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Video Games
No longer a fad
This is the story of how an invention of the 1960s helped spawn the computer industry, as we know it. Video games have influenced the way children live and play, and altered the entertainment industry, and even affected the way wars are fought. This is how it began and what it means for the future.
Over the past 30 years, video games have become an integral part of our culture, and the video game industry has become a multi-billion dollar behemoth. Follow the journey of video games from university laboratories to our living rooms.
A brief history of video games.
In 1971: Nolan Busnell creates Computer and Space, which is the first coin arcade machine. In 1972 Magnavox comes out with the first game console named Odyssey. 1975 uses the first home version of Pong created by Atari. Death Race and comes out in 1976. 1977 is when Atari releases the first multi game home console the Atari 2600, that in 1978 the Odyssey2 is released and has a full 49 key keyboard. 1979 Activision comes out creating independent games for the Atari 2600. In 1980 and game named Puck-man is brought to the United States from Japan but with fears that the public will alter the name into something more offensive they rename it Pac-man.
In 1981 and innocent little carpenter named Mario is introduced trying to escape from a gorilla in a typo misnamed Donkey Kong video game. Mario later goes on with his brother to become a plumber in a very popular game series. The 1982 Microsoft joins the game industry by producing the first version of Flight Simulator. In 1983, the company named Mystique creates a game that is pornographic, racist, and misogynistic, featuring the rape of Native American women tide to poles and poor selling product named Custer's Revenge. This begins to catch the attention of the public about inappropriate content in video games.
Nintendo releases a new eight-bit video game system called the Famicon in Japan. In 1985 to Tetris is developed in Russia. In 1986, the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) is released in the United States with the bit color graphics and elaborate sound effects. That same year Sega rolls out the master system. 1989 the first of a long line of sim products is released its name is SimCity. The same year the Sega genesis comes out, as does Nintendo's game boy. In 1990, Nintendo responds to Sega's system by releasing its on 16-bit system called the SuperNES.
A new level of realism begins in 1992 with the release of Mortal Kombat. Doom is released in 1993 using the Internet to promote shareware copies of the game. Senator Joe Lieberman and Herb Kohl begin a senate investigation into video game violence. 1993 also is the release of a nonviolent game with breathtaking 3 D graphics and a great sound track that becomes the 1994 best-selling video game named MYST.
The Entertainment Software rating board is established in 1994. This is the same year Japan released the Sony PlayStation. In 1996, Nintendo releases the first true 64-bit game system with the Nintendo 64. 1999 the Sega dreamcast is released with a built in modem that allows online video game play.
The PlayStation 2 is released in the year 2000 as of 128-bit system that has better graphics than a personal computer and also has DVD Technology. In 2001, Grand Theft Auto 3 is on the market and strikes of much controversy because of options like killing people, stealing cars, stealing money, then picking up prostitutes. This same year sees the release of Game Boy Advance, Nintendo's Game Cube, and the Xbox video games.
This is a short history of video games not meant to be all inclusive and doesn't even get us to the modern day game systems such as Xbox360, PlayStation 3, and Wii. The advance of game systems is still developing quickly and is pushing its Computer Technology yearly.
There are several different types of video games and many games fit into multiple genres.
First Person Shooters. Shoot the monster or villain
Role Playing Games Dungeons and Dragons
Adventure And Puzzle MYST III
Sports games like football, baseball, basketball, and racing games.
Simulation Games like Simcity, a flight simulators
Strategy Games like WarCraft III, or Command and Conquer
Fighting Games Street Fighter, or WWE smackdown
These are the major selling video game categories, but by no means all the categories. Board games, card games, educational games are also good sellers. The poker craze has recently caused a large increase in Texas Holdem games. This is an example of popular entertainment content developing into a popular video game.
Possibilities are endless with the ever-improving video game systems. I could foresee video game consoles being used for home schooling. There is online connectivity, interactivity, and a need for qualified lessons and leadership, and the possibility of testing online with video games.
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