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A Brief History Of Gaming

The innovative world of video gaming has come a long way since its humble beginnings in the late 1950s. Since then, gaming has undergone numerous changes due to technological breakthroughs and ever-progressing human creativity, culminating in an industry that is said to generate over $365 billion in revenue at the end of 2023. Furthermore, with over 3.09 billion gamers worldwide and new titles released daily, the video game industry continues to go from strength to strength. If you’ve ever wondered how gaming has changed over time, read on to find out.

The World’s First Video Game

Despite popular belief that Pong (1972) was the world’s first video game, a similar predecessor revolutionised the world of computer science over a decade earlier. In 1958 physicist William Higinbotham designed the two-dimensional game Tennis For Two using an oscilloscope, vacuum tubes and transistors. Higinbotham lamented the dull, static nature of contemporary science exhibits and sought to create something interactive. Thus Tennis For Two was born and enjoyed by hundreds of visitors to Brookhaven National Laboratory’s annual public exhibition. 

Arcade Games

The beginning of the 1970s saw the emergence of the coin-operated arcade game. Pioneering titles included Computer Space, created by Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney, the founders of Atari, Inc., and of course, Pong, also created by Bushnell along with computer scientist Allan Alcorn. Due to various revolutionary technological breakthroughs, arcades became remarkably popular during the late 70s and mid-80s, often called the “golden age of arcade games”. Some classic titles are still recognised and revered by retro gaming enthusiasts today, such as Pac-Man, Q*bert and Mario Bros. 

The Crash Of 1983

The video game crash of June 1983 happened when sales dropped 97% between 1982 and 1985, from $3 billion to $100 million. Multiple factors were at play, although most experts chalk this occurrence up to the oversaturation of the market. Due to the initial roaring success of preliminary home video game consoles like the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) and Sega’s SG-1000, many other companies wanted to cash in on the vibrant industry. As a result, standards slipped dramatically, rendering countless games unplayable. Fortunately, the industry later recovered from this disastrous crash, primarily thanks to the innovation and quality control of Nintendo, along with the increasing sales of personal computers. 

Home Consoles

Throughout the late 80s and 90s, home consoles became progressively more advanced. From the Sega Genesis in 1987 – more commonly known as the Mega Drive – to the wildly successful Sony PlayStation in 1994, and the introduction of classic franchises like Street Fighter II and Mortal Kombat, there was truly a war at play between multinational video game companies. The 90s was a decade of transition, with the emergence of ever-advancing 3D graphics, first-person shooters and innovative game mechanics. 

PC Gaming

During the 2000s, as gaming technology went from strength to strength, the popularity of gaming PCs skyrocketed. Complex graphics and robust components made way for popular titles like Deus Ex and World of Warcraft. Furthermore, the rapid availability of the Internet led to a steep increase in online gaming. What was once considered a hobby for young people and tech nerds was quickly becoming a mainstream pastime reaching a vast audience of consumers. 

Innovative Technology

The modern age of gaming came about with the release of consoles like Sony’s Playstation 3, Microsoft’s Xbox 360 and the Nintendo Wii, which revolutionised the gaming industry by giving players the ability to interact with their games like never before, changing our perceptions of game immersion and appealing to a much wider audience. During this period, there was also a notable rise in mobile gaming – while mobile phones had previously featured simplistic games like Snake, the arrival of smartphones enabled advanced gaming capabilities. 

The Future Of Gaming

It’s difficult to say what the future of gaming will look like. What we do know is that the ever-increasing technological advancements in AI may heavily impact how we experience games, and the number of worldwide gamers is expected to exceed 3.6 billion by 2025. We are currently in the ninth generation of video game consoles with the PlayStation 5 and the Xbox Series X, and with gaming PC components becoming increasingly powerful, there has never been a better time to start gaming. 

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