You must be there just imagining how the first video game came about! Today's video games are complex and technologically advanced subjects that demand a lot from players. They require a high level of analytical thinking, agility and flexibility.
In 1958, William Higinbotham created a forerunner of modern video games, called “Tennis for Two”, which was displayed on an oscilloscope.
While it was simple fun, it didn't resemble what we think of as a video game today.
William Higinbotham, a physicist who worked on particle accelerators and nuclear bombs
He was responsible for creating the first video game in 1958. Throughout his career, he was also involved with non-proliferation and was one of the founders of the Federation of American Scientists.
With his background in physics, he developed electronic equipment for particle accelerators and digital computers, but he is best known for creating what was probably the first video game.
Using equipment available at the Brookhaven National Laboratory in New York, such as oscilloscopes, which display changes in electrical voltage, and CRTs, capable of displaying graphic images.
higinbotham wanted to present a demonstration of their work that was more interesting and interactive for visitors compared to the usual museum exhibits. Thus, he developed what is widely considered the first video game.
His version of the game, called “Tennis for Two”, was shown to visitors during an event called Open House held annually in Brookhaven. Although it was popular, it did not become a commercial product. It was eventually forgotten until a 1982 paper on computational design brought it back to attention.
While the game was not a commercial success, it represented a significant step forward in the evolution of video games.
He demonstrated that a digital computer could send signals to an oscilloscope, allowing the generation of graphical images on the screen. This was a crucial milestone in the development of video game systems such as Pong and Spacewar!
Although William Higinbotham is credited with the first video game, his most rudimentary game of tennis was known simply as “Tennis for Two”. The first true video game is widely believed to be Pong, made by Atari and released in 1972.
Founded by engineer Nolan Bushnell, Atari hired engineering student Allan Alcorn to design a simple game for the company's new arcade video game machine.
The result was a table tennis video game so immersive that patrons at a local bar filled the coin machine to the brim. It wasn't long before Atari had tens of thousands of these machines in bars and restaurants across the country.
While Pong seems primitive by today's video game standards, it represented a huge leap forward. He showed the world that computers were more than just esoteric devices for engineers and scientists.
Video games have evolved significantly over the years.
It has evolved so much that it has gone from simple games on oscilloscopes to the complex and technologically advanced interactive experiences we have today. William Higinbotham, with his creation of “Tennis for Two” in 1958, sparked the beginning of this exciting journey.
Higinbotham was a physicist with a wide range of accomplishments and interests. His background in physics led him to work on projects related to particle accelerators and nuclear bombs.
He later became involved with nuclear nonproliferation issues and contributed to the founding of the Federation of American Scientists. However, it was his foray into the world of video games that made him best known.
Although “Tennis for Two” was not a lasting commercial success, its impact was significant. The game demonstrated that digital computers had the potential to generate graphic images on a screen, paving the way for the development of more advanced video game systems, such as the legendary Pong.
Pong, released in 1972 by Atari, is widely considered the first successful commercial video game.
Designed by Allan Alcorn, who was hired by Nolan Bushnell, founder of Atari, the game quickly captured the attention and enthusiasm of gamers.
With its simple table tennis gameplay, Pong became a sensation in bars and restaurants, prompting Atari to produce tens of thousands of machines to meet demand.
The success of Pong paved the way for the development of home video game consoles, such as the Magnavox Odyssey, created by Gunpei Yokoi, founder of Nintendo, in collaboration with Ralph Baer.
Advancement in technology has allowed games to be played at home, providing enthralling entertainment for families across the world.
Since then, the video game industry has grown exponentially, driven by continuous technological advances such as high-definition graphics, virtual reality, and online gameplay.
Video games have become an integral part of everyday life for millions of people, offering an endless variety of experiences from epic adventures to thrilling multiplayer competitions..
As the industry continues to evolve, we can expect more innovations, engaging storytelling and technological advancements that will take video games to ever higher heights.
An interesting curiosity about the evolution of video games is the role played by textual computer games in the history of electronic games. Before the advanced graphics and immersive gameplay we associate with modern video games, early games were text-only.
In the 70s and 80s, when graphics processing capabilities were still limited
Electronic games were predominantly text-based, where players read descriptions and provided commands through the keyboard to interact with the game world. These games were known as “text adventure games” or “text roleplaying games”.
Rather than seeing pictures or hearing sounds, players had to use their imagination and reading skills to visualize their environment and make decisions based on the descriptions provided.
They typed commands like “go to the woods” or “take the sword” and received text responses about the consequences of their actions.
Despite their simplicity in terms of visual presentation, these text games were incredibly engaging and challenging. They required players to use their creativity and logic to solve puzzles and advance the game's story.
Text games were a key part of the evolution of video games, paving the way for the development of more complex and visually rich games.
They demonstrated that interacting with a virtual world through words and commands could be extremely captivating, laying the groundwork for the storytelling and immersion we see in today's games.
Although text games have been surpassed in popularity by advanced graphics and 3D games, they are still enjoyed by retro gaming enthusiasts and have a special place in video game history as the pioneers of digital interactivity.
