The video game industry has come a long way since its inception. From simple pixelated games to complex, immersive experiences, video games have captured the imagination of people around the world.
Introduction
Before we can discuss the career title of the person who designed the first video game, we need to understand the early days of video game design. The first known video game was created in 1940 by a British engineer named Thomas T. Goldsmith Jr. and Estle Ray Mann. They called their game “Cathode-Ray Tube Amusement Device” and it was a simple game that displayed a dot moving back and forth on a cathode ray tube screen.
The Early Days of Video Game Design
In the 1950s, computer science professor Stephen Russell created “OXO,” also known as noughts and crosses, a two-player game that could be played on a Cambridge University computer called the EDSAC (Electronic Delay Storage Automatic Calculator). In the late 1960s, computer scientist Steve Russell created “Spacewar!” which is considered one of the first multiplayer games.
The Birth of Video Game Design as a Career
While these early pioneers of video game design were primarily scientists and engineers, it wasn’t until the 1970s that video game design became a recognized career. In 1972, Ralph Baer, an American engineer, created the first home video game console, the Magnavox Odyssey. He is considered the “father of home video gaming.”
Baer’s career title was not specifically “video game designer,” but he played a crucial role in shaping the early video game industry. His work paved the way for the development of more advanced gaming systems and consoles, which in turn led to the creation of more complex games and game design roles.
The First Video Game Designer: Shigeru Miyamoto
In 1975, Nintendo released its first home video game console, the Magnavox Odyssey. However, it wasn’t until the release of the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) in 1985 that video game design truly took off as a career. Shigeru Miyamoto, a Japanese game designer, is widely considered the first true video game designer.
Miyamoto started his career at Nintendo in 1974 as an employee of the company’s toy division. He was tasked with creating a new line of toys based on the popular anime character, Gumby. However, Miyamoto was more interested in creating video games than toys. In 1980, he created “Puck Man,” which later became known as “Pac-Man.” Pac-Man was an instant success and helped to establish Nintendo as a major player in the video game industry.
Miyamoto’s career title was not specifically “video game designer,” but his work as a game designer paved the way for the development of more advanced games and consoles. He is also credited with creating other iconic games, such as “Super Mario Bros.” and “The Legend of Zelda.”
Summary
In conclusion, while the career title of the person who designed the first video game may not be immediately apparent, it’s clear that video game design has come a long way since its inception. From simple pixelated games to complex, immersive experiences, video games have captured the imagination of people around the world. The pioneers of video game design, such as Thomas T. Goldsmith Jr., Estle Ray Mann, Stephen Russell, Ralph Baer, and Shigeru Miyamoto, played crucial roles in shaping the early video game industry and paving the way for the development of more advanced gaming systems and consoles.
