Video Games Then and Now
Video games have come a very long way from when they were first introduced. Who could have imagined the variety of video game controllers currently available, the real life graphics, the sound and music options, the large number of players that you can play with and much more. Video games were destined to be popular, but who knew that popular meant a multi-billion dollar industry?
The idea for the first video game conceived as far back as 1947. However, the first commercially released video game was not produced until 1971. It was called Computer Space and created by Ted Dabney and Nolan Bushnell. This was followed up by the Magnavox Odyssey in 1972 which was the first game console to be used in the home.
Over 30 years later, this idea of a video game has blossomed into one of the most profitable entertainment devices of all time. There are a variety of systems that have come out over the years that are improved every year in terms of platforms, multiplayer capabilities, Internet play, etc.
There are various platforms on which video games can be played. These include the PC game which is played on the computer, a console game which is a device connected to the television, a handheld which is a portable gaming system that you can play in almost anywhere and an arcade game platform which is the classic, large electronic device found in game rooms across the world. Other places where you can play video games are on mobile phones, PDAs, graphing calculators, GPS receivers, MP3 players, digital cameras and watches but these do not have nearly the same experience and dimension as the previously mentioned platforms.
Originally, arcade games were meant to allow one person play a video game against the computer and in many cases against another human player. As time and technology kicked in, video game consoles allowed up to four different players to play at home. However, with the invention of the Wii system, up to 12 players can play at one time. The incredible part about this technology is that you can play simultaneously with local players and players around the world.
Some may ask how this is possible. And the answer is via the Internet. Nowadays Internet capabilities are being implemented into these video game console systems. Local area networks and the Internet allow up to 32 players if not more to play a single game at a time. These capabilities also allow one to talk via voice chat or instant messaging.
Video games have come a long way from Table Tennis, Atari and Pac-Man. The universe of video games expands more and more every day with the rapid advance of technology. The video game makers are always incorporating new technological advances to make for a better, more exciting gaming experience. As video games become ever more powerful and realistic the line between reality and the virtual world is beginning to blur.