Simply to understand the evolution of video games, the following division is made to help understand their historical evolution.
This era was marked by the creation of the first interactive electronic games. The first known example is the Cathode-Ray Tube Amusement Device, patented in 1947, which was inspired by radar display tech. In 1958, William Higinbotham created “Tennis for Two” to entertain visitors at Brookhaven National Laboratory, marking one of the first fully functional video games.
Figure: Cathode-Ray Tube Amusement Device
The release of the Magnavox Odyssey, the first home console, in 1972 marked the beginning of this era. Atari’s Pong, also released in 1972, became the first commercially successful video game. The Atari 2600, launched in 1977, popularized the use of microprocessor-based hardware and ROM cartridges containing game code. However, the era ended with the video game crash of 1983, caused by a combination of factors including market saturation and the rise of home computers.
Figure: Magnavox Odyssey
The video game industry rebounded with the release of the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) in 1985. This era saw the rise of third-party developers, as well as many genre-defining games, such as Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda, and Metroid. The Sega Genesis, released in 1988, introduced more advanced graphics and brought an arcade-style gaming experience into homes.
Figure: Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)
This era was marked by the widespread adoption of 3D graphics in video games. The PlayStation, released in 1994, and the Nintendo 64, released in 1996, were instrumental in this shift. Games like Super Mario 64 and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time showcased the possibilities of 3D gameplay. The era also saw the rise of first-person shooters, real-time strategy games, and massively multiplayer online games.
Figure: Play Station (1994)
This era has been defined by the rise of digital distribution, mobile gaming, and the proliferation of indie games. The seventh generation of consoles, including the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Wii, brought advances in graphics and the popularization of online services. The rise of smartphones and app stores in the late 2000s led to a boom in mobile games. The late 2010s saw the rise of virtual reality and augmented reality games, as well as a resurgence in popularity of tabletop games.
Figure: XBOX 360 (1994)
The video game industry has seen numerous technological advancements that have significantly impacted the video game industry, leading to new types of games and ways of playing. Some of the most significant milestones are:
1958: Creation of “Tennis for Two”: This is often considered the first video game. It was created by physicist William Higinbotham and was a simple tennis game.
The controversy exists, however, because Tennis for Two used an oscilloscope instead of a conventional CRT or television monitor as a video device. This was because Higinbotham was only staging an impromptu technology demonstration to entertain visitors rather than producing a commercial product. Since Tennis for Two had the output to an oscilloscope, lacking a video tracking signal like that used in standard television and computer screens (although it did produce a vector video signal like that used in some later video games, such as Asteroids, and in the HUDs of fighter jets), and it did not contain objects directly controlled by the player, although players did control invisible “rackets” that could alter the trajectory of the ball; It was rejected in patent litigation where it had been presented as a previous example of video game technology.
1972: Launch of Pong: Pong, developed by Atari, was one of the first commercially successful video games. It popularized the medium and led to the growth of the video game industry.
1977: Release of the Atari 2600: This was one of the first successful home video game consoles, bringing video games into the living room for the first time.
1980: Release of Pac-Man: Pac-Man was a cultural phenomenon that transcended the video game industry and became a part of popular culture.
1980: Space Invaders hits Arcades: Space Invaders, released in 1978, became wildly popular and is often credited for significantly increasing the popularity of arcade games.
1985: Release of the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)**: The NES revitalized the video game industry after the crash of 1983 and introduced many iconic franchises, such as Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda.
1989: Game Boy: Nintendo’s Game Boy revolutionized handheld gaming, making it more portable and accessible.
1991: Introduction of Sonic the Hedgehog: Sega’s mascot, Sonic, was introduced as a rival to Nintendo’s Mario, marking the beginning of the console wars.
1996: Release of Tomb Raider: Tomb Raider was notable for featuring one of the first female video game protagonists, Lara Croft, who became a gaming icon.
1996: Release of the Nintendo 64 and Super Mario 64: Super Mario 64’s innovative 3D graphics gameplay was a major milestone in the evolution of video game design.
1998: Release of Half-Life: Half-Life revolutionized the first-person shooter genre with its blend of narrative and action.
2000: Launch of The Sims: The Sims was a ground-breaking game that popularized the life simulation genre.
2001: Release of the Xbox and Halo: Microsoft’s entry into the console market and the release of Halo: Combat Evolved marked a significant shift in the industry.
2004: Introduction of the Nintendo DS: The Nintendo DS introduced touch screen gaming to the mainstream market
2004: Launch of World of Warcraft: This massively multiplayer online game (MMO) popularized the genre and had a significant impact on gaming culture.
2006: Launch of the Wii: The Nintendo Wii brought motion-controlled gaming to the mainstream, with games like Wii Sports becoming incredibly popular.
2007: Release of the iPhone and the App Store in 2008: This revolutionized mobile gaming, making it accessible to a much wider audience.
2009: Minecraft is released: Minecraft’s sandbox style of gameplay became a hit, allowing players to build and explore their own virtual worlds.
2011: The rise of eSports: The launch of the game League of Legends in 2009 and its subsequent rise in popularity helped to bring eSports to mainstream attention.
2012: The Walking Dead and the rise of narrative games: Telltale’s The Walking Dead game showed the potential for video games as a storytelling medium, leading to a rise in narrative-focused games
2013: Introduction of Virtual Reality headsets: The Oculus Rift and later the HTC Vive brought high-quality virtual reality to the consumer market.
2016: Pokémon Go brings Augmented Reality to the masses: This mobile game became a cultural phenomenon, introducing many people to the concept of augmented reality.
2018: The rise of Battle Royale games: Games like Fortnite and PUBG popularized the Battle Royale genre, leading to a new wave of online multiplayer games.
Figure: Fortnite (2017)