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1. History of Video Games
Andrew Bishop
Andrew Corrado
April 6th, 2010

2. Table of Contents
 Introduction
 The “First” Video Game (1962-1971)
 Arcades
 Video Games Become Popular
 Arcade Games
 Console Timeline (1972-1996)
 Conclusion

3. Introduction
Video 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 Game
 In 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 computers
 Game was developed for a computer that cost over
$150,000 making it unmarketable and unknown to the
general public.

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

6. Video Games Become Popular
 In 1975, Atari released
Pong as a home video
game on their first
console
 Pong becomes a huge
success among a
teenage market
 The sales of video game
entertainment systems
also begin to skyrocket

7. Arcade Games
 From 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 Consoles
 In 1972, Ralph Baer created the
Magnavox Odyssey. It was the first
video game console playable on
home televisions
 Magnavox 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 apiece
 HAL (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 2600
 Nintendo
Entertainment
System(NES - 1985)

10. 4th Generation
(16-Bit)
 Super Nintendo
(SNES)
 Sega Genesis
 Turbografx-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 playability
With the release of the 64-
Bit console, video games
became playable in 3-
Dimensional worlds

12. Conclusion
 Technology continues to grow and improve on a daily
basis
 The 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
appropriate
 Video games are now in a stage of voice
recognition, motion detection, among other things
that will continue to bring technology to further
developments

13. Sources
 A 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/