-
The Start of Gaming
The first electronic digital computers were made to help the allies during the world war II. As the war came to an end, the computers soon became easier to reprogram which promoted the adoption of computers into universities. Colossus -
Turochamp
The first ever written computer game we know is a chess simulation that was called Turochamp. Turochamp was written by Alan Turing and David Champernowne. Unfortunately, Turochamp never got implemented to a computer. Turochamp -
Bertie the Brain and Nimrod
Bertie and Brain and Nimrod were the first two early known computer games that got implemented into the computer. These two were both custom build machines. Bertie the Brain played tic-tac-toe while Nimrod played the game of Nim. Bertie the Brain -
Incorporation of a Monitor
The first known games that used a monitor were two research projects. First being a checkers program by Christopher Strachey and the second being a tic-tac-toe program called OXO by Alexander Douglas.
Monitor -
Real-Time
While the graphics of earlier known computer games never moved, William Brown and Ted lewis were able to create a pool game that updated in real time. They demonstrated this game at the University of Michigan in 1954. Pool -
Gaming for FUN
While the earlier games were made to demonstrate the power of a particular computer or technology, William Higinbotham designed a game that was for pure entertainment. This game was called Tennis for two. The game was played with an analog stick with graphics displayed on a computer. Tennis for Two -
Spacewar!
Spacewar! was initially designed by Steve Russell with the from Martin Graetz and Wayne Wiitanen. After the initial creation, spacewar was then spread to other installlations of the PDP-1 computer which allowed the game to be played in multiple computer installations. Spacewar -
Periscope and Speedway
As games and technology continued to grow throughout the years, two games would shine a whole new light that would spark a new market into the gaming industry. Sega's Periscope and Chicago Coin's Speedway would lead the way for coin-operated gaming. These games would be located at amusement arcades that could afford mini-computers that had the games. Periscope -
Coin-Operated Games
Because computers were still way to expensive for homes, industries found this as an opportunity for money by using the coin-operating market. Nolan Bushnell took the game Spacewar! and made his own variation called Computer Space which was released in late November. Unfortunately, the game didn't have a big impact. Coin-Operated Games -
Magnavox Odyssey
Magnavox Odyssey was the first ever home console. The console itself came with a dozen games inside the box. You could also buy four more games that also came with a light gun. Magnavox Odyssey was the start of home consoles and would soon spark the start of a huge industry. Magnavox Odyssey
