History of Video Games

Andrew Bishop
Andrew Corrado

April 6th, 2010

Table of Contents
Introduction
The First Video Game (1962-1971)
Arcades
Video Games Become Popular
Arcade Games
Console Timeline (1972-1996)
Conclusion
Introduction
Video games have been an important concept in the
advancement of technology for over 40 years now.

Since 1975, they have not only become one of the most
popular sources of entertainment, they have also
played a major role in globalization, allowing people
from all over the world to communicate amongst each
other.
The First Video Game
In 1962 Steve Russell invents SpaceWar!, a game that
was developed at the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology.
It wasnt the first actual video game developed,
however it was the first intended to be played on
computers
Game was developed for a computer that cost over
$150,000 making it unmarketable and unknown to the
general public.
Arcades
In 1971, Nolan Bushnell
along with Ted Dabney
(whom later founded Atari
together in 1975)
programmed the SpaceWars!
game to play on a television
screen

Together they created the

first Arcade Machine,
Computer Space, which
operated at 25 cents per 90
seconds.
Video Games Become Popular
In 1975, Atari released
Pong as a home video
game on their first
console
Pong becomes a huge
success among a
teenage market
The sales of video game
entertainment systems
also begin to skyrocket
Arcade Games
From 1977 to the late
1980s, video games
became extremely
popular as coin-
operated machines in
arcades.
Games such as Pac-
Man, Donkey Kong,
and Space Invaders
became extremely
successful.
Early Consoles
In 1972, Ralph Baer created the
Magnavox Odyssey. It was the first
video game console playable on
home televisions
Magnavox mass-produced these
consoles which featured 5 diskettes
that generated different code
already located in the machine and
2 huge controllers that used 6-C
batteries apiece
HAL (A.I.) first introduced
Atari releases 2600 in 1975, these
entertainment systems are referred
to as the 1st generation of consoles
2nd & 3rd Generation Consoles
(8-Bit)

Atari 2600

Nintendo
Entertainment
System(NES - 1985)
4th Generation
(16-Bit)
Super Nintendo
(SNES)

Sega Genesis

Turbografx-16
5th Generation
(32-64 bit) This era began what would
Atari Jaguar(32 Bit) later be known as the
Console Wars. Both 64 Bit
machines ended up being
mainstream machines that
Sega CD(32 Bit) would later be the downfall
for both the Sega and Atari
companies as console
Playstation(64 Bit) developers due to cost
efficiency and playability
With the release of the 64-
Nintendo 64(64 Bit) Bit console, video games
became playable in 3-
Dimensional worlds
Conclusion
Technology continues to grow and improve on a daily
basis
The consoles we use today (Xbox 360, PS3, etc.)contain
processors so much more powerful than as little as 5
years ago that the measurement of bits is no longer
appropriate
Video games are now in a stage of voice recognition,
motion detection, among other things that will
continue to bring technology to further developments
Sources
A History of Home Video Games from Atari to Xbox, Playstation and Wii.
(n.d.). A History of Home Video Games from Atari to Xbox, Playstation and Wii.
Retrieved April 6, 2010, from http://www.thegameconsole.com/

Bellis, M. (n.d.). The History of Computers & Video Games.

inventors.about.com. Retrieved April 6, 2010, from
inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blcomputer_videogames.htm

Herman, L., Horwitz, J., Kent, S., & Miller, S. (n.d.). GameSpot Presents: The
History of Video Games. GameSpot is your go-to source for video game news,
reviews, and entertainment. Retrieved April 6, 2010, from
http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/video/hov/

Stack, P. (n.d.). Video Game Console Timeline - Video Game History - Xbox
360 - TIME Magazine. Breaking News, Analysis, Politics, Blogs, News Photos,
Video, Tech Reviews - TIME.com. Retrieved April 6, 2010, from
http://www.time.com/time/covers/1101050523/console_timeline/