< History of video games

Women Developers

Despite facing workplace adversity, the 1970's saw several women make prominent contributions in the video game industry, most notably at RCA and Atari.[1][2] However these developers would often not see widespread recognition in their day. This trend would continue into the 1980's.[3]

  • Arcade style games, especially the Lunar Lander subgenre
  • 2D Shooters, including Spacewar! clones in the first half of the decade, and later Space Invaders (1978) and similar games.
  • Tabletop inspired roleplaying games.
  • Text adventures (Interactive fiction)
  • Edutainment games

1970

The May 4th Massacre

A bullet hole in a statue near the shootings at Kent State University.

The horrific events of the May 4th massacre by the Ohio National Guard at Kent State University had drastic effects on America, and especially on those present. Several would go on to influence the game industry.

Several students present were moved to form the band DEVO.[4] Band member Mark Mothersbaugh later goes on to work on games such as Crash Bandicoot.[5] Another student, John De Lancie, was less then 20 yards from the shooting, and worked with Senator Young and Ted Kennedy to share his experience with the Senate.[6][7] John De Lancie would later pursue a career as a prominent actor, which included voice acting for video games.[8]

Game of Life

After development in the 1960's, Conway's Game of Life is published in Scientific American in 1970.[9]

1971

The 1971 game Star Trek.

Galaxy Game

Galaxy Game, a 1971 arcade game.

In September 1971 the arcade game Galaxy Game is installed at Tresidder Memorial Union of Stanford University[10]. The game is a Spacewar! clone, designed with multiplayer-only capabilities in mind (it lacks the artificial intelligence for single-player gameplay). Although it ranks as the first known coin-operated video game (running on a modified PDP-11), it was never commercially released; despite this, it can be ran on the popular MAME emulator for modern computers.

Computer Space

In November 1971 the arcade game Computer Space is released by "Syzygy Engineering" (the progenitor of Atari, Inc.) to try to recreate the success of the Computer Quiz game of 1968[11][12]. The gameplay is reminiscent of Spacewar!, but the game is not to be catalogued as a Spacewar! clone. Few units survive to this day, but the game itself is a popular culture icon among video game fans[13].

The Oregon Trail

In November of 1971 three student teachers (Bill Heinemann, Don Rawitsch, and Paul Dillenberger) make The Oregon Trail for a UNIVAC computer operated by the Minnesota Educational Computing Consortium and is connected to a number of schools in Minnesota by teletypewriter.[14][15] The Oregon Trail was made despite challenges posed by limited computer access.[16] The first version of The Oregon Trail had to be made with teletypewriters in mind, so shooting mechanics were based on accurately typing words quickly.[16]

The Oregon Trail is one of the earliest edutainment games. As of 2020 the game's modernized versions are often considered to be among the best Edutainment games made.[17][18]

A successor game, Freedom!, attracted controversy.[19]

Intel 4004

1971 saw the release of the Intel 4004, Intel's first chip produced on a 10 micron process.[20]

1972

Atari & Pong

The prototype Pong cabinet.

In 1972 Nolan Bushnell founds the company Atari, releasing the arcade hit Pong by fall 1972.[21]

1973

Gaming at BGSU

“ You have just run out of fuel - pray for rescue. ”

—Moon, "Computer can play golf, blackjack" Nancy Laughlin BG News (Oct 3, 1973)[22]

The Bowling Green State University computer center offers about 250 computer games for students to play freely, including Moon an early game in the Lunar Lander genre.[22]

Lemonade Stand

The interface for the game Lemonade Stand.

A programmer working for the educational institution Minnesota Educational Computing Consortium makes Lemonade Stand for their UNIVAC mainframe, which is connected to a number of schools via teletypewriter.[14][15]Gameplay revolves around simulating a business, balancing prices and costs with demand influenced by external factors like weather.[15]

Lemonade Stand is among the first games that attempts to simulate a business, as well as an early example of an edutainment game.

Oil Panic

The OPEC Oil embargo to the United States, Japan, and other nations creates great economic shock and a recession.[23][24] Hanafuda cardmaker and toy manufacture Nintendo is nearly pushed to financial ruin by the economic effects of the embargo and begins desperately seeking alternate revenue sources, eventually leading them to make home video games.[25]

Phong Shading

Phong Shading is invented in 1973, becoming a common 3D graphics shading technique which adds dynamic highlights to objects.[26][27]

1974

Dungeons & Dragons

dnd, a game inspired by Dungeons & Dragons which started development in 1974.

In 1974 the original "White Box" edition of the World-famous Dungeons & Dragons tabletop roleplaying game is released with it and its derivatives influencing a number of programmers, and through them highly influenced the creation of both Western computer RPGs and Japanese RPG genres.[28][29][30]

1975

Video Games on Planes

In 1975 Braniff Airlines offers Pong during flights, becoming the first, airline to offer a video game as an in flight entertainment option.[31][32]

First Digital Camera

On December 12th, 1975 the first digital photograph is taken by Kodak employee Steven Sasson of subject Joy Marshall.[33] The Camera captures the image using a CCD from Fairchild Semiconductor and then takes 26 seconds to record the result onto an audio tape.[33] Later on gaming devices such as the GameBoy camera and the Xbox Kinect use digital cameras to offer unique gameplay experiences.[34][35]

Graphic Music Synergy

At ACM SIGGRAPH 1975 in Bowling Green, Ohio a presentation is given on graphics influenced by music[36], an early example of a relationship that would become common in games with adaptive music.

1976

A flyer for Fonz, a 1976 arcade game by Sega

Cars!

1976 was an important year for automobiles and racing in video games.

Datsun became the first automaker to license one of it's cars for a arcade game in 1976,[37] later seeing a home console port to the Bally Professional Arcade.[38] Later on, real automobile brands would later proliferate in racing games, adding to realism and immersion, as well as being a powerful marketing tool for the automobile industry.[39]

In 1976 the Death Race arcade game is introduced, prompting media to question the violence featured in the game.[40] The newness of video games meant that some outlets struggled to differentiate the game from a pinball machine or board game.[41] The sensationalism surrounding the game ultimately boosted it's sales.[42]

Apple Computer

The Garage where Apple Computer was first based.

On April 1st, 1976, Apple Computer is founded by Steve "Woz" Wozniak and Steve Jobs in the latter's garage[43]. The initial purpose of the company is to manifacture Woz's Apple I motherboard.

References

  1. ↑ "Celebrating Women at Atari - Blog - The Henry Ford" (in en). https://www.thehenryford.org/explore/blog/celebrating-women-at-atari.
  2. ↑ Edwards, Benj (27 October 2017). "Rediscovering History’s Lost First Female Video Game Designer". Fast Company. https://www.fastcompany.com/90147592/rediscovering-historys-lost-first-female-video-game-designer.
  3. ↑ Hernandez, Patricia (11 February 2021). "In the ’80s, she was a video game pioneer. Today, no one can find her" (in en). Polygon. https://www.polygon.com/2021/2/11/22273073/ban-tran-atari-2600-wabbit-first-female-character-video-games-playable-history-apollo.
  4. ↑ "REMEMBERING MAY 4 - AN INTERVIEW WITH DEVO'S JERRY CASALE". https://www.kent.edu/art/news/remembering-may-4-interview-devos-jerry-casale. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  5. ↑ "Exclusive Interview – Composer Mark Mothersbaugh talks working with Wes Anderson, Crash Bandicoot and his discography". 27 June 2018. https://www.flickeringmyth.com/2018/06/exclusive-interview-composer-mark-mothersbaugh-talks-working-with-wes-anderson-crash-bandicoot-and-his-discography/2/. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  6. ↑ "de Lancie" (in en). Star Trek. https://www.startrek.com/database_article/de-lancie.
  7. ↑ "Q and A-theism w/ John de Lancie - YouTube". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtWkqaMVxO0.
  8. ↑ "John de Lancie Kent State University". https://www.kent.edu/theatredance/john-de-lancie-0.
  9. ↑ "The Game of Life, by John Horton Conway The Embryo Project Encyclopedia". https://embryo.asu.edu/pages/game-life-john-horton-conway. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  10. ↑ ""Galaxy Game", the Earliest Coin-Operated Computer or Video Game : History of Information". https://www.historyofinformation.com/detail.php?id=2326. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  11. ↑ "Computer Space and the Dawn of the Arcade Video Game" (in en). 1 January 2012. https://www.pcworld.com/article/246042/computer_space_and_the_dawn_of_the_arcade_video_game.html?page=3. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  12. ↑ "Pixels In Print (Part 1): Advertising Computer Space - The First Arcade Video Game". 10 April 2018. https://gamehistory.org/first-arcade-game-advertisement-computer-space/. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  13. ↑ [computerspacefan.com "computerspacefan.com"]. computerspacefan.com. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  14. 1 2 "How You Wound Up Playing The Oregon Trail in Computer Class" (in en). https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/how-you-wound-playing-em-oregon-trailem-computer-class-180959851/. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  15. 1 2 3 Juba, Joe. "A Pioneer Story: How MECC Blazed New Trails" (in en). https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2017/04/07/a-pioneer-story-how-mecc-blazed-new-trails.aspx. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  16. 1 2 Porges, Seth. "How 'The Oregon Trail' Was Built Without Access To A Computer" (in en). https://www.forbes.com/sites/sethporges/2017/11/27/the-surprising-story-behind-how-the-oregon-trail-was-built-without-access-to-a-computer/. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  17. ↑ Brown, Shelby. "Worried about your kids' screen time? Try one of these educational video games" (in en). https://www.cnet.com/news/15-educational-video-games-for-kids-in-quarantine-that-are-actually-fun/. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  18. ↑ Staff, GamesRadar; December 2013, GamesRadar 25. "The best edutainment games [ClassicRadar"] (in en). https://www.gamesradar.com/the-best-edutainment-games/. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  19. ↑ "The 'Oregon Trail' Studio Made a Game About Slavery. Then Parents Saw It" (in en). https://www.vice.com/en/article/3annjy/the-oregon-trail-studio-made-a-game-about-slavery-then-parents-saw-it.
  20. ↑ "The Story of the Intel® 4004" (in en). https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/history/museum-story-of-intel-4004.html. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  21. ↑ Edwards, Benj (17 February 2017). "The Untold Story of Atari Founder Nolan Bushnell’s Visionary 1980s Tech Incubator". https://www.fastcompany.com/3068135/the-untold-story-of-atari-founder-nolan-bushnells-visionary-1980s-tech-incubator. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  22. 1 2 "The BG News October 3, 1973". 3 October 1973. https://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/bg-news/2880. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  23. ↑ "oil crisis of 1973 Japan Module". https://www.japanpitt.pitt.edu/glossary/oil-crisis-1973. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  24. ↑ "Milestones: 1969–1976 - Office of the Historian". https://history.state.gov/milestones/1969-1976/oil-embargo. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  25. ↑ "Nintendo - The Early History". https://www.i-programmer.info/history/9-machines/269-nintendo-the-early-history.html?start=1. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  26. ↑ "History School of Computing". https://www.cs.utah.edu/about/history/#phong-ref.
  27. ↑ "Phong shading algorithm". https://mrl.cs.nyu.edu/~perlin/courses/fall2005ugrad/phong.html.
  28. ↑ "The Unlikely Origin Story of JRPGs" (in en). https://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/DanielSchuller/20170305/292964/The_Unlikely_Origin_Story_of_JRPGs.php. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  29. ↑ Messner, Steven (15 April 2017). "The forgotten origins of JRPGs on the PC". https://www.pcgamer.com/the-forgotten-origins-of-jrpgs-on-the-pc/. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  30. ↑ "​Henk Rogers: The Dutch Godfather of Japanese RPGs" (in en). https://www.vice.com/en/article/z4m7v4/henk-rogers-the-dutch-godfather-of-japanese-rpgs.
  31. ↑ "Beautiful posters from the golden age of flying – where are the airlines now?". The Telegraph. 13 September 2018. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/lists/posters-golden-age-air-travel/braniff/.
  32. ↑ "A Brief History of In Flight Entertainment – Imagik Corp". https://imagikcorp.com/brief-history-flight-entertainment/.
  33. 1 2 "How the Digital Camera Transformed Our Concept of History" (in en). https://spectrum.ieee.org/tech-history/silicon-revolution/how-the-digital-camera-transformed-our-concept-of-history. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  34. ↑ "Hands on: Xbox One Kinect review" (in en). https://www.techradar.com/reviews/gaming/gaming-accessories/xbox-one-kinect-1153962/review. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  35. ↑ "The Game Boy Camera, Or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Pixels". 26 October 2020. https://hackaday.com/2020/10/26/the-game-boy-camera-or-how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-love-the-pixels/. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  36. ↑ Kaczmarek, Thomas; Smoliar, Stephen W.. An experiment in interaction between independent music and graphics processors. Association for Computing Machinery. pp. 208–211. ISBN 978-1-4503-7354-8. https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/563732.1138369. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  37. ↑ "Datsun Was The First Car Maker To Officially Brand A Video Game" (in en-us). Jalopnik. https://jalopnik.com/datsun-was-the-first-car-maker-to-officially-brand-a-vi-1652829922.
  38. ↑ "The Torchinsky Files: I'm Betting Most Of You Have Never Seen A Bally Professional Arcade" (in en-us). Jalopnik. https://jalopnik.com/the-torchinsky-files-im-betting-most-of-you-have-never-1844218806.
  39. ↑ Wilson, Mark (8 June 2012). "How Do Real Cars End Up In Video Games? And Does It Help The Brands?". Fast Company. https://www.fastcompany.com/1669990/how-do-real-cars-end-up-in-video-games-and-does-it-help-the-brands.
  40. ↑ "The Media vs. Death Race". 1 June 2018. https://gamehistory.org/media-vs-death-race/. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  41. ↑ "A Video Game By Any Other Name". 24 May 2018. https://gamehistory.org/a-video-game-by-any-other-name/. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  42. ↑ Kocurek, Carly A. (September 2012). "The Agony and the Exidy: A History of Video Game Violence and the Legacy of Death Race". http://gamestudies.org/1201/articles/carly_kocurek. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  43. ↑ "Apple Computers: This Month in Business History (Business Reference Services, Library of Congress)". https://www.loc.gov/rr/business/businesshistory/April/apple.html. Retrieved 12 November 2020.

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