Video Game Evolution

Very few of the "gamers" remember "back inmajor motion picture (although they did use live
the day", around Christmas of 1975 Atari was theactors instead of the character). In a 1991 poll, it
first to mass produce and distribute a game,was found more kids could identify a picture of
where the game console had 2 knobs that turnedMario than Mickey Mouse.The 1990's brought us
left and right moving a little rectangle block up aninto the "shooters" era with games such as
down the screen, one on the left side and theWolfenstein 3D and Doom. Following Doom, the
other on the right. Moving this rectangle allowedretail publishers and developers began to earnestly
the "player" to hit a small ball back and forthmimic the practice of offering demos, which had
between the two players, trying to "play thethe effect of reducing shareware's appeal for the
angle" by hitting it on the edge of your paddle torest of the decade. During this time, the increasing
"give it English" or a sharp angle to score thecomputing power of personal computers began to
point. The first "Video Tennis or Ping Pong" gameallow rudimentary 3D graphics. 1993's Doom in
I guess would be a proper reference, in fact itparticular was largely responsible for defining the
was call "PONG".Two year later, the developmentgenre and setting it apart from other first-person
of a cartridge-based console called the Videoperspective games. The mid 90's brought us
Computer System (VCS), later called Atari 2600genra games such as the "Sim" games, beginning
and the next generation of creators brought uswith SimCity, and continuing with a variety of
game such as galaxian, space Invaders, Asteroids,titles, such as SimEarth, SimCity 2000, SimAnt,
Moon Patrol, Frogger, Donkey Kong (who wasSimTower, and the wildly popular day to day life
that little man jumping over those barrels?simulator, The Sims in 2000. The 90s also saw
Hmmm). The first football game from the Atarithe beginnings of Internet gaming, with MUDs
2600 allowed you to control one player on(Multi-User Dungeons) in the early years. Id
offense and your opponent controlled either the 3Software's 1996 game Quake pioneered play
man D-Line or a single player. Gee the good ol'over the Internet in first-person shooters.
days....1980 ushered in the "Golden Era" of videoInternet multiplayer capability became a defacto
games such as Defender, Battle Zone, Zork andrequirement in almost all of the games we see
some game called, let me see, what was it? Ohnow.With all of these developments, but online and
yea, Pacman....... Anyone remember that one? (justconsole games, the "arcade" as we knew it, has
kidding)Around 1985 the "console game" marketpretty much became a thing of the past limited
hit a low point as desktop computers along withnow to expensive game control systems not
hand held units took over the popular market.available to home users. These are usually based
Then came the invention of the 8-bit machineson sports like skiing or cycling, as well as rhythm
and a company called Nintendo Entertainmentgames like Dance Dance Revolution, which have
System (NES) burst on the seen with somecarved out a large slice of the market.Current
Italian guys called Mario and Lugi Mario. Mario firsttimes have us now playing PS2, PSP, Xbox, all of
appeared in the 1982 arcade hit Donkey Kong,which have become Multi-tasking devises similar to
and became an instant hit. He appeared again 2computers in that they can play not only games
years later in Mario Bros., his first title role. Thiscreated and designed for them, but also CD's,
game also introduced Lugi to the public. Mario firstMP3's, Videos. What is next? PS3, Xbox 360 are
came home on the Nintendo Entertainmentboth due out this fall/early winter just in time for
System in Super Mario Bros., one of the bestChristmas. Both with disk space rivaling that of a
selling games ever. This game brought Mario intodesktop computer.Can we actually wait that
millions of homes around the world and made himlong?......Just a normal guy trying to starta business
a cultural icon equal to Harrison Ford, Arnoldon the internet. 50 year old white male father of
Swartzneger, or Tom Cruise. Besides all the4. Born in the midwest moved to the southwest
games, he has starred in 3 cartoon series, one30 plus years ago.