HISTORY on GAMING: History of gaming

The origin of video games lies in early cathode ray tube-based missile defense systems in the late 1940s. These programs were later adapted into other simple games during the 1950s. By the late 1950s and through the 1960s, more computer games were developed (mostly on mainframe computers), gradually. Video games diverged into different platforms: arcade, mainframe, console, personal computer and later handheld games. The first commercial video game was Computer Space in 1971, which laid the foundation for a new entertainment industry in the late 1970s within the United States, Japan, and Europe. The first major crash in 1977 occurred when companies were forced to sell their older obsolete systems flooding the market. Six years later a second, bigger crash happened.

The 1950’s – 60’s

The majority of early computer games ran on university mainframe computers in the United States. One of the games in this time period is Mouse in the Maze : which allowed users to place maze walls, bits of cheese, and glasses of martini by using a pen to touch the screen. Another game out of many is Tic-Tac-Toe: Using the light pen, the user could play a simple game of circles and x's against the computer.

1970's

In 1971 a student at stanford university created the galaxy game based on Space war. This was the first coin opperated game.

Home cumputers

While the fruit of retail development in early video games appeared mainly in video arcades and home consoles, the rapidly evolving home computers of the 1970s and 80s allowed their owners to program simple games.

Fourth Generation Games

The Sega Mega Drive proved its worth early on after its debut in 1989. Nintendo responded with its own next generation system known as the Super NES in 1991. CD-ROM drives were first seen in this generation, as add-ons for the PC Engine in 1988 and the Mega Drive in 1991. Basic 3D graphics entered the mainstream with flat-shaded polygons enabled by additional processors in game cartridges like Virtua Racing and Star Fox.

Fifth Generation games

The Virtual Boy from Nintendo was released in 1995 but did not make high sales. In 1996 the Virtual Boy was taken off the market.PaRappa the Rapper popularized rhythm, or music video games in Japan with its 1996 debut on the PlayStation.