As video games have evolved from simple pixelated amusements to sophisticated interactive experiences, it’s fascinating to think about what inspired their creation and how they’ve grown into a multi-billion dollar industry. But have you ever wondered what was the very first video game ever created? While there is some debate among enthusiasts, many agree that the very first video game was Tennis for Two, developed by William Higinbotham in 1958.
Introduction
In this article, we’ll explore the history and evolution of video games from their humble beginnings to present day advancements.
The Birth of Video Games: Early Experiments and Innovations
Before Tennis for Two, there were several early experiments and innovations in the field of video gaming. One of the earliest examples is the OXO game, also known as noughts and crosses or tic-tac-toe. This simple game was first created by Alexander S. Douglas, a computer science professor at the University of Cambridge, in 1952.
Another early experiment in video gaming was the creation of the first interactive art piece, called ASCII Art, by Michael Noll in 1963. This was a simple text-based game that allowed users to play against each other using keyboard commands. The game featured two players controlling spaceships and attempting to destroy each other on a 20×20 grid.
While these early experiments were exciting, they were largely one-off events and not intended for widespread use or commercialization. It wasn’t until the development of Tennis for Two that video games began to gain traction as a form of entertainment.
Tennis for Two: The First Commercial Video Game Ever Created
As mentioned earlier, Tennis for Two was developed by William Higinbotham in 1958. Higinbotham was an electrical engineer who worked at Brookhaven National Laboratory in the United States.
Tennis for Two was a simple game that simulated a tennis match between two players. The game used a cathode ray tube to display a court and scoreboard, and players controlled their characters using a joystick or light gun. The game was initially intended as a novelty at Brookhaven National Laboratory, but it quickly gained popularity among the staff and visitors.
In 1962, Higinbotham sold the rights to Tennis for Two to Brown Box Inc., a company that started manufacturing and distributing the game commercially. The game became an instant hit, selling over 4,000 units within its first year on the market. This success paved the way for the commercialization of video games as a form of entertainment.
The Rise of Video Games: Arcade Games and Home Consoles
Following the success of Tennis for Two, the video game industry continued to grow and evolve. In the 1970s and 1980s, arcade games became increasingly popular, with games like Space Invaders and Pac-Man becoming cultural phenomena.
In the late 1970s, home consoles began to emerge as a popular way for people to play video games from the comfort of their own homes. The Magnavox Odyssey was one of the first successful home video game consoles, released in 1972. This console allowed players to connect up to four controllers and play against each other on a variety of games, including tennis, soccer, and shooting games.
