtual ball over a virtual net. Link text -
The First Video Game
In 1962, Steve (Slug) Russell invented the first video game. The title of the game was "Spacewar!". The game centers around space combat and the destruction of other peoples ships.Link text -
The First Commercial Arcade Game
In 1971, the first commercial arcade game was introduced. It was created by a company called Nutting Associates and, more specifically, by a man named Nolan Bushnell. Like "Spacewar!", "Computer Space" is a game based around space combat. Link text -
Magnavox vs. Atari
In 1974, a company (Magnavox) took another company (Atari) to court. They felt that the idea for Atari's highly successful game, Pong, had been taken from Magnavox's Odyssey game. The case was eventually resolved in an out-of-court settlement for less than $1,000,000. Video link: Link text -
Removable Game Systems
In 1977, the video game company, Atari, came out with a new gaming system. The system, the Atari Video Computer System (VCS), was able to use multiple gaming cartridges which allowed players to play several games with one piece of hardware. Though the idea was not original, Atari was, once again, able to commercialize it first. Link text -
Pac-Man
In 1980, the first video game to have a "character" was released. The game was named "Pac-Man" and was created by the Japanese company, Namco. By having a main character, Namco was able to make a lot of money through the sale of merchandise such as t-shirts and lunch boxes. Link text -
Video Game Industry Crash
In 1983, the video game industry severely fell apart. Some reasons for the major crash include bad home consoles, competition in computer gaming, and simply low-quality games. One of the biggest examples of a low-quality, horribly produced game, considered to be the worst game in history, is "E.T.". In fact, it was so bad that Atari, the company that created it, ended up burying the unsold games in the desert. Link text -
Tetris
In 1984, a highly addictive Russian game of stacking different shaped pieces was released. The game was named "Tetris" and was created by a man named Alexey Pajitnov. Though he created the game, Pajitnov did not receive any money until 10 years after the game's release due to the communist Russian government. Link text -
Nintendo Game Boy
In 1989, a new game console was developed, the Game Boy. The Game Boy was created by the Japanese company Nintendo and was released in April of 1989. The Game Boy, being a handheld game console, was the first of its kind and became wildly popular. Link text -
Wolfenstein 3D
In 1992, a new game, "Wolfenstein 3D," came out. Created by id Software, the game features a first-person shooter perspective in which the player fights against the Nazi Party. The production of the game was was significant because it was the first time shareware (free-play to test a game) was used. Link text -
Video Game Content Ratings
In 1993, many, including the U.S. Government, were outraged at the violence portrayed in video games. In particular, Connecticut Senator Joseph Lieberman was the voice of the 1993 Video Game Hearing. This meeting led to the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB)'s creation and produced the video game content ratings scale used today (see picture). Link text -
PlayStation
In 1994, a company finally produced a successful at-home game console. Sony Computer Entertainment originally released their console, PlayStation, in Japan and later in the U.S. Its production is significant because it was the first multimedia platform found in a console. Link text -
The Sims
In 2000, a new game concept was released. The game, "The Sims," was created by the company Maxis. It is considered to be a strategic life-simulation video game in which players control the daily activities or routines of one or more characters. Link text -
Xbox
In 2001, a console that could compete with PlayStation was created. Xbox was created by Microsoft and, despite many doubts, became wildly popular. Like PlayStation, Xbox was a multimedia platform within a gaming console. Unlike its competitors, Xbox installed a new system that allowed its consumers to connect with other players as well as download new content. Link text -
America's Army
In 2002, a first-person shooter game was published by the U.S. Army. "America's Army" was meant to draw people into joining the army by giving them some experience in combat as well as teaching people the importance of worrying about their team's well-being. The release of this game was somewhat surprising considering the fact that the government originally felt that video games were too violent for the youth of America to experience. Link text -
Nintendo DS
In 2004, Nintendo continued its production of handheld game consoles with its new DS. The Nintendo DS is a dual-screen console with which consumers can play many different games. The top screen of the folding console is used as a monitor, whereas the bottom is a touch screen for playing, accompanied by control buttons, a microphone, speakers, and Wi-Fi connection used for multiplayer games. Link text -
Nintendo vs. James Burt
In 2009, the company Nintendo took an Australian man named James Burt to court. Nintendo sued the 24-year-old for his premature and illegal release of "New Super Mario Bros. Wii" that was downloaded over 50,000 times within 5 days. Burt and Nintendo eventually made an out-of-court settlement with the addition of Burt paying $100,000 of court fees due to violating Nintendo's copyright. Link text -
Modern Gaming
As technology improves more and more, there are many different forms of gaming. For example, many games are played on home consoles such as Xbox's and Playstation's. Games can also be played on computers and laptops. However, a big leap in gaming has been reached, mobile phones. Many games, such as "Minecraft Pocket Edition," can easily be played anywhere and at anytime through iPhones and Androids. Link text -
Pokémon Go
In 2016, a virtual version of a popular card-trading game was released. The game, "Pokémon Go," was developed by a company called Niantic and could be downloaded for free for IOS and Android users. Using a phone's GPS, the interactive game caused players to travel near and far in order to capture different Pokémon. The game was immensely popular because of its new take on gaming. Link text -
Fortnite
In 2018, a new game was released, taking the video game world by storm. The game, "Fortnite," was developed by two companies, Epic Games and People Can Fly. It is a survival game in which players must collect resources, build defensive forts, and construct weapons to use against the enemy. One of the biggest things that the game is known for is its free-to-play experience. Link text
