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Willy Higinbotham
Willy Higinbotham creates what is commonly referred to as “the first video game.” Similar to table tennis, this 2 person game was played on an oscilloscope. Read more at http://game-designschools.com/history-of-game-design/ -
Spacewars
A MIT student, Steve Russell, creates the first interactive game, Spacewars, played on mainframe computers.
-Over the following decade, the game spreads to computers across the country. http://www.museumofplay.org/about/icheg/video-game-history/timeline Read more at http://game-designschools.com/history-of-game-design/ -
Computer Space
Computer Space, developed by Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney (founders of Atari), becomes the first video arcade game released. Although it was instantly popular, many people found the game too difficult. Read more at http://game-designschools.com/history-of-game-design/ -
Odyssey
Realizing the potential of video games, Magnavox released Odyssey, the first home video gaming system. Most notably though, Atari is founded and quickly recognized as the leader in the video game industry. Their first released game, Pong, was wildly successful and soon became available as a home version. Read more at http://game-designschools.com/history-of-game-design/ -
Steve Job's
Steve Jobs, one of Atari’s technicians and later a circuit board creator, presented an idea to the Atari founders for a personal computer system. Because funds were tied up in other projects, Bushnell referred a venture capitalist to Jobs for funding support. That personal computer, of course, was the beginning of Apple. Read more at http://game-designschools.com/history-of-game-design/ -
Atari
Retailing at $249.95, a large chunk of money at the time, the Atari 2600 game console is released.
Featuring a joystick, interchangeable cartridges, games in color,and switches for selecting games and setting difficulty levels. Read more at http://game-designschools.com/history-of-game-design/
http://www.museumofplay.org/about/icheg/video-game-history/timeline -
3D Games
The first 3D game, Battlezone, is created. The game caught the eye of the US Government, who later modified it for training exercises. Due to the advancing complexity of games, companies begin to form teams to specifically address game design. Game designers and game programmers soon became separate, distinct careers. Read more at http://game-designschools.com/history-of-game-design/ -
Tetris
Developed by a Russian programmer, Tetris is released for arcades, video game consoles, as well as home computers. Read more at http://game-designschools.com/history-of-game-design/ -
Gameboy
Game Boys, handheld gaming devices made by Nintendo, hit the market to much avail. Later in the year, Sega releases the Genesis game console. Read more at http://game-designschools.com/history-of-game-design/ -
Sony
Sony releases the PlayStation in the U.S. By 1997, 20 million units had been sold. Read more at http://game-designschools.com/history-of-game-design/ -
Sony 2
Sony’s PlayStation 2 is released. The 500,000 initial units sell out instantly at $300 apiece. The same year, The Sims surpasses Myst as the best selling PC game. Game designers now work in teams of dozens to quickly create the complex games being sold. Read more at http://game-designschools.com/history-of-game-design/ -
The "Next Generation"
“Next Generation” gaming systems are introduced. The Microsoft Xbox and Nintendo GameCube are not only more interactive for the user, but also easier to develop games for. Shortly after the release of these products, Sega announces it will no longer produce hardware. Read more at http://game-designschools.com/history-of-game-design/ -
Nintendo
The Nintendo DS is released as a purposefully portable system. Sony follows a year later with their portable version, the Sony PSP. Read more at http://game-designschools.com/history-of-game-design/ -
Wii
The Nintendo Wii revolutionizes the market with its controller system, designed to mimic actual physical movements such as swinging a tennis racket or throwing a bowling ball. During the same year, the PlayStation 3 is released as the most sophisticated (and expensive) console. Read more at http://game-designschools.com/history-of-game-design/ -
Apple
Apple releases the iPhone, creating an entirely new device in which to play games. Read more at http://game-designschools.com/history-of-game-design/ -
Growing
The App Store is introduced.With a diverse array of functionalities, games quickly become the most popular and lucrative“apps.”Game designing and developing for Smartphone apps becomes a large niche.In a successful effort to get people of all ages involved and excited about the Wii,Nintendo releases the Wii Fit game.By the over 40 million units sold Read http://game-designschools.com/history-of-game-design/ -
Gaming Community
Projected to grow an additional 30% by 2016, the gaming industry produces sales of over 18 billion per year. Colleges and degrees specifically for game design and production are becoming increasingly advanced and popular.
Read more at http://game-designschools.com/history-of-game-design/
