Games are a diverse and interesting lot, but most of them evolved almost a century ago from a few particular groups. Today’s post is going to talk about the roots of gaming and about where we were, where we are, and where we could go.

(Yes, that’s a Prince of Persia reference; fight me.) Video-gaming began almost a century ago with a way to play tic-tac-toe, using a computer called “Bertie the Brain.” It had a very rudimentary AI and featured a three-by-three gamepad to declare Xs and Os. There was even an adjustable level of difficulty – something we’d see in successive games. It was only around for a couple of weeks until the inventor Josef Kates tore it down and stored it. It has been more or less forgotten since then.

The next big step was Spacewar! - it was developed in the early 1960s by a group of students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), on a DEC PDP-1 minicomputer, which was one of the first computers to be used for interactive computing.

Spacewar! is a two-player game: each player controls a spaceship and attempts to shoot down the other player while avoiding obstacles, such as a nearby star that exerts a gravitational pull on the ships. The game is set in the vacuum of space, and the players use the spacecraft's thrusters to maneuver around the screen.

Groundbreaking in several ways, Spacewar! was a helluva achievement at the time. It was one of the first video games to feature real-time interactive gameplay and to be played on a computer instead of an arcade game. It was also one of the first video games to have multiple gameplay options, including a cooperative mode in which players worked together to destroy enemy spaceships.

Spacewar! was not a commercial success, as it was only playable on the expensive DEC PDP-1 computer, which limited its availability. However, it was an important milestone in the development of video games and inspired many future game developers. Its influence can be seen in later video games such as Asteroids and Space Invaders.

Spacewar! was a pioneering video game that laid the foundations for modern video games. Its real-time interactive gameplay and multiple gameplay options were groundbreaking, and inspired many future game developers.

Early video games refer to the first generation of video games, which were developed in the late 1970s and early 1980s. These games were typically very simple in terms of graphics and gameplay, but they paved the way for the much more complex and sophisticated video games we see today.

One of the earliest video games was Pong, released in 1972 by Atari. It was a simple two-player game in which players controlled paddles, used to hit a ball back and forth across the screen. The game was a huge success and helped to popularize video games.

Space Invaders was another popular video game, which was released in 1978. It was a simple shooter game in which players controlled a ship that had to shoot down rows of alien invaders. The game was hugely popular and helped to establish video games as a mainstream form of entertainment. It’s still played today and has had many iterations and new releases for different systems and consoles, such as Galaxian, as well as riffs like NASA's browser-based Roman Game.

Other popular early video games include Donkey Kong (1981), Pac-Man (1980), and Galaga (1981). These games were all simple in terms of graphics and gameplay, but they captured the imagination of a generation and helped establish video games as a major industry.

Early video games were typically played on dedicated consoles, such as the Atari 2600 or the Intellivision. These consoles were simple devices, designed to be hooked up to a TV set, which provided players with a way to play video games in the comfort of their own homes.

Video games were elegant, groundbreaking creations. Obvious in hindsight, they effectively created something we’d never really seen and then paved the way for how most of us interact socially with one another, absent an actual presence.

Ooof. The golden age of video games (the 1980s) saw an explosion of new ways to play in the form of competing consoles, companies who specialized in this new way to entertain, competitive play, arcades (we know how I feel about arcades), and more.

The 1980s were a time of significant growth and change in the video game industry. The popularity of video games continued to increase, and the decade saw the release of many influential and iconic games that continue to be enjoyed by gamers today.

One of the most popular games was Pac-Man, which was released in 1980. The game was a huge hit and became a cultural phenomenon, spawning sequels (Ms. Pac-Man), merchandise, and a cartoon. It featured a yellow character (named Pac-Man) who had to navigate a maze, eating pellets and avoiding ghosts. The game's simple, addictive gameplay and colorful graphics made it a favorite among gamers of all ages.

Donkey Kong was another influential game, developed by Nintendo and released in 1981. It featured a character named Mario, who had to rescue his girlfriend Pauline from the clutches of a giant ape named Donkey Kong. The game's challenging gameplay and memorable characters helped establish Nintendo as a major player in the video game industry – a company that's still kicking out the hits over 40 years later. I’m looking at you, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.

The golden age also saw the rise of arcade games – coin-operated machines that could be found in the arcades from whence they derived their name and in other public places, such as gyms (!) or movie theaters. Popular arcade games from the decade include Space Invaders, Galaga, Centipede, and Ms. Pac-Man. These games were designed to be easy to learn but difficult to master, and they often featured high scores and competitive gameplay.

Home video game consoles also continued to grow in popularity during the 1980s. The Atari 2600 was one of the most popular consoles of the decade, joined by others such as the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) and the Sega Master System. These consoles let gamers play at home, with one purchase instead of indefinite quarters, and contributed to video games becoming a major form of entertainment.

This brilliant time in gaming saw significant growth and change in the video game industry, setting the pillars and foundation that many games build on even today. The many influential and iconic games released during this time still occupy the public mind, and the popularity of video games continued to increase. The influence of arcade games and home video game consoles can still be seen in modern video games today.

Modern video games are a varied and rapidly evolving form of entertainment that has come a long way since the early days of gaming. Modern video game consoles and PCs are much more powerful than earlier generations, allowing for more advanced graphics and gameplay mechanics. Game developers also have access to advanced development tools and software that allow them to create more sophisticated and complex games. Today's video games take advantage of this, with immersive storylines, stunning graphics, and a wide variety of gameplay options. Even "retro" games often have higher pixel definitions than could have been dreamed of in the Pong era.

One of the most significant developments is the rise of online gaming. Many games now feature online multiplayer modes that allow players to compete or cooperate with other people from around the world. This has created vibrant and diverse gaming communities, and has made video games a more social experience.

Another major development in modern video games is the use of virtual and augmented reality technology. These technologies allow players to fully immerse themselves in the game world and experience it in a more interactive way. Some games even use biometric feedback to enhance the player's experience, adjusting the game's difficulty or pacing based on their heart rate or other physiological responses.

Modern video games also often have complex and branching storylines that allow players to make choices that affect the outcome of the game. This can create a more engaging experience for the player, as well as provide a level of depth and replayability that was not possible in earlier games.

Video games may now have millions of players and billions of dollars in revenue. Video game companies are major players in the entertainment industry, and games are often released with the same fanfare and hype as major movies or TV shows – including teasers and soundtracks!

So where are we going? Computing power increases according to Moore’s Law and programmers become ever more capable. Will we ever get anything like Star Trek’s Holodeck? No, probably not. But we might get close, with realistic holograms. Heck, our VR-games right now are not bad at all – though that can vary considerably from game to game. I personally think that with companies investing and reinvesting in gaming technology, we’re going to see a major resurgence on par with the 1980s “Pac-Man Fever.”

What do you think? What was your first interaction with videogames? What games do you like to play now? Let us know!