Early Video Games 1958-1974
Starting all the way back in the 1950s, this was the time where the idea of video games was born. A computer program that takes input from users to entertain them. At first, such programs would only be seen in universities and laboratories, the only places where computers could be found. Usually they were created by students to give them something to do and relieve boredom. Soon people like Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney came up with ways to make money using video games, creating the first arcade machines, and the first major video game company, Atari Inc.
Tennis for Two
Tennis for Two screen
Tennis for Two is one of the earliest video games ever made. It was made in 1958
by William Higinbotham. It was made to give people at Brookhaven National
Laboratory something to do when they were bored. William worked there. He used
one of the computers ability to show the trajectory of a missile, which became
the tennis ball. The game was controlled with two analog controllers. The object was to get the ball past your opponent, controlled by a second player, to score.
by William Higinbotham. It was made to give people at Brookhaven National
Laboratory something to do when they were bored. William worked there. He used
one of the computers ability to show the trajectory of a missile, which became
the tennis ball. The game was controlled with two analog controllers. The object was to get the ball past your opponent, controlled by a second player, to score.
Spacewar!
Spacewar! running on PDP-1
This game was created by a man named Steve Russell in 1962. Basically, the object of the game was to pilot your spaceship through space and shoot down your opponent. It was also a two player game. One of the coolest features was a star in the center of the battlefield. This star had its own gravitational pull, and would pull your ship in and destroy it if you got too close. Another cool feature was the hyper-drive button, which would cause your ship to disappear and reappear in a random spot. This would make a great escape, but it could also warp you right next to the star and kill you.
Computer Space
Computer Space arcade machine
Computer Space was an arcade game created by Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney in 1971. and was the first coin operated video game. It costed 25 Cents to play. The player would pilot a spaceship through space and shoot down enemy ships. It had a scoring device, that would keep track both the enemy and your scores. If your scores were higher than the enemy's, you would get to play again for free. If that happens, the colors on the screen would change. A two player version was also made, which was similar to Spacewar!, as you and a friend would compete against each other in an all out spaceship battle.
Nolan Bushnell would later go on to create the company Atari Inc.
Nolan Bushnell would later go on to create the company Atari Inc.
Gran Trak 10
Gran Trak 10 Screen
An arcade game released in 1974 by Atari Inc. This was a racing game which was controlled with a steering wheel built into the arcade unit. The game had a timer, and you'd loose if you didn't make a lap within the time limit. This game was the first arcade unit to use ROM, meaning it could show other characters on the screen besides your basic dots and boxes. Some examples of the ROM were the sprites of the racecar, time limit, and score display.
Tank
Another arcade game made by Atari Inc. This game was also released in 1974 and made by Lyle Rains and Steve Bristow. In the game, two players would each take control of a Tank, and the object of the game was to destroy the other player's tank. The battle would take place on a field made up of different blocks. Also, there are several mines placed throughout the battle field marked by "X"s and would blow up if run over. Each player would control their tank with two joysticks and one of the joysticks had a shooting button on the top. This game brought the use of ROM to the next level.
Other Games
Mouse in the Maze: A game where you could create your own maze, and place cheese in certain parts. After that, you could release a mouse and watch it go through the maze and find the cheese.
Tic-Tac-Toe: A simple game of Tic-Tac-Toe. You would play against the computer.
Tic-Tac-Toe: A simple game of Tic-Tac-Toe. You would play against the computer.
Rise Of The Arcade Machines
Starting with Computer Space, the arcade gaming evolved and grew to proportions that rivaled even home video game consoles. However, my site will not go into that story. This couldn't have been all that video games were going to be, right? They needed to find a way to sell video games for people to play at home.