History of Video Games 1947–1969

The early history of computer games denotes an era that lasted from 1947 to 1969 . This article lists all the important dates from this era.

Platforms

High-performance computer EDSAC from 1949, running the game OXO

The first early games were developed and played almost exclusively on mainframes or mini-computers , mostly at universities or research institutions. In some cases, analog computers were also used.

Consoles

The first game console, the Magnavox Odyssey by Ralph Baer , did not appear until 1972; however, development began in 1968.

Arcade games

The first coin-operated slot machines with video game graphics (mainly vector or raster graphics) appeared from 1971. Before that there were only (electro) mechanical arcade games and other amusement machines such as pinball machines .

Popular genres of the time

Due to the limited (graphic) capabilities of the hardware and the advancing space research, mainly computer simulation games and shooters (mostly with space themes in black space), as well as simple text games and mathematical games appeared.

Steve Russell at a PDP-1 computer (2007)

Important developers / companies

• Thomas T. Goldsmith, Jr. ( Cathode Ray Tube Amusement Device (first computer game), 1947)
• William Higinbotham (Game: Tennis for Two , 1958)
• Ken Thompson (Game: Space Travel , 1969)
• Steve Russell (Game: Spacewar ! , February 14, 1962)

Chronicle / most important games of the decade

1940s

• Rocket simulation game by Thomas T. Goldsmith Jr. (patent from 1947), game title " Cathode Ray Tube Amusement Device ", analog hardware.

1950s

OXO (1952)

• Bertie the Brain (1950), first computer game still known by name
• Nim game on a NIMROD (1951)
• Checkers board games on mainframes (1952 Christopher Strachey 's Draft Program)
• OXO (1952)
• Tennis for Two (1958), first video game (analog computer)
• Mouse in the Maze (1959)
• Carnegie Tech Management Game (1959) long-term simulation project of the Tepper Business School, started in 1957 on a Bendix G-15 (mini-computer), played from 1959 on an IBM 650.

1960s

• Spacewar! (1961) first digital computer game
• Expensive Planetarium (around 1962, platform: PDP-1 )
• The Sumerian Game (1964), business simulation (multimedia)
• Civil War (1968), two player strategy game (text)
• Hamurabi (1968), economic simulation (text)
• Lunar Lander , moon landing simulation (initially text-based), release date unknown
• Space Travel (1969, platform: Multics )

See also

• computer game
• History of video games
• Game console # History of stationary game consoles
• Category: Computer game by year

Web links

• History of video games on Pong-Story.com
• Early computer game history in the 8bit museum
• NIMROD & Co. on Heise.de
• The history of video games: 1958 - 1968 on Cynamite.de

Individual evidence

1. ↑ GBS-DIA-2005-001. (PDF) Archived from the original on June 10, 2010 ; accessed on March 13, 2014 .