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Tennis for Two
Tennis for Two was created by physicist William Higinbotham on October 18, 1958, and displayed at Brookhaven National Laboratory’s open house. The game ran on an oscilloscope and let two players simulate a tennis match by adjusting the angle and timing of their shots using knobs and buttons. Although it was never sold commercially, it’s considered one of the first video games. It introduced real-time interaction and player control. -
Pong
The release of Pong by Atari in 1972 was one of the pioneering milestones in the arcade video-gaming industry and the first time a video-game brand had attained a commercial appeal hit. Based on a previous prototype made on a console by Magnavox Odyssey, Pong was a simplified representation of a table-tennis match where there were two paddles and a moving dot. Massive popularity of the game, evident in the fact that the installation of the arcade machines was offered across the United States. -
Atari 2600
Atari 2600, originally released under the name Atari Video Computer System (VCS), was launched on date 11 September 1977. Being one of the very first consoles to use game cartridges, it allowed having a vast array of games on the same console. Such iconic games as Space Invaders and Pitfall! gained cultural status, and the console itself sold over 30 million copies, overturning the way home games are played. Its success quickly drew an inclusion of video games in the daily home settings. . -
Pac-Man
Pac-Man, dated 22 May 1980, designed by Toru Iwatani and released by Namco, in Japan, respectively, marks a turning point in the history of video-games. Its title, which depicted a yellow circular protagonist who explored mazes, consumed pellets, and avoided ghosts, merged a non-militant aesthetic design with simple and repetitive control systems that attracted a diverse audience and, with it, shifted away from the prevailing militant paradigm of arcade shooter games at the time. -
The Great Crash
Overproduction of consoles combined with an influx of cheap games, creating an atmosphere in which the 1983 video game crash was inevitable. Retaliation came in the form of large retailers reducing investment in the medium, and, excepting a few silver linings, the industry (other than select places) came to the brink of dying in North America. After all, this episode redesigned the course of the sector and established higher quality standards. -
NES
On 18 October 1985, Nintendo introduced Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) into the North American market, which was a turning point in video-game industry after the crash in 1983. The system established quality-control mechanisms, which were highly strict, and generated a series of long-lasting franchises such as Super Mario Bros., which served as a worldwide cultural icon and that reassured Nintendo of its status as a powerful industry player. -
Sony PlayStation
The first Sony PlayStation was presented in Japan on December 3, 1994. Unlike earlier consoles that used cartridges, the PlayStation introduced CD-ROM technology, allowing for larger, more complex games and better audio-visual experiences. It focused heavily on 3D graphics rendering, which was cutting-edge at the time. Hit titles like Final Fantasy VII, Gran Turismo, and Tekken helped the console attract a wider, older audience. -
Xbox & Halo
Microsoft entered the home video game console market with the launch of the Xbox on November 15, 2001. It marked the company’s first step into gaming hardware, competing directly with Sony and Nintendo. Its flagship title, Halo: Combat Evolved, was a major success—both critically and commercially—and became one of the most influential first-person shooters of its time. The Xbox also introduced Xbox Live, a built-in online gaming service that enabled players to socialize. -
Nintendo Wii
The Wii console was launched on 19 November of the year 2006 which was characterized by its unique Wii Remote that brought the innovative use of motion-sensing controls whereby it allowed the players to control the on-screen activities by means of body motion. This interface broke with the conventional game pad to provide both intuitive and immersive game play experiences. -
Nintendo Switch
On 3 March 2017, Nintendo released the Switch console that runs both a fixed home and portable handheld system using a hybrid form factor. This functionality in two directions appealed to a wide audience, and helped to have undisturbed games in various contexts. The system launched side by side with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, which achieved both massive critical response and significant sales numbers.