history of computer games

The History of Games

 

 

 

 

 

"Ping pong" tennis.

 

1 Jan 1958

 

In 1958 "Ping pong" tennis was created, to be played on an oscilloscope screen made by William Higinbotham at Brookhaven National Laboratory.

Tennis for Two.

1 Jan 1958

Tennis for Two was a game developed in 1958 on an analog computer, which simulates a game of tennis or ping pong on an oscilloscope. Created by American physicist William Higinbotham, it is important in the history of video games as one of the first electronic games to use a graphical display.

Spacewar.

1 Jan 1961
In 1961 development of Spacewar on a PDP-1 at MIT for the Science Open House.

Odyssey - complex

1 Jan 1972
In 1972 The first commercially available home videogame for TV was launched, called Odyssey - complex, with many electronic components, and very expensive.

Atari.

1 Jan 1972

In 1972 Nolan Bushnell forms Atari to develop games, and produces Pong, a simple tennis game for arcades.

Pong released as arcade game.

1972

 

Atari produces Pong.

1 Jan 1974

In 1974 Atari produced a home version of Pong.

Japanese game "Go".

1 Jan 1974

In 1974 Nintendo, A Japanese toy manufacturer produce an electronic version of the Japanese game "Go".

Space Invaders.

1 Jan 1978

In 1978 Space Invaders is released by Tatio, and two micro computers are released for commercial sale - the Commodore PET and the Atari.

Pacman.
1 Jan 1980

In 1980 Pacman was released in Japan, to be played on a micro home computer.

Mario was Released.

1 Jan 1983

In 1983 Nintendo release their first computer, and Mario is released at the same time.

Nintendo Entertainment System Released.

1 Jan 1985

In 1985 Nintendo released the NES.

Game Boy Released.
1 Jan 1989

In 1989 First hand held machine from Nintendo, called "Game Boy". Tetris is produced for the Game Boy in Russia.

Sega Released "Sega Genesis".

1 Jan 1989

Sonic was Produced.

1 Jan 1991

In 1991 Sonic was produced by Sega in response to Nintendo's Mario.

Sony Released Playstation.

1 Jan 1994

Nintendo Released "Nintendo 64"

1 Jan 1996

Dreamcast was released in the UK.

1 Jan 1999

Playstation 2 Released.

1 Jan 2001

Gamecube Released.

Xbox Released in1 Jan 2001

In 2001 Microsoft enters the console market with the Xbox. Halo is released at launch, boosting sales.

PlayStation 3.

11 Nov 2006

Sony's PlayStation 3 was released on November 11, 2006, with a higher price than its direct competitor, the Xbox 360. The system's reliance on new technology such as the Cell microprocessor and Blu-ray format has caused difficulties in manufacturing, especially the Blu-ray diode, leading to shortages at launch and the delay of the PAL region launches; however, by early December 2006, Sony announced that all production issues had been resolved.

Xbox 360.

2 Dec 2006

Microsoft's Xbox 360 gained an early lead in terms of market share, largely due to its established Xbox Live online gaming system, and its early launch date which was one year before its rivals. Sales in North America and Europe have continued to be strong, even after the release of the Wii and PlayStation 3. Like its predecessor, the Xbox 360 received a muted reception in Japan, attributed to the lack of content aimed at Japanese gamers.

Wii.

8 Dec 2006

Nintendo entered the seventh generation with a new approach embodied by its Wii console.