The video game machine has gone through many cycles and changes through the years. From their original smash in the 1970's and early 1980's when Pong and Space Invaders took the country and world by storm. To the decline years when home video systems such as Super Nintendo dominated the marketplace and emptied the once hallowed halls of mall game rooms. But the home game system couldn't hold on forever, since the late 1990's video game machines are enjoying an extreme come back in large high tech game rooms. These games offer full 3d graphics, and often an immersive console that really pulls the player into the game. Yes the video game machine is back with a vengeance, but it wouldn't be anywhere without a little history.
In 1958 Willy Higinbotham ( eek ) creates an interactive table tennis type game that is originally displayed on his oscilloscope. He loves the game and later decides to hook it up to a large 15 inch monitor. This game takes visitors of his lab by storm they simply love it. Unfortunately for Willy, he decides he really didn't do anything and decides not to patent the device. This is considered one of the first video games.
As table tennis was being played, another game was being brought to life. In 1961 Steve Russell creates a game called Space War, this is an interactive war game using ascii text for graphics. This game like table tennis is an extreme hit with its players as well the only problem is the computer that runs the game is the size of a house. Steve Russells game space war is seen by new MIT student Nolan Bushnell. Bushnell dreams of creating an entire building full of these type of games.
Ralph Baer a TV guy has been thinking for years of a secondary use for televisions, he hears of some of the interactive computer games and decides to make a company around the concept. In 1967 with help from the defense department Baer and his group succeed in making an interactive game on the television set, they even modify a toy plastic gun so it can be used for play. In 1968 this interactive game system is patented. In 1970 this game machine is licensed by Magnavox for sale to the public.

Also in 1970 Nolan Bushnell pops up again, and with the help of friend Ted Dabney they succeed in putting the game Space War onto a television game console of their invention. This game machine is seen by Nutting Associates and purchased immediately, Bushnell is hired on to oversee production. In 1971 the unit goes on sale to the public, who love the idea but find the game much too difficult to play.
In 1972 the game machine bought by Magnavox comes out as the Odyssey for show to distributors. Bushnell hears about this and heads over to take a look at this other companies game machine. Reports say he found the Odyssey uninteresting and felt it was no competition to his game machine. Bushnell's game does very poorly and when he demands more money from Nutting Associates they ask him to leave. Bushnell and Dabney are both fed up with gaming, but cant leave well enough alone. In 1972 they form a game company called Atari. ( we have all heard of that one I hope ) Bushnell hires a guy named Al Acorn, he writes the simple game called Pong. The wave of video games begins to really roll.
By 1974 there are 25 companies producing video games in the US and around the world. Atari is doing poorly and makes a game that involves pushing down 4 multi colored pads in various sequences, the game is called Touch Me, it sells poorly. Ralph Baer sees the game, remakes it with various noises and tones and the game Simon is a huge success, Bear sells the idea to Milton Bradley. In 1975 Atari on the brink of failure gets a letter from Sears, they offer to buy all Pong units that the company can manufacture as long as Sears can have exclusive rights. The Christmas of 1975 saw 150000 Pong units fly off the shelves. Also at the end of 1975 the game company Midway releases the first computer game ( a game that used a microprocessor instead of solid state circuits ) this game is called Gunfight and is developed by Taito and imported to the US.
In 1977 the Pizza Time theatre opens which is owned by company Atari. The restauraunt features dine in pizza shop eating, video games and a huge giant mascot rat name Chuck E Cheese. Other animals are added to the line up at the store and animatronics are added to make them lifelike. Bushnell who said it came to him one day while waiting for a pizza thought up this idea. Atari later that year also releases the first cartridge based game console. Bally enters the market with the same idea, but at a much higher price Ballys unit fails to catch on.
In 1978 Bushnell leaves Atari and takes over the Pizza Time chain, he signs a no competition clause with the company. Atari is number one in games and on the market until later that year when the smash hit Space Invaders is imported by Taito. Space Invaders breaks all records for money making in video games, it causes shortages of coins in the US and in Japan. The game does so well Atari licenses it and sells it for its home console in 1980. Later that year Mattel releases its Intellivsion game system, a real challenge to Atari as the graphics and sound are much better.
Again in 1980 a smash is born, the game company Namco releases a the game Pac Man. It is recorded as the most popular arcade game of all time 300000 units are sold worldwide, more than 100000 sold in the US alone and countless pirate copies of the game are released. The game was originally known as Puck Man but executives see the potential for kids to scratch up the P in the games title and make a foul word.
From here video games flood the market until around 1984 when the game arena comes to a screeching halt. Hundreds of companies are in the market, home, stand alone, table top systems litter the country. Games on the multitudes are available and demand is just too slow. The entire industry tumbles into a freefall with most companies going bankrupt. In 1985 with Intellivsion sold, Atari almost dead and countless other game companies gone, Nintendo makes a serious bid for the American market. Its small home unit with game Mario Brothers debuts in 1986 to raves of fans.
From here the home market begins to climb again, Sega rises as does Sony. Each produce handheld units, countless games and many different game consoles. Nintendo and Sony dominate the market almost exclusively but Sega has a loyal following. Sega captures the attention of gamers around 1999 with its release of the amazing DreamCast system, is awesome graphics and sound are a turning point in game history, unfortunately Sega is troubled with internal problems and corporate mishaps. Sega throws in the towel in 2000 announcing it is leaving the home game business.
With the falling prices of dvd equipment and computer chips, game units begin to manufacture faster and faster 3d stereo systems. They now pack the processing power of 2 or 3 computers and amazing video displays. The graphics real the sound is incredible and the games are involved and fast. The units will continue to evolve in the next years with full virtual reality games already being worked on by companies like Sony. It is these units that we see powering the stand up games in the arcades today. Full immersive shoot em ups, or golf games where you actually hold a real club and make your shots. And with the number of gamers these days, this game history will continue to thrive.

001001001 ( 001001001@toosquare.com )

check out www.videogamespot and the full history of video games By Leonard Herman, Jer Horwitz, and Steve Kent with design by Ethan O'Brien. Without them this article would not exist

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