The History of Video Games: How the Game Industry Began and Grew Up

Video games have evolved significantly over the years. In their early days, video games were not as popular as they are today. That being said, it’s not hard to see that video games are only going to get bigger and better with time. As a matter of fact, gaming is growing up at a rapid pace. The United States Department of Labor Industrial Security Economic Crimes chapter has published an in-depth document that reveals everything you ever wanted to know about the history of video games. If you’re curious about how video games started and how they grew into what they are today, keep reading!

How Video Games Were Invented

Before video games existed, people had to come up with other ways to occupy their time. Predating the invention of the game console was the pinball machine. The pinball machine was invented in the 1840s and was primarily a gambling machine, but people soon realized that they could also play the pinball game. As the popularity of pinball began to decrease in the mid-20th century, another pastime was invented: the slot machine. However, the slot machine didn’t become popular until the early 20th century. When video games were invented, they were played on computers. However, video games didn’t become popular until the 1950s. Then, in the 1960s, the first video game consoles were introduced. These were computers that were designed for people to play video games on.

The First Video Game: “Tennis for Two”

The first video game was invented by Cornelius Crane in 1946. The game was called “Tennis for Two,” and the object of the game was to hit a ball into a small cage at the other end of the room. To play this game, a person had to be situated at one end of a room with a ball, a racket, and a net. As for the game’s name, the game was played with a tennis ball, and the person playing the game had two people lined up at the other end of the room. In those days, people usually played the game in someone’s backyard. This game was very rudimentary and resembled the modern game of tennis only in the form of the ball. However, Crane’s game paved the way for future technological advancements in the video game industry.

1947: Spacewar

The next video game to emerge was called “Spacewar.” Created by computer engineer and programmer, Steve Russell and his team at the University of Utah, it is considered to be the first multiplayer video game. The game was a space simulation, with two players using computer terminals connected via the Arpanet. The game went beyond the limits of normal human imagination. The game had the players navigating their spaceship throughout the solar system, crashing into planets, and avoiding interplanetary space debris. The only way to play the game was to download it on a computer. In other words, this game was not accessible on consoles.

1952: Computer Space War Games

Computer Space War Games had players piloting their spacecraft around planets and through space. The best thing about this game is that it was instantly accessible on any platform. The game was played on computers, but it later became popular on consoles, too. The game had a simple premise. The game was designed to be played in teams of two. Each team was given a planet on which to battle the other team. The object of the game was to capture the enemy planet and destroy the other team’s spaceship. Although the game was simple, it proved to be very popular among people. This game was also accessible on any platform, including computers and consoles.

1972: Pong -The First Popular Video Game

Next up was “Pong,” the first video game that became popular. Created by Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney, the game was played on a simple table with two paddle-shaped controllers. One controller had buttons and a small ball. The other controller had a single LED and a large ball. The player had to hit the buttons of the controller with the ball and hit the LED of the controller so that the ball would be sent flying across the table. A popular internet meme called “Pong the table” illustrates how difficult the game was. The game was very popular among people who worked in bars and restaurants. It was also accessible on computers and consoles.

1976: Atari’s Rise to Popularity While Nolan Bushnell Discovers the Internet

In 1976, Atari released the Atari 2600, a console that was sold for $199. With this console, the company’s rise to popularity was cemented. Pong was ported to the console in 1978, and the game became even more popular. This was mainly because of the console’s good design and the affordability of the console. Pong became the new rage and was played everywhere, from homes to schools to bars. Pong had become so popular that Atari soon released a number of sequels. The most successful of these games was “Asteroids,” which became very popular in arcades.

1981: Nintendo Is Born

While companies like Atari were pushing the limits of technology, Nintendo was creating games with simple rules and basic gameplay. Nintendo’s main focus was always on fun, and not on technology. Nintendo’s first video game console was the Nintendo Entertainment System, or NES. The NES was designed to be affordable and easy to use. It was also designed to play games that were based on popular arcade titles, such as “Super Mario Bros.” However, the NES was not the only game console that Nintendo released. The company released the Game Boy in 1989, which was an inexpensive handheld game console. The Game Boy had a simple design that was accessible to all ages.

1993: Sega Launches Its Dream Console While Shigeru Miyamoto Creates Mario Bros. 2.0 and Zelda II: The Adventure of Link

Next up was the Sega Dreamcast, a console that was considered to be the successor to the popular Nintendo 64. The Dreamcast was the first console to have built-in online capabilities. Sega’s Dreamcast was also a game-console hybrid. The Dreamcast could play games developed for the console or downloaded from the internet, and it could also be used to watch movies and play music.

2006/2007: Xbox 360 Versus PlayStation 3 as Part of a Console War

Although all of these video game consoles were worth playing, the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3 were the ones people would argue about the most. Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 were the two most powerful consoles to date and were designed to be used with a PC. However, they were also designed to be used as standalone consoles. Both consoles were very powerful and had great design. Xbox 360 had a sleek design with a blue and silver color scheme, while the PlayStation 3 had a sleek design with a red and blue color scheme.

2010/2011: Nintendo Releases the Wii U as an Affordable Alternative to Consoles and Gets Lost In the Store Shelf

Wii U was the 8th console in the Nintendo series. Released in 2012, the console was a new concept for the company since it didn’t have a traditional controller. The console was marketed as an affordable alternative to expensive gaming consoles like the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One. However, it was Nintendo’s latest console that received the worst reception. This is mainly because it was marketed as an affordable alternative to expensive gaming consoles, but it also had several shortfalls.

Conclusion

The history of video games is exciting. It shows how games have evolved and how they’ve come so far in such a short amount of time. However, it’s also a reminder that games are only going to get better and better.