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1940 – The first “video game”
The first video game debuts at the World’s Fair in New York. Edward U. Condon invents the computer that plays a game, “Nim”, against human competitors. The computer won 90% of the time. -
1967 – Video games meet television
Ralph Baer conceives and builds the “Brown Box”, a prototype video game console that allowed users to play on TV screens. -
1972 – The Magnavox Odyssey launches
The Magnavox Odyssey hits shelves, allowing gamers to take a console home for the first time. It’s based on Baer’s “Brown Box”.
The same year the Odyssey goes on sale, video game maker Atari launches “Pong”, and video game mania takes hold. -
1977 – Atari’s Video Computer System
Atari releases its Video Computer System, or the Atari 2600. It’s the precursor to modern consoles, and features classic games like “Space Invaders”, “Donkey Kong”, and “Frogger”. -
1983 – Saturation of the market, and the tragedy of E.T.
The dam finally breaks when “E.T.”—a game based on the movie—is released for the Atari 2600. Widely considered the worst game ever made, the company ended up burying thousands of game cartridges in the New Mexico desert. -
1985 – The Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) launches
The NES launches, reigniting consumer passion and hooking millions of children on the adrenaline rush that accompanies the sad realization that the princess is in another castle.
Nintendo, a company originally founded in Japan as a playing card company during the late 1880s, got into the video game business in the 1970s and revolutionized the industry with NES. NES games were graphically superior to their predecessors, and the extra memory allowed for multiple levels and storytelling. -
1988 – Gaming meets the real world
While games, in the 1980s, mostly starred fictitious characters and fantasy settings, developers started looking to the real world for new series.
One example, the “Madden” football series—named after legendary NFL coach and broadcaster John Madden—has gone on to become one of the best-selling and longest-running franchises in America.
But Madden wasn’t convinced at first. In fact, he demanded that the game’s quality be top-notch, or he wouldn’t sign on. -
1989 – Sega Genesis launches
The next generation of consoles launched in 1989, when Japan-based game company Sega released the Genesis. This introduced us to another classic character: “Sonic the Hedgehog”. Sonic was seen as a more mature counterpart to Mario, helping win over older gamers.