Video games are synonymous with modern life and the latest and greatest technology. Most would imagine the first video games would be titles like “Space Invaders or “Pac-Man,” released in 1978 and 1980 respectively, so it may come as a surprise to learn that the first video games were created much earlier.

1958 – The First Video Game

In 1958, physicist William Higinbotham created the first-ever video game. The game, “Tennis for Two” was a very rudimentary game displayed on the screen of an oscilloscope, a screen used to display the oscillation of electricity in a system. What’s more fascinating is that this game was created without coding and the computers we are familiar with today. It was made only with hardware, the soldering of wires to and fro. Purely the flow of electricity allowed the players to hit a tennis ball back and forth over a net. The game established a precedent of electronic games displayed on a screen that led to the birth of modern video games.

1962 – Before the Boom

1962 marked the year that the first computer game was made. “Spacewar!” was created using an actual computer rather than another device. MIT student Steve Russell, a future computer scientist, set out to show the full power of the new PDP-1 computer. He decided the best way to do this would be to demonstrate how the graphics and machine worked together by making a game. In the game, two players each control their own spaceship, battling the other until one is left standing, rather flying. This is why “Spacewar!” is also known as the first multiplayer game. “Spacewar!” laid the foundation for arcade-style games that soon began to blanket America.

1970s – The Boom

In the ’70s, computer technology, video games, and accessibility to both skyrocketed. Some of the first recognizable desktop computers were released and distributed to homes, libraries, and schools across the country. Infamous computer games such as “Oregon Trial” and “Adventure” soon followed the desktops wherever they went. Other types of computers and machines advanced too, some specifically for video games. The first arcade-style gaming machines were created in the early ’70s; most notably, “Space Invaders.” They soon experienced exponential growth in popularity and diversity when the arcade was created. Once the first arcades popped up, gamers and their beloved machines had a single place to be. Players could try out all sorts of games and discuss them with others. This was when gaming began to enter the broader pop culture. It wouldn’t be until the early ’80s, however, when games and their players were recognized by all.

1980s – The Golden Age

Arcades were at their peak attendance in the early 80s and gaming became the new ruler of pop culture. The most played, and well-known, games of all time were released during this period. Games such as “Super Mario Bros.”, “Pac-Man”, “Ms. Pac-Man”, “Frogger”, and more. These games overtook mainstream media and became the hottest things to talk about, whether in news articles, movies, or TV shows. Even non-gamers were talking about gaming and giving it a shot. A global community and understanding surrounding gaming were formed. Gamers everywhere could connect over their love for the same games and bond with each other.

Over the forty-three years since 1980, the global gaming community has only expanded. Gaming itself has too. New consoles, new games, new genres, and new technology have been developed. This has served to further the growth of the community. Now, nearly everyone has played or consistently plays a video game. As time goes on, gaming will only continue to reach new heights.