Video Game History

First Video Game

Oct 18, 1958

first video game
Physicist William Higinbotham invents the first video game at the Brookhaven National Laboratory in New York. It was a table tennis-like game and it was played on an oscilloscope.

Spacewar

Apr 24, 1961

Videospacewar
Steve Russell a student at the Massachussets institute of technology (MIT), creates spacewar, the first interactive computer game

Idea of interactive games

Feb 24, 1966

Ralph Baer, an engineer at Sanders Associates receives support from his company to explore his idea of creating interactive games using a TV

First Interactive TV Games

Feb 24, 1967

Baer and team are succesful in creating 2 interactive TV games. A chse game and a tennis game. They are also able to manipulate a toy gun so that it detects spots of light on the TV screen

Computer Space

Feb 24, 1971

videoComputer space becomes the first video arcade game ever released.

Magnavox's Odyssey

May 24, 1972

videoMagnavox's Odyssey, the first home video game system, is showcased at a convention in Burlingame, CA.

Gunfight

Nov 24, 1975

The first "computer" game is released (Gunfight). It is the first game to use a microprocessor instead of hardwire solid-state circuits.

Telstar

Feb 24, 1976

Coleco releases its first home-video game console called telstar.

Atari

Feb 24, 1977

Atari introduces its first cartridge-based home video system called the video computer system which later becomes unknown as the atari 2600.

Battlezone

Nov 24, 1980

Battlezone; the first 3D game is introduced

Nintendo's NES

Sep 1, 1986

Nintendo's NES is released in the U.S after being test-marketed in New York

Turbo Grafx-16

Nov 22, 1989

NEC releases the first 16-bit console in the U.S. It is called the turbo Grafx-16. It's the first system to run video games stored on compact discs.

Jaguar

Nov 15, 1993

Atari releases the Jaguar, attempting to be the first 64-bit console on the market.

PlayStation

Dec 3, 1995

articleSony brings the PlayStation to the U.S and sells the console for $299

Arizona proposes bill against violent games

Feb 24, 1997

Arizona attempts to restrict the distribution of violent video games by making it illegal to display or distribute violent material to minors. The proposed bill is not approved.

PlayStation 2

Mar 4, 2000

Sony's PlayStation 2 launches in the U.S for $299

Microsoft and Nintendo

Nov 15, 2001

articleMicrosoft and Nintendo introduce their next generation systems. Microsoft claims its xbox offers the most powerful game experiences ever.

Nintendo DS

Dec 2, 2004

articleNintendo releases the nintendo DS, a portable system with two screens

PSP

Sep 1, 2005

articleSony releases the PSP, a portable system with a large high resolution display

Wii

Dec 7, 2006

articleNintendo releases the wii, a gaming system that let's gamers use the controler in revolutionary ways. Such as swinging it like a tennis racket, holding and tilting it like a steering wheel anad more.