You might be surprised to know that simple video games have existed since 1947. That year, Goldsmith and Mann created a missile simulator game inspired by WWII missile displays. This classic game controlled a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) beam that showed up as a dot on the screen. Spacewar!, a multiplayer game made by MIT students in 1962, is often seen as the first important game. The 1970s saw Oregon Trail and Pong, two games that might have been part of your childhood. Oregon Trail, created by three student teachers at Carleton College in Minnesota, is used as a teaching tool. Pong is a remarkably simple game that gives players a surprisingly intense experience. The game features two paddles, a dotted line for a net, and a dot for a ball—all in black and white.
The 1980s was an amazing and iconic decade for video game fans. Created by Namco and designed by Toru Iwatani, Pac-Man became one of the most important video games ever. Pac-Man fever took over the country in the 1980s, mainly because it attracted both boys and girls, as well as adults. This decade also saw the launch of the Nintendo Entertainment System, the first successful 8-bit console. The standout game for the Nintendo platform is Super Mario Brothers—the game that defined the “platforming” genre.
To learn more about the evolution of video games—from 1947 to today—check out the awesome infographic by National Geographic. What is your favorite video game listed in the infographic? Please share in the comments!
