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Top 10 Fun Facts About Video Game History
Video games have evolved dramatically since their inception, creating a rich tapestry of technological innovation, cultural impact, and entertaining stories. Here are ten fascinating facts about video game history that showcase the industry’s remarkable journey from simple pixels to today’s immersive experiences.
1. The First Video Game Was Created by a Physicist
In 1958, physicist William Higinbotham created what is widely considered the first video game, “Tennis for Two.” He developed it at Brookhaven National Laboratory using an oscilloscope and analog computer. The game was designed to entertain visitors during the lab’s annual open house, featuring a simple side-view of a tennis court where players could hit a ball back and forth.
2. Space Invaders Caused a Coin Shortage in Japan
When Space Invaders was released in Japan in 1978, it became so popular that it led to a shortage of 100-yen coins. The game’s success was unprecedented, causing the Japanese government to quadruple the production of 100-yen coins to keep up with demand. This marked one of the first instances of a video game having a significant impact on a national economy.
3. Nintendo Started as a Playing Card Company
Before becoming a video game giant, Nintendo was founded in 1889 as a playing card company. They specifically produced “hanafuda” cards, traditional Japanese playing cards. It wasn’t until the 1970s that the company began exploring electronic gaming, eventually releasing their first home console, the Color TV-Game, in 1977.
4. The PlayStation Was Originally Intended as a Nintendo Product
Sony’s PlayStation began as a collaboration with Nintendo to create a CD-ROM add-on for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. However, Nintendo suddenly backed out of the deal and partnered with Philips instead. This led Sony to develop the PlayStation independently, which launched in 1994 and became one of the most successful gaming platforms ever.
5. Pac-Man Was Inspired by Pizza
The iconic shape of Pac-Man was inspired by a pizza with a slice removed. Creator Toru Iwatani has stated that while eating pizza, he looked at the pie with a slice missing and found inspiration for the character’s design. The game went on to become one of the most successful arcade games of all time, earning more than $2.5 billion by the 1990s.
6. The First Easter Egg in a Video Game
Warren Robinett created the first known Easter egg in a video game while working on Adventure for the Atari 2600 in 1979. Unable to credit himself due to Atari’s policies, he secretly hid his name in a hidden room that could only be accessed by following a specific sequence of actions. This began the tradition of hidden content in video games.
7. E.T. Game Burial Was Real
The infamous burial of unsold E.T. video game cartridges by Atari in 1983 was long considered an urban legend. However, in 2014, excavators discovered thousands of cartridges buried in a New Mexico landfill. The game, rushed to production in just five weeks, was so poorly received that it contributed to the video game industry crash of 1983.
8. Mario Was Named After Nintendo’s Landlord
Nintendo’s iconic character Mario wasn’t always called Mario. In his first appearance in Donkey Kong, he was known as “Jumpman.” He was later named Mario after Nintendo of America’s warehouse landlord, Mario Segale, who apparently bore a resemblance to the character. This naming decision happened during the development of Donkey Kong in 1981.
9. The First Video Game Console Advertisement
The Magnavox Odyssey, released in 1972, was the first home video game console. Its early advertisements had to explain the basic concept of connecting a gaming device to a television, as this was completely new to consumers. The ads even had to clarify that you needed a TV to use it, and that it wouldn’t work with black and white televisions.
10. GoldenEye 007’s Multiplayer Was Created in the Last Month
The legendary multiplayer mode in GoldenEye 007 for Nintendo 64 was created by a small team in the last month of development, without management’s knowledge or approval. This last-minute addition became one of the game’s most beloved features and helped establish the first-person shooter genre on consoles.
These ten facts represent just a small sample of video game history’s fascinating stories. From humble beginnings to technological breakthroughs, the gaming industry has consistently pushed boundaries and created lasting cultural impacts. Understanding these historical moments helps appreciate how far video games have come and hints at where they might go in the future.
Each of these milestones contributed to shaping the modern gaming landscape, demonstrating how a combination of innovation, accident, and determination has created one of the world’s most influential forms of entertainment.
