1990′s Computer Games
Published by TheChallengeBase, on Apr 22 2010, in the categories: Historical data, History
We all know that computer games were not always as great as today, because even computers could not support any great graphics. With this evolution, especially games changed a lot and they continue changing daily. New stuff make us always want to keep on trying.
The best game of all times was voted Super Mario, and was launched in 1985. Now isn’t that great? There were three series, the second one was released in 1988 and the third one in 1990. So, Mario belongs to the 90’s too. I am sure we all know those images when Mario was jumping over poisoned mushrooms and roaches to save the Peach Princess. Boy, we were so glad when we found the Princess…
The second place belongs to Pac-Man (launched in 1980) and the third place belongs to the well known Tetris ( I still like to play Tetris and I’m sure I’m not the only one)
Sim City was another revolution (1993), the same as Wolfenstein (1992), and the one I remember about because my brother was still playing it 2 years ago, Mortal Kombat (1992).
Warcraft is a legend even now, there are public competitions going on (with newer versions), but is still a powerful game with many fans (released in 1994).
I observe that there was this tendence to just create an unusual world, a dream world to play in, people were attracted by all kind of monsters and creatures, they liked to fight and conquer, to destroy and build, to make war, not peace. But till the invention of Counter Strike (2000) people should be pleased with primitive heroes and science fiction scenario and worlds.
The 1990’s became the golden age of computer games and gave birth to a large number of games developers. We might find it funny right now to play a game from 1990’s, because we were used to different graphics, bigger speed, more real characters, more unusual situations. But at that time people were satisfied with what they could get, and the computer itself was a great invention to be part of their lives. There were few people who had their own computer at home, there were several places in town where we could play computer games and we were paying some money per hour…What lovely times, nowadays this sounds strange, because we each have our own computer (even laptops).
As a child, I was so happy to play Bomberman and Supaplex, and I got nervous every time a bomb exploded and I died.
Uff, I start wondering if evolution is a good thing, because we seem to forget the most wonderful memories from our childhood…But if we still talk about this 1990’s computer games it’s a good sign, isn’t it?
The best game of all times was voted Super Mario, and was launched in 1985. Now isn’t that great? There were three series, the second one was released in 1988 and the third one in 1990. So, Mario belongs to the 90’s too. I am sure we all know those images when Mario was jumping over poisoned mushrooms and roaches to save the Peach Princess. Boy, we were so glad when we found the Princess…
The second place belongs to Pac-Man (launched in 1980) and the third place belongs to the well known Tetris ( I still like to play Tetris and I’m sure I’m not the only one)
Sim City was another revolution (1993), the same as Wolfenstein (1992), and the one I remember about because my brother was still playing it 2 years ago, Mortal Kombat (1992).
Warcraft is a legend even now, there are public competitions going on (with newer versions), but is still a powerful game with many fans (released in 1994).
I observe that there was this tendence to just create an unusual world, a dream world to play in, people were attracted by all kind of monsters and creatures, they liked to fight and conquer, to destroy and build, to make war, not peace. But till the invention of Counter Strike (2000) people should be pleased with primitive heroes and science fiction scenario and worlds.
The 1990’s became the golden age of computer games and gave birth to a large number of games developers. We might find it funny right now to play a game from 1990’s, because we were used to different graphics, bigger speed, more real characters, more unusual situations. But at that time people were satisfied with what they could get, and the computer itself was a great invention to be part of their lives. There were few people who had their own computer at home, there were several places in town where we could play computer games and we were paying some money per hour…What lovely times, nowadays this sounds strange, because we each have our own computer (even laptops).
As a child, I was so happy to play Bomberman and Supaplex, and I got nervous every time a bomb exploded and I died.
Uff, I start wondering if evolution is a good thing, because we seem to forget the most wonderful memories from our childhood…But if we still talk about this 1990’s computer games it’s a good sign, isn’t it?
History Of Computer Games
Published by TheChallengeBase, on Mar 13 2010, in the categories: Computer games, General info, Historical data
Mistakenly called videogames, the computer games, wich are in part one of the summits of technology industry, are not having a long history. What we call now the computer games industry, at the beginnings was not even close about an industry in the real meaning. A few early programmers and game designers came up with some ideas which nowadays means the foundation of computer games industry.
All started in 1952, when Alexander "Sandy" Shafto Douglas (a british professor of computer science) wrote in his PhD degree (Doctor of Philosophy) at University of Cambridge about Human-Computer interaction. This was the perfect opportunity for Douglas to creat the first graphical computer game (at that time in Cambridge were one of the only two stored program computer in the entire world). This was a simple where a player could compete against the computer. It was a version of 0X0 (Tic - Tac - Toe). So this is the first step that in the computer games history.
The second step was made after six years from first, in 1958, when William Higinbotham (American physicist) created an computer game called "Tennis for two". Higinbotham also created at Brookhaven National Laboratory an oscilloscope where visitors could play the game. With different mechanics this game has no resemblance to the future games.
The third step came up in 1962, when Steve "Slug" Russell (programmer and computer scientist) invented SpaceWar, considered by many the first game for the computer use. Russell used a PDP - 1 (Programmed Data Processor - 1) at Massachusetts Institute of Technology to design his game. SpaceWar is a shooter game with animated spaceship on a black and white monitor and two players could play it against each other in order to stay alive. The fourth step was made in 1967 when Ralph Baer (German engineer, known as "The Father of video games") who invent the first game played on a television set. The game was named Chase.
In 1971 the first arcade game was invented. It was called Computer Space and it was based on the SpaceWar, the Steve Russell’s game. Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney were those who created it. In 1972 Nolan Bushnell found Atari Computers and in 1973 a new game was created, named Pong, the first commercially video game. Pong was a simple concept, with white rectangles graphics on a black background.
An important step in the computer game history is the Activision appearance, the first company exclusively dedicated to computer games programming. Activision was founded by four ex Atari employees (1979).
In the early computer games history the programmers created only games for more than one player, like SpaceWar and Pong but time from 1977 and 1993 is totally dominated by games for single players like Atari’s “Asteroids” and “Lunar Lander” or Nintendo’s Pac Man, Game Boy, Tetris and Super Mario Bros.
The multi player game reached a huge rate of popularity when Doom (1993) allows for connecting several PC’s for the same time with several players in the same game. We can say with all responsibility that Dome is one of the most influential game ever. Some think that is too violent, but Doom it was making history, leading to a whole genre of games, 3d shooter or first person shooter.
All started in 1952, when Alexander "Sandy" Shafto Douglas (a british professor of computer science) wrote in his PhD degree (Doctor of Philosophy) at University of Cambridge about Human-Computer interaction. This was the perfect opportunity for Douglas to creat the first graphical computer game (at that time in Cambridge were one of the only two stored program computer in the entire world). This was a simple where a player could compete against the computer. It was a version of 0X0 (Tic - Tac - Toe). So this is the first step that in the computer games history.
The second step was made after six years from first, in 1958, when William Higinbotham (American physicist) created an computer game called "Tennis for two". Higinbotham also created at Brookhaven National Laboratory an oscilloscope where visitors could play the game. With different mechanics this game has no resemblance to the future games.
The third step came up in 1962, when Steve "Slug" Russell (programmer and computer scientist) invented SpaceWar, considered by many the first game for the computer use. Russell used a PDP - 1 (Programmed Data Processor - 1) at Massachusetts Institute of Technology to design his game. SpaceWar is a shooter game with animated spaceship on a black and white monitor and two players could play it against each other in order to stay alive. The fourth step was made in 1967 when Ralph Baer (German engineer, known as "The Father of video games") who invent the first game played on a television set. The game was named Chase.
In 1971 the first arcade game was invented. It was called Computer Space and it was based on the SpaceWar, the Steve Russell’s game. Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney were those who created it. In 1972 Nolan Bushnell found Atari Computers and in 1973 a new game was created, named Pong, the first commercially video game. Pong was a simple concept, with white rectangles graphics on a black background.
An important step in the computer game history is the Activision appearance, the first company exclusively dedicated to computer games programming. Activision was founded by four ex Atari employees (1979).
In the early computer games history the programmers created only games for more than one player, like SpaceWar and Pong but time from 1977 and 1993 is totally dominated by games for single players like Atari’s “Asteroids” and “Lunar Lander” or Nintendo’s Pac Man, Game Boy, Tetris and Super Mario Bros.
The multi player game reached a huge rate of popularity when Doom (1993) allows for connecting several PC’s for the same time with several players in the same game. We can say with all responsibility that Dome is one of the most influential game ever. Some think that is too violent, but Doom it was making history, leading to a whole genre of games, 3d shooter or first person shooter.