The document outlines the history of video games from 1958 to 2020 through key events and releases. It describes the creation of the first video game in 1958, the first interactive computer game in 1961, and the first arcade and home video game systems in the early 1970s created by Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney. Major console releases are highlighted from Atari in the 1970s, Nintendo in the 1980s, and Sony and Microsoft in the 1990s-2010s. Popular games such as Tetris, Super Mario Bros., Grand Theft Auto, and Skyrim are also mentioned. The timeline shows the evolution of gaming from the earliest experiments to a major global industry.

1. Video Game History Timeline
By Evan Smith

2. The First Video Game - 1958
• Physicist William Hinginbotham created the
first video game. It was a very simple tennis
game.

3. The First Interactive Computer Game - 1961
• In 1961 Steve Russell created Spacewar

4. The First Video Arcade Game – 1970/1
• In 1970 Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney
attempted to create a arcade version of Ralph
Baer’s Spacewar.
• In 1971 Computer Space (Spacewar) became
the first video arcade game was released.

5. The First Home Video Game System –
1972/5
• In 1972 Bushnell and Dabney created the first
home video game system and called it ‘Atari’
• In 1975 the first game created by Atari is Pong
and was released with the production of
150,000 units.

6. The First Cartridge Based System - 1977
• In 1977 Atari introduced its first cartridge
based home video system called Video
Computer System which later became know as
the Atari 2600.

7. Nintendo - 1983
• Nintendo created their first console called the
Nintendo Entertainment System (NES).
• Within the same year Cinematronics debuts
Rick Dyer’s Dragon Lair, the first video game to
feature laser-disc tech.
• It was released in 1983 in Japan and 1986 in
the U.S.

8. Tetris - 1985
• Playable on PC, Russian programmer Alex
Pajitnov creates the popular game Tetris.

9. Nintendo Game Boy - 1989
• Nintendo releases the handheld Game Boy.

10. Super NES - 1991
• Released in the U.S by Nintendo for $249.95.

11. Age Ratings - 1994
• It was made mandatory to display an age
rating on the video game packaging to limit
the use of violent content being shown to
children.

12. Sony and Nintendo - 1995
• Sony brings the PlayStation to the U.S and
sells for $299. It becomes the most popular
game console in 1997 with 20 million units
sold.
• Nintendo releases the Nintendo 64 in Japan
(1996 in the U.S).

13. Events - 1999
• Billy Mitchell attains a score of 3,333,360 in
Pac-Man which is the highest possible score
someone can get.
• Due to the Columbine Highschool shootings
light gun games were not released by SEGA. It
also caused the banning of imported guns
with American consoles.

14. Sony and The Sims - 2000
• Sony’s PlayStation 2 launches and sells out by
early morning.
• The Sims is released and quickly becomes a hit
and by 2002 it becomes the best selling PC
game ever.

15. Microsoft and Nintendo - 2001
• Microsoft and Nintendo introduce their next-generation
systems within days of each other. Microsoft claims its Xbox
offers "the most powerful game experiences ever." The
product (estimated retail price of $299.99) comes with a built-
in hard drive and Ethernet port.
• Nintendo's GameCube (suggested retail price of $199.95)
delivers new forms of interactive gaming for players and an
easier development environment for game creators.
• Nintendo also releases the GameBoy Advance, a portable
gaming system.

16. Nintendo - 2004
• Nintendo releases the Nintendo DS, a portable
system with two screens, one of which can be
used as a touch screen.

17. Nintendo and Sony - 2006
• Nintendo releases the Wii, a gaming system
that lets gamers use the controller in
revolutionary ways, such as swinging it like a
tennis racket, holding and tilting it like a
steering wheel, and more.
• Sony also debuts the PlayStation 3, a very
sophisticated and expensive game system.

18. GTA 4 and Social Games - 2008
• Grand Theft Auto 4 breaks sales records its
first week after gamers bought more than 6
million copies.
• The Wii Fit is launched.
• Social gaming becomes popular with Farmville
and Angry Birds.

19. Microsoft and Sony - 2010
• Sony and Microsoft takes the motion control
system idea from Nintendo and apply them to
their own consoles.

20. Skyrim - 2011
• Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim showcases the beauty,
majesty, and massiveness of video games as
players explore a seemingly endless,
beautifully rendered fantasy world.

21. Sony and Microsoft - 2013
• Both Sony (PlayStation 4) and Microsoft (XBox
One) release new gaming platforms this year.
• Nintendo also released the Wii U in December
2012

22. 2020