The Evolution of Video The Evolution of Video GamesGames

A Brief History from the 1800’s-PresentA Brief History from the 1800’s-Present

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Ancestors of Video Ancestors of Video GamesGames� The beginnings of the video The beginnings of the video

game industry can be traced game industry can be traced back to the pinball machine back to the pinball machine industry.industry.

� Pinball itself can be traced Pinball itself can be traced back to the 1800’s game back to the 1800’s game Bagatelle, a form of billiards in Bagatelle, a form of billiards in which players used a cue to which players used a cue to shoot balls up a sloped table, shoot balls up a sloped table, hoping to have the ball land in hoping to have the ball land in a pocket on the way down.a pocket on the way down.

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SpacewarSpacewar

The Spacewar PDP-1 Steve Russell and the Original Spacewar

Spacewar Screenshot

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The Beginnings of AtariThe Beginnings of Atari

� With help from Bill With help from Bill Nutting of Nutting Nutting of Nutting Associates, 1,500 Associates, 1,500 Computer Space Computer Space machines were manufactured in 1971.machines were manufactured in 1971.

� Due to poor marketing and complex game play Due to poor marketing and complex game play (it needed several pages of instructions to (it needed several pages of instructions to explain), the game did poorly.explain), the game did poorly.

� Not to be deterred, Bushnell went on to form Not to be deterred, Bushnell went on to form Atari in 1972 as the first video game company.Atari in 1972 as the first video game company.

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More Early Home More Early Home ConsolesConsoles� Atari’s Home Pong in 1975Atari’s Home Pong in 1975� The Connecticut Leather The Connecticut Leather

Company (Coleco) and Telstar Company (Coleco) and Telstar in 1976.in 1976.

� Fairchild Camera and Fairchild Camera and Instrument releases Channel F, Instrument releases Channel F, also in 1976, the first also in 1976, the first programmable home game to programmable home game to use cartridges.use cartridges.

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More Early Home More Early Home ConsolesConsoles� Atari released the Video Atari released the Video

Computer System (better Computer System (better known as the 2600) in known as the 2600) in 1977. Immensely popular.1977. Immensely popular.

� Magnavox and Odyssey2 Magnavox and Odyssey2 in 1978.in 1978.

� Mattel Electronics Mattel Electronics introduced the Intellivision introduced the Intellivision in 1979.in 1979.

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Early Arcade Early Arcade DevelopmentsDevelopments� 1979: Atari releases Lunar 1979: Atari releases Lunar

Lander, its first vector Lander, its first vector graphics game. Atari later graphics game. Atari later released Asteroids, its released Asteroids, its best-selling game.best-selling game.

� 1980: Namco releases Pac-Man, the 1980: Namco releases Pac-Man, the most popular arcade game ever most popular arcade game ever world-wide.world-wide.

� 1980: Atari releases Battlezone, 1980: Atari releases Battlezone, perhaps the first true first-person perhaps the first true first-person video game.video game.

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Early Arcade Early Arcade DevelopmentsDevelopments� 1981: Relative newcomer Nintendo 1981: Relative newcomer Nintendo

releases Donkey Kong, with the first releases Donkey Kong, with the first appearance of what would become appearance of what would become Mario, later Nintendo’s main mascot.Mario, later Nintendo’s main mascot.

� Other classics followed: Other classics followed: � 1981: Galaga, Frogger, Ms. Pac-Man, Centipede 1981: Galaga, Frogger, Ms. Pac-Man, Centipede � 1982: Dig Dug, Burger Time, Mr. Do!, Q*Bert, Pole 1982: Dig Dug, Burger Time, Mr. Do!, Q*Bert, Pole

Position, Joust, Zaxxon, Moon Patrol (first game Position, Joust, Zaxxon, Moon Patrol (first game with parallax scrolling), Time Pilot with parallax scrolling), Time Pilot

� 1983: Dragon’s Lair (first laser disc game), Mario 1983: Dragon’s Lair (first laser disc game), Mario Bros., Spy Hunter Bros., Spy Hunter

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The Advent of the The Advent of the Home ComputerHome Computer� In the early 1980’s, home computers began to In the early 1980’s, home computers began to

grow in popularity.grow in popularity.� Some did not do very well, like the Coleco Some did not do very well, like the Coleco

Adam (1984), but some proved popular as a Adam (1984), but some proved popular as a gaming platform.gaming platform.� Commodore, with the VIC 20 (1981) and Commodore, with the VIC 20 (1981) and

Commodore 64 (1982) and again later with the Commodore 64 (1982) and again later with the Amiga.Amiga.

� Apple with the Apple II and later generations.Apple with the Apple II and later generations.� IBM and various PC clones, which has become the IBM and various PC clones, which has become the

predominant home computing gaming platform.predominant home computing gaming platform.

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Nintendo and SegaNintendo and Sega

� In 1984, Nintendo released the In 1984, Nintendo released the Family Computer (Famicom) Family Computer (Famicom) in Japan. It was rebranded in Japan. It was rebranded in 1985 as the Nintendo in 1985 as the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) for North Entertainment System (NES) for North America.America.

� In 1986, Sega (once known as In 1986, Sega (once known as SErvice GAmes) released the SErvice GAmes) released the Sega Master System.Sega Master System.

� These two new home consoles begin to These two new home consoles begin to revitalize the sagging game market.revitalize the sagging game market.

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Arcades Fight BackArcades Fight Back

� In 1987, CAPCOM introduced In 1987, CAPCOM introduced Street Fighter, but hardware Street Fighter, but hardware lacked the power to really drive lacked the power to really drive the game.the game.

� In 1991, that was fixed with In 1991, that was fixed with Street Fighter II, and new life Street Fighter II, and new life was breathed into the arcade.was breathed into the arcade.

� CAPCOM followed with many CAPCOM followed with many more fighting game classics.more fighting game classics.

� In 1992, Midway followed suit In 1992, Midway followed suit and introduced the gory Mortal and introduced the gory Mortal Kombat series. More protests.Kombat series. More protests.

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Hand Held GamingHand Held Gaming

� Early hand helds were primarily LED Early hand helds were primarily LED based, single game machines.based, single game machines.

� New hand helds changed that:New hand helds changed that:� Atari Lynx (1989) Atari Lynx (1989) � Nintendo Game Boy (1990)Nintendo Game Boy (1990)� NEC TurboExpress (1990)NEC TurboExpress (1990)� Sega Game Gear (1991)Sega Game Gear (1991)� NeoGeo Pocket (1998), Colour (1999)NeoGeo Pocket (1998), Colour (1999)� Game Boy Colour and Advance (2001)Game Boy Colour and Advance (2001)

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Home Computer Home Computer AdvancementsAdvancements� 1989: Maxis releases SimCity and 1989: Maxis releases SimCity and

begins the line of Sim games.begins the line of Sim games.� 1993: 71993: 7 thth Guest becomes the Guest becomes the

first big CD-ROM hit. Myst first big CD-ROM hit. Myst follows shortly.follows shortly.

� 1993: Id Software publishes 1993: Id Software publishes Doom, firmly establishing the Doom, firmly establishing the first-person shooter, and first-person shooter, and introduces multiplayer gaming.introduces multiplayer gaming.

� 1995: 3D acceleration hardware introduced.1995: 3D acceleration hardware introduced.

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A Three Horse RaceA Three Horse Race

� 1994: Sega releases the Saturn 1994: Sega releases the Saturn in Japan (1995 in the U.S.).in Japan (1995 in the U.S.).

� 1994: Sony releases the 1994: Sony releases the Playstation in Japan (1995 in Playstation in Japan (1995 in the U.S.).the U.S.).

� 1995: Nintendo releases the 1995: Nintendo releases the Nintendo 64 in Japan (1996 Nintendo 64 in Japan (1996 in the U.S.).in the U.S.).

� This time, all three consoles enjoy This time, all three consoles enjoy reasonable success.reasonable success.

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Arcades Fight Back AgainArcades Fight Back Again

� With the arrival of the new With the arrival of the new millennium, arcades sawmillennium, arcades sawa revival with games with a revival with games with new controls and innovative new controls and innovative twists best suited for the twists best suited for the spectacle of the arcade.spectacle of the arcade.� Dance Dance Revolution Dance Dance Revolution

(and at least 14 sequels) ...(and at least 14 sequels) ...� MoCap Boxing, MoCap Golf, ...MoCap Boxing, MoCap Golf, ...� And quite a few others.And quite a few others.

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The Current Generation The Current Generation

� In late 2005, Microsoft In late 2005, Microsoft launched its Xbox 360.launched its Xbox 360.

� It features a three-core It features a three-core processor, built-in processor, built-in wireless, hard-drive, wireless, hard-drive, built-in network support, built-in network support, and high-end graphics. Very nice.and high-end graphics. Very nice.

� This marked the beginning of the “next This marked the beginning of the “next generation” of console hardware …generation” of console hardware …

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The Current Generation The Current Generation

� In November 2006, Sony launched the Playstation 3 in North American and Asian markets. (A European launch took place in spring 2007.)

� It features a Cell processor,Blu-ray drive, high definitionvideo, a hard drive, built-innetworking, and other featuresdepending on configuration.

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Revisions to the Revisions to the Current Generation Current Generation � In 2008 and 2009, Nintendo

launched the DSi, with more memory and storage, power, cameras, network connectivity and other features.

� In 2009, Sony introduced the PSP Go, removing UMD support in favour of networked content.

� In late 2009 and into 2010, Nintendo launched the DSi XL, featuring larger screens.

Revisions to the Revisions to the Current GenerationCurrent Generation� In 2010, Sony introduced itsIn 2010, Sony introduced its

Move peripheral, bringing motionMove peripheral, bringing motionbased games to the PS3 throughbased games to the PS3 througha camera and controller hybrid. a camera and controller hybrid.

� In late 2010, MicrosoftIn late 2010, Microsoftreleased its Kinect (akareleased its Kinect (akaProject Natal). It enabledProject Natal). It enabledcontroller free gaming using a controller free gaming using a sophisticated multi-camera system. sophisticated multi-camera system.

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New PlatformsNew Platforms

� Apple’s iPhone has generated renewed Apple’s iPhone has generated renewed interest in mobile gaming on cell phones.interest in mobile gaming on cell phones.� The hardware is good, the platform is The hardware is good, the platform is

popular, development is cost effective, and popular, development is cost effective, and distribution is simple.distribution is simple.

� This is a very hot and This is a very hot and competitive market,competitive market,however, so finding however, so finding success can still be rather difficult.success can still be rather difficult.

� Android and Blackberry look promising …Android and Blackberry look promising …2020

New PlatformsNew Platforms

� Facebook and other social networking Facebook and other social networking sites are increasingly popular gaming sites are increasingly popular gaming platforms.platforms.� This is particularly true for This is particularly true for

games aimed at more games aimed at more casual audiences.casual audiences.

� CityVille, the current Facebook champ, CityVille, the current Facebook champ, now has over 77.5 million players. This now has over 77.5 million players. This dwarfs even World of Warcraft, which has dwarfs even World of Warcraft, which has only between 12 and 13 million players.only between 12 and 13 million players. 2121

Emerging PlatformsEmerging Platforms

� Cloud gaming (also known as game Cloud gaming (also known as game streaming) is starting to gain traction.streaming) is starting to gain traction.� A remote server hosts a game and all its A remote server hosts a game and all its

content and streams the game in real-time content and streams the game in real-time to a thin client used by the player.to a thin client used by the player.

� Eliminates the need for a fullEliminates the need for a fullconsole or computer, and console or computer, and more tightly controls content.more tightly controls content.

� Performance is an issue …Performance is an issue …� OnLive, GaiKai are examples.OnLive, GaiKai are examples.

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On The HorizonOn The Horizon

� Nintendo is expected to Nintendo is expected to release its 3DS early 2011.release its 3DS early 2011.Eagerly anticipated!Eagerly anticipated!

� Sony is rumored to have aSony is rumored to have aPSP 2/PSP Phone (aka thePSP 2/PSP Phone (aka theZeus Z1) being prepped for Zeus Z1) being prepped for release in 2011.release in 2011.

� Rumors still persist for a Wii HD, plus Rumors still persist for a Wii HD, plus new Xbox and PlayStation editions … new Xbox and PlayStation editions …

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