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The History of Video Games

In the early days of gaming, kids gathered in arcades to play together.  

Shutterstock.com

    You push through the glass doors and step into a dark room. It’s like a haunted house in a scary movie. Pings and dings ring out in the air. Rows of machines line the walls, giving off a spooky glow.

    But you’re not scared—you’re excited. You see your friends crowded around a machine that’s taller than you. As you rush over to them, quarters clink in your pocket. 

    What is this strange place? 

    It’s an arcade in the year 1980.

    You push through glass doors. You step into a dark room. It’s like a haunted house. You hear pings and dings. You see rows of machines. They have a spooky glow.

    But you’re not scared—you’re excited. You see your friends. They’re crowded around a machine. It’s taller than you. You rush over to them. Quarters clink in your pocket. 

    What is this strange place? 

    You push through the glass doors and step into a dark room. It reminds you of a haunted house in a scary movie. Pings and dings fill the air, and a spooky glow comes from the rows of machines lining the walls.

    But you’re not scared—you’re excited. You spot your friends crowded around a machine that’s taller than you. Quarters clink in your pocket as you rush over to them. 

    What is this strange place? 

    It’s an arcade in the year 1980.

Where to Play

    Today, we can play video games almost anywhere. The people we play with don’t need to be right next to us. But in the early 1980s, most gamers went to an arcade to play with friends. In an arcade, there might be dozens of games lined up side by side. To play, you needed to put quarters into a small slot. 

    The goal of early arcade games was simple: Score points. Top scorers earned a spot on what was known as the game’s leaderboard. Seeing your name at number 1 was the biggest win.

    Early arcade games were pretty basic. The pictures and sounds were simple. Even so, people couldn’t get enough. 

    They shot space rocks in Asteroids. They hit a ball back and forth in Pong. They tried to outrun hungry ghosts in Pac-Man

    By 1981, there were thousands of arcades across America. But the world of video games was about to change.

    Today, we can play video games almost anywhere. The people we play with can be anywhere too. They don’t need to be near us. But in the early 1980s, things were different. To play with friends, most gamers had to go to an arcade. An arcade might have dozens of games. You paid with quarters to play. 

    The goal was simple: Score points. Many games had a leaderboard. It showed the top scorers. Seeing your name at number 1 was the biggest win.

    Early arcade games were basic. The pictures and sounds were simple. Still, people loved them. They shot space rocks in Asteroids. They hit a ball back and forth in Pong. They tried to outrun ghosts in Pac-Man

    By 1981, there were thousands of arcades across America. But the world of video games was about to change.

    Today, we can play video games almost anywhere. The people we play with can be anywhere too. They don’t need to be near us. But in the early 1980s, things were different. To play with friends, most gamers had to go to an arcade. An arcade might have dozens of games. You paid with quarters to play. 

    The goal was simple: Score points. Many games had a leaderboard. It showed the top scorers. Seeing your name at number 1 was the biggest win.

    Early arcade games were basic. The pictures and sounds were simple. Still, people loved them. They shot space rocks in Asteroids. They hit a ball back and forth in Pong. They tried to outrun ghosts in Pac-Man

    By 1981, there were thousands of arcades across America. But the world of video games was about to change.

Shutterstock.com

Teens in an arcade, 1982

Taking It Home

    By 1983, people had grown tired of playing the same arcade games over and over. Companies were making new ones as fast as possible. But little time or thought was put into them. As a result, many games just weren’t fun. Some barely worked. Others were too difficult.

    At the same time, America was going through a recession. People didn’t have as much money for extras like video games. So game companies began to fail. By 1985, it seemed as though video games were doomed.

    But then something happened: A new gaming console called the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) came out. It was fast, easy to use, and powerful. You could play new and better games on it—like Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda.

    And best of all, you could play them without leaving your home!

    By 1983, people were tired of playing the same arcade games over and over. Companies made new ones. But they didn’t put much work into them. Many of them weren’t fun. Some barely worked. Others were too hard.

    At the same time, America was in a recession. People had less money. They couldn’t afford extras like video games. Game companies began to fail. By 1985, it seemed like video games were doomed.

    Then a new gaming console came out. It was called the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). It was fast, easy to use, and powerful. You could play Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda on it. These were new and better games.

    And you could play them at home!

    By 1983, people had grown tired of playing the same arcade games over and over. Companies were creating new ones as quickly as possible, but little time or thought was put into them. As a result, many games just weren’t fun: Some barely worked, and others were too challenging.

    Meanwhile, America was going through a recession. People had little money for extras like video games, and game companies began to fail. By 1985, video games seemed to be doomed.

    But then the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) came out. This new gaming console was fast, easy to use, and powerful. You could play Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda, and other new and better games on it.

    And best of all, you could play them without ever leaving your home!

Editorial/Alamy Stock Photo (Pac-Man); Bettmann/Getty Images (1982); INTERFOTO/Alamy Stock Photo (Pong); ArcadeImages/Alamy Stock Photo (zelda)

1- First Up  
Pong hit arcades in 1972. It is considered the first successful video game. A later home version was also popular.

 

2- A Fan Favorite
Pac-Man was released in 1980. People loved its bright colors, catchy music, and fun characters.

 

3- Better Games
In 1986, the Nintendo Entertainment System came out. Gamers could now play games like The Legend of Zelda at home.

All Kinds of Games

    After the NES, video games got more and more popular. Companies made fancier consoles. All kinds of new games were released. There was John Madden Football for sports lovers. There was Tetris for puzzle masters. 

    As for arcades? They’re still around—just a lot harder to find. But if you see one, go in. Say thanks. Without arcades, we wouldn’t have the games we know and love today.  

    After the NES, video games got more popular. Companies made fancier consoles. They released new games. John Madden Football was for sports fans. Tetris was for puzzle masters. 

    Arcades are still around. They’re just harder to find. If you see one, go inside. Say thanks. Without arcades, we wouldn’t have the games we love today.  

    After the NES, video games became more and more popular. Companies produced fancier consoles and released all kinds of new games, including John Madden Football for sports lovers and Tetris for puzzle masters.

    As for arcades? They’re still around, but they’re a lot harder to find. If you see one, go in and say thanks. Without arcades, we wouldn’t have the games we know and love today.  

New Ways to Play

Technology has changed the way we play video games forever. 

Alistair Berg/Getty Images

    It’s a Friday afternoon. You just got home from school. You’re playing your favorite game, NBA 2K22. Your opponents are all over the country. There’s your friend who moved to California. There’s your cousin in Michigan. As you play, you joke around and chat about your lives.

    Then you glance at your dog, Pancake. He’s staring at you as you score a three-pointer. Uh-oh. Looks like he needs a walk. You decide you’ll take him—after one last slam dunk.

    It’s a Friday afternoon. You just got home from school. You’re playing your favorite game, NBA 2K22. Your opponents are all over the country—a friend in California, a cousin in Michigan. As you play, you joke around. You chat about your lives.

    Then you glance at your dog, Pancake. Uh-oh. He needs a walk. You decide you’ll take him—after one last slam dunk.

    It’s a Friday afternoon. You just got home from school, and you’re playing your favorite game, NBA 2K22. Your opponents—including your friend who moved to California and your cousin in Michigan—are all over the country. As you play, you joke around and chat about your lives.

    Then you glance at your dog, Pancake, who’s staring at you as you score a three-pointer. Uh-oh. Looks like he needs a walk. You decide you’ll take him—after one last slam dunk.

Big Changes

    Today, such a scene is common. But not so far in the past, it would have been impossible. Twenty-five years ago, most people played video games alone. They used a Game Boy or a console hooked up to a TV. There were far fewer games to choose from. 

    In the early 2000s, however, video games began to change. 

    First came the internet. It had been getting more and more popular since the 1990s. The internet made it possible for computers in different places to connect. Gamers no longer had to be in the same room to play against each other. 

    After the internet came smartphones. They changed the way we play video games again. You no longer needed a Game Boy or a home console to join in on the fun. Now you could play all kinds of games right on a phone. 

    Plus, smartphones made games like Angry Birds and Candy Crush Saga popular. These games got new people into gaming. Many of these people never would have thought of themselves as gamers before.

    Today, that kind of scene is common. But in the past, it would have been impossible. Twenty-five years ago, most people played video games alone. They used a Game Boy. Or they used a console hooked up to a TV. And there were fewer games to choose from. 

    But in the early 2000s, video games began to change. 

    First came the internet. It had grown in use since the 1990s. The internet allowed computers in different places to connect. Gamers no longer had to be in the same room to play together. 

    Then came smartphones. You no longer needed a Game Boy or a home console. Now you could play all kinds of games right on a phone. 

    Plus, smartphones made games like Angry Birds and Candy Crush Saga popular. These games got new people into gaming.

    Such scenes are common today, but they would have been impossible in the recent past. Twenty-five years ago, most people played video games alone, using a Game Boy or a console hooked up to a TV. And they had far fewer games to choose from. 

    In the early 2000s, however, video games began to change. 

    First came the internet. It had grown in popularity since the 1990s and made it possible for computers in different places to connect. Gamers no longer had to be in the same room to play together. 

    After the internet came smartphones. They changed the way we play video games again. To join in on the fun, you no longer needed a Game Boy or a home console. Instead, you could play all kinds of games right on a phone. 

    Plus, smartphones made games like Angry Birds and Candy Crush Saga popular. These games got new people into gaming—people who never would have considered themselves gamers before.

More Connected

    In 2022, the world of video games is more social than ever. It’s maybe more fun too. We have thousands of games to choose from. And we can play those games from just about anywhere! 

    We can parachute into Fortnite’s Misty Meadows from our living room. We can score a goal on our best friend in FIFA 22 while waiting for the bus.

    So what effect are all these games having on us? Experts say that gaming can be healthy. It’s a way to relax, learn, and hang out with friends. But keeping your life balanced is key. If playing video games is causing you to miss meals or cancel plans, it may be time to cut back.

    In 2022, the world of video games is more social than ever. It might be more fun too. There are thousands of games. And we can play those games from almost anywhere! 

    We can parachute into Fortnite’s Misty Meadows from our living room. We can score a goal on our best friend in FIFA 22 while waiting for the bus.  

    So how do these games affect us? Experts say that gaming can be healthy. It’s a way to relax, learn, and hang out with friends. But keeping your life balanced is key. Are video games causing you to miss meals or cancel plans? If so, it may be time to cut back.

    In 2022, the world of video games is more social than ever—and maybe it’s more fun too. We have thousands of games to choose from that we can play from just about anywhere! 

    From your living room, you can parachute into Fortnite’s Misty Meadows. While waiting for the bus, you can score a goal on your best friend in FIFA 22.  

    So what effect are all these games having on us? Experts say that gaming can be healthy. It’s a way to relax, learn, and hang out with friends, but keeping your life balanced is key. If playing video games is causing you to miss meals or cancel plans, it might be time to cut back.

INTERFOTO/Alamy Stock Photo (Game Boy); Shutterstock.com (All Other Images)

1- On the Go
The Game Boy was the first gaming console that fit in your hand. It came out in 1989 and could be played anywhere.

 

2- Get Connected
In the early 2000s, the internet changed gaming. Now players from around the world could meet up online to play games like World of Warcraft.

 

3- Gaming by Phone
Smartphones made games like Angry Birds and Candy Crush Saga popular. These games got new people into gaming.

What’s Next?

    What’s next for video games? New technology will continue to change gaming. Experts say that soon everyone will stream games rather than buy them—just like you stream TV shows on Netflix. Games will likely become even more lifelike too. 

    But in truth, it’s hard to know exactly what’s next. Maybe on Friday afternoons in the future, Pancake will be able to join in on the fun. 

    Virtual fetch, anyone? 

    What’s next for video games? New technology will continue to change gaming. Experts say that soon we will stream games rather than buy them—just like you stream TV shows on Netflix. Games will likely become even more lifelike too. 

    But in truth, it’s hard to know what’s next. Maybe in the future, Pancake will be able to join in on the fun. 

    Virtual fetch, anyone? 

    What’s next for video games? New technology will continue to change the world of gaming. Experts say that soon everyone will stream games—like you stream TV shows on Netflix—rather than buying them. Games will probably become even more lifelike too. 

    But in truth, predicting exactly what will come next is fairly difficult. Maybe on Friday afternoons in the future, Pancake will be able to join in on the fun. 

    Virtual fetch, anyone? 

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