History of Video Games
Video
games originated as programmers tried to design simple simulations and
artificial intelligence program for their computer science research. In 1966,
when Ralph Baer conceived an idea of playing a video game on television while
waiting for his friends and this idea led to the basis of his development of
television video games. And in 1977, Atari company released the first public Video
Computer System Atari 2600, that allowed players to select games and set difficulty
levels. The release of this system attracted millions of American video
players. In 1978, the prototype of arcade, Space Invaders, first appeared in
Japan and caused a shortage in 100-yen coins.(listed below) This invention
boomed the industry of video games and brought arcade game into the mainstream
entertainment. The boom of space invaders open a new field of industry and people acknowledge its future market potentials.
The success of Space Invaders established an ideal platform for development of new games. After 1980s video games were gradually introduced to the public and began to gain popularity from the majority. Japanese Nintendo featured a world-famous character called Jumpman, which is now known as Mario by most people. This classic figure becomes a symbol of Japanese video games and even until today remains one of the most famous video game character. The introduction of Space Invaders to America led to a huge group of teenage advocates. Teenagers rushed into malls and Game Shops to play new released arcade games. In 1982, a movie adaption of the arcade game Tron proved its popularity and wide acceptance by the public. Since then has video game passed its developmental phase and steps into the maturing age. PC games stepped onto the stage as more families began to own PC at their house. Companies produced video games adapted to PC operating system, which brought both convenience and flexibility. Advanced operating system gave programmers more freedom and space and games thus becomes more elaborated. Story lines and choices became the new selling points. This new mode leads to some of famous games such as Tomb Raiders and Warcraft, both of which had movie adaptions due to its amazing story contents. Teenagers no longer need to ask money for the arcade machine, but simply click the mouse and tap the keyboard at home. Along with Xbox and PS, PC games establish the foundation of home entertainment and become a major theme for teenagers born in 1990s.
Just as players see the limitation between traditional controller and the screen, a new era of virtual entertainment awaits before us. Computer giants such as Microsoft and Google are trying to create glasses that generate holograms and 3D gaming experience. In the future, we may no longer use a controller to input a command, but simply swing our hands and an ultra realistic world will present itself before us.
The success of Space Invaders established an ideal platform for development of new games. After 1980s video games were gradually introduced to the public and began to gain popularity from the majority. Japanese Nintendo featured a world-famous character called Jumpman, which is now known as Mario by most people. This classic figure becomes a symbol of Japanese video games and even until today remains one of the most famous video game character. The introduction of Space Invaders to America led to a huge group of teenage advocates. Teenagers rushed into malls and Game Shops to play new released arcade games. In 1982, a movie adaption of the arcade game Tron proved its popularity and wide acceptance by the public. Since then has video game passed its developmental phase and steps into the maturing age. PC games stepped onto the stage as more families began to own PC at their house. Companies produced video games adapted to PC operating system, which brought both convenience and flexibility. Advanced operating system gave programmers more freedom and space and games thus becomes more elaborated. Story lines and choices became the new selling points. This new mode leads to some of famous games such as Tomb Raiders and Warcraft, both of which had movie adaptions due to its amazing story contents. Teenagers no longer need to ask money for the arcade machine, but simply click the mouse and tap the keyboard at home. Along with Xbox and PS, PC games establish the foundation of home entertainment and become a major theme for teenagers born in 1990s.
Just as players see the limitation between traditional controller and the screen, a new era of virtual entertainment awaits before us. Computer giants such as Microsoft and Google are trying to create glasses that generate holograms and 3D gaming experience. In the future, we may no longer use a controller to input a command, but simply swing our hands and an ultra realistic world will present itself before us.