History of Video Games Timeline

A history of video games timeline goes all the way back to 1952. That seems like a long way back for a discovery that soon followed television. Most of you might remember the Atari 2600, which spurred on a generation of pushing buttons and moving joysticks in the late 70’s, but you might be surprised to find there were a small group of gamers before that.

Atari 2600 Video Computer System Console

The first video game was made (or recorded) by A.S. Douglass at Cambridge University. He created Naughts and Crosses (Tic-Tac-Toe) on a machine that resembled a large nightstand.

William Higginbotham was the first American to invent a video game. In New York’s Brookhaven National Laboratory, he programmed Tennis for Two. Coincidentally, he also assisted in building the first atomic bomb.

Spacewar! is created at MIT by Steven Russell and is the first video game to use controllers.

Ralph Baer applies for a U.S. patent and sells it five years later to Magnavox. The patent is for a “Televising Gaming and Training Apparatus”.

The first coin-operated arcade game is Computer Space', by Nolan Bushnell. It is placed in bars and because of the lengthy set of instructions that the player must read before play, Computer Space is a mediocre hit.

Magnavox releases the Odyssey, which can play 12 games, including a game called Ping-Pong.

Atari creates Pong and sells the standalone console through the Sears catalog. This catapults Atari’s gaming business.

The Fairchild Video Entertainment System (Channel F) is the first console to use cartridges that have their own code.

The Atari 2600, which also uses plug-in cartridges, is released. A year earlier, Nolan Bushnell sold Atari to Warner Communications for $28 million to fund the development of the 2600.

• The Odyssey2 is released and has a keyboard.
• Taito releases Space Invaders and the arcade game created a coin shortage in Japan that year.
• Nolan Bushnell quits Atari and founded Chuck E. Cheese.

Activision is formed and is the first company to make games without making gaming consoles.

Pac-Man (originally Puck-Man in Japan), is released to America.

Shigeru Miyamoto implants himself into the history of video games timeline by making Donkey Kong and introduces that plucky plumber, Mario.

• Flight Simulator is the first game that is produced by Microsoft.
• E.T. the Extra Terrestrial is the first movie-licensed game and is a huge failure.

• The first game that has video game nudity is developed for the 2600 and is protested by the National Organization for Women. This game is also a huge failure.
• The video game market crashes because there is an large influx of games released that are less than mediocre and not enough gamers to support the companies.

Nintendo releases the Famicon in Japan

The most addicted game in video game history, Tetris, is released by Alexey Pajitnov.

• Nintendo releases the Nintendo Entertainment System (Famicom) in the United States. It is immediately a success.
• Sega puts out the Sega Master System to compete with the SNES. Even the gimmicky 3-D glasses can’t help the poor sales.

• Sim City is self-published by Will Wright and is an instantaneous hit.
• Peter Molyneux releases Populous.
• The Sega Genesis, the first 16-bit system, is released by Sega and is the system that had the following of more than 40 developers through its run.
• The Game Boy is released by Nintendo and is bundled with the game Tetris.

The Super NES is out and compared to the Genesis, it is actually a slower system. The loyalty of fans though helps Nintendo stay on top.

• Mortal Kombat is released and causes controversy due to its violence. It is the first game to use digitized images of actual actors.
• After working with Nintendo on a CD-ROM peripheral for the SNES, Sony is cast aside because Nintendo was afraid the unit would not catch on.

• Doom is released and is the first game to be released as a free downloadable version before the full version is released.
• Myst is released and it’s breathtaking graphics and 3-D environments make it one of the most beautiful games of the 1990’s.

The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) is created.

• Sega releases the Saturn, a CD based system with a built-in modem
• Also in that year, Sony releases the PlayStation.

Nintendo released the Nintendo 64, the first 64-bit system.

Nintendo releases the Pocket Pikachu, based on their game, Pokemon. It is a virtual pet that needs love and care…and oh yes, walks.

Sega develops and releases the Dreamcast, the first 128-bit system.

Sony releases the PlayStation 2 and is the first system to utilize the DVD format.

• The Game Boy Advance is the first system (console or otherwise) that can connect to wireless phones for the Internet.
• The Nintendo GameCube enters the scene.
• Microsoft releases its first console, the Xbox, and the system has a built-in hard drive and is the first to support HDTV.
• Halo is released the same day as the Xbox.

The Xbox 360 is released and can run on 1080p televisions.

• Sony puts out the PlayStation 3, which supports the Blu-Ray format.
• Nintendo releases the Wii, a revolutionary system that has motion sensor controllers. As of this writing, Nintendo has taken back over the gaming industry in terms of console sales and it is still difficult to obtain a Wii.

What can the future bring? There’s still some innovation out there. If Nintendo found innovation with their Wii, then someone else can add their legacy to the history of video games timeline.

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