This document provides a history of video games from 1962 to the present. It discusses the development of early games like Spacewar and Pong in the 1960s-1970s and the rise of arcade games and consoles in the following decades. Key events included the release of the Magnavox Odyssey home console in 1972, the Atari 2600 in 1977, and 5th generation 32-64 bit consoles from Nintendo, Sony, and Sega in the 1990s that began the "console wars". The conclusion notes that video games now feature more powerful processors, motion control, and other advanced technologies.

1. History of Video GamesAndrew Bishop Andrew CorradoApril 6th, 2010

2. Table of ContentsIntroductionThe “First” Video Game (1962-1971)ArcadesVideo Games Become PopularArcade GamesConsole Timeline (1972-1996)Conclusion

3. IntroductionVideo games have been an important concept in the advancement of technology for over 40 years now.Since 1975, they have not only become one of the most popular sources of entertainment, they have also played a major role in globalization, allowing people from all over the world to communicate amongst each other.

4. The “First” Video GameIn 1962 Steve Russell invents SpaceWar!, a game that was developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.It wasn’t the first actual video game developed, however it was the first intended to be played on computersGame was developed for a computer that cost over $150,000 making it unmarketable and unknown to the general public.

5. ArcadesIn 1971, Nolan Bushnell along with Ted Dabney (whom later founded Atari together in 1975) programmed the SpaceWars! game to play on a television screenTogether they created the first Arcade Machine, Computer Space, which operated at 25 cents per 90 seconds.

6. Video Games Become PopularIn 1975, Atari released Pong as a home video game on their first consolePong becomes a huge success among a teenage marketThe sales of video game entertainment systems also begin to skyrocket

7. Arcade GamesFrom 1977 to the late 1980’s, video games became extremely popular as coin-operated machines in arcades.Games such as Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, and Space Invaders became extremely successful.

8. Early ConsolesIn 1972, Ralph Baer created the Magnavox Odyssey. It was the first video game console playable on home televisionsMagnavox mass-produced these consoles which featured 5 diskettes that generated different code already located in the machine and 2 huge controllers that used 6-C batteries apieceHAL (A.I.) first introduced Atari releases 2600 in 1975, these entertainment systems are referred to as the 1st generation of consoles

9. 2nd & 3rd Generation Consoles(8-Bit)Atari 2600Nintendo Entertainment System(NES - 1985)

10. 4th Generation(16-Bit)Super Nintendo (SNES)Sega GenesisTurbografx-16

11. 5th Generation(32-64 bit)Atari Jaguar(32 Bit)Sega CD(32 Bit)Playstation(64 Bit)Nintendo 64(64 Bit)This era began what would later be known as “the Console Wars”. Both 64 Bit machines ended up being mainstream machines that would later be the downfall for both the Sega and Atari companies as console developers due to cost efficiency and playabilityWith the release of the 64-Bit console, video games became playable in 3-Dimensional worlds

12. ConclusionTechnology continues to grow and improve on a daily basisThe consoles we use today (Xbox 360, PS3, etc.)contain processors so much more powerful than as little as 5 years ago that the measurement of bits is no longer appropriateVideo games are now in a stage of voice recognition, motion detection, among other things that will continue to bring technology to further developments

13. SourcesA History of Home Video Games from Atari to Xbox, Playstation and Wii. (n.d.). A History of Home Video Games from Atari to Xbox, Playstation and Wii. Retrieved April 6, 2010, from http://www.thegameconsole.com/ Bellis, M. (n.d.). The History of Computers & Video Games. inventors.about.com. Retrieved April 6, 2010, from inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blcomputer_videogames.htm Herman, L., Horwitz, J., Kent, S., & Miller, S. (n.d.). GameSpot Presents: The History of Video Games. GameSpot is your go-to source for video game news, reviews, and entertainment. Retrieved April 6, 2010, from http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/video/hov/ Stack, P. (n.d.). Video Game Console Timeline - Video Game History - Xbox 360 - TIME Magazine. Breaking News, Analysis, Politics, Blogs, News Photos, Video, Tech Reviews - TIME.com. Retrieved April 6, 2010, from http://www.time.com/time/covers/1101050523/console_timeline/