The Universe of Video Games
Video games have come a very long way from when they were first introduced. Who could’ve 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?
Video games were envisioned as far back as 1947. But, the first commercially made video game was not released until 1971. It was called “Computer Space”, and it was created by Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney. Shortly thereafter in 1972 the Magnavox Odyssey came to market as the original home gaming console.
Thirty years later, video games are some of the most profitable entertainment devices ever made. An enormous variety of systems have come out since then and they’re improved continuously in multiplayer capabilities, Internet play, and computing power.
There are multiple platforms for video games. For example, there are the PC games which are played on the computer, consoles which are devices connected to a monitor or television, a handheld which is a portable gaming system and can be played almost anyplace and the arcade game platform which is the large, standard electronic device located in arcades everywhere. You can also play video games on mobile phones, graphing calculators, MP3 players, watches, digital cameras, and GPS receivers but these don’t offer nearly the same experience and dimension as the platforms mentioned earlier.
At first, arcade games permitted an individual to play a video game versus the computer and sometimes against another human player. Later on as technology advanced, video game consoles permitted as many as four different players to play simultaneously. With the invention of the Wii system, as many as 12 players can compete at once. An amazing feature of this technology is that you can play concurrently with local players and players worldwide.
The Internet makes this possible. Most video game consoles released today have Internet play capabilities. Local area networks and the Internet let as many as 32 or more players play in a single game. It is also possible to communicate with other players through instant messaging or voice chat.
There has been enormous progress in video games since their early days. Video game technology is advancing rapidly. Manufacturers are continuously using new improvements in technology to make for a better, more stimulating gaming experience. As video games become ever more realistic the line between the virtual world and reality blurs.
