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Debuted at the world fair, inventor Edward U. Condon develops a computer to play an analogy game called “Nim” in which it beets its human competitors 90% of the time. -
Claude Shannon and Alan Turing develop a program to play chess. -
A. S. Douglass creates the game ‘OXO’ for research on human-computer interactions. -
Arthur Samuel creates a checkers program that beats a checkers master.
Alex Bernstein creates a program chess program that can look four half-moves ahead. -
Willy Higginbotham creates an oscilloscope-based screen and uses an analogy computer to create a tennis/pong like game. -
John Kemeny creates the computer time-share system and BASIC programming language which facilitates the development of future games -
Over the course of three years, Ralph Baer conceives, develops, and patents the “Brown Box”/ ”Odyssey”, the first home video game system that allows the user to play tennis and other games on a home television.
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The infamous rule based ‘LIFE’ is published which results in many people implementing the system on their personal computers. -
The development of ‘PONG’, a table tennis game by Nolan Bushnell and Al Alcorn paves the way for mainstream computer games. -
The first-person game ‘Maze wars’ uses wire-frame graphics to create the labyrinth experience. -
Atari introduces the first dedicated home console that can only play pong. -
The Atari 2600 is released and features a joystick, interchangeable cartridges, colour games and game menus. -
Russian mathematician Alexy Pajitnov creates the addictive puzzle game that is realised from behind the iron curtain to become a hit. -
Nintendo unveils the NES that revolutionises home video game entertainment -
Nintendo popularises handheld gaming with the Gameboy’s its ease of use and long battery life. -
Solitaire is shipped with Windows 3 resulting in millions of users playing the game digitally for the first time. -
This period sees the emergence of violence and gore in videogames and continues the shift to a more adult audience. Games such as ‘Mortal Kombat’ and ‘Doom’ are released.
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Sony releases the PlayStation in America which, along with the N64, destroy Sega and see them eventually leaving the home console market. -
IBM’s Deep Blue defeated world champion Gary Kasparov in chess.
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The release of ‘Everquest’ leads to hundreds joining online groups. -
Microsoft releases the Xbox and Halo: Combat Evolved. -
Valve releases Steam, a digit distribution platform for PC videogames. -
Microsoft releases the Xbox 360, bringing realism and better graphics to the market. -
Nintendo releases the Wii, the most sold console ever integrating physical movement into the gaming experience. -
The release of mobile games such as Angry Birds on platforms such as Facebook and iPhone bring games to an even broader audience. -
Notch releases the indie developed game ‘Minecraft’ that captivates audiences and will eventually go on to be the best selling individual game ever. -
Skylanders, a game the fuses physical toys and the virtual world, is released astounding players with its interactivity. -
The popularisation of “free-to-play” games saturates the market making millions from micro transactions and in game purchases -
Pokémon Go, an AR mobile game, sweeps the world with players doing really stupid things to get Pokémon. -
Nintendo releases the ‘Switch’ an all-in-one console that is both hand held and can be used with an external screen, games such as ‘Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild’ and ‘Super Mario Odyssey’ are released alongside the console. -
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