FIRST DIGITAL GAMING CONSOLE

The first digital game console was developed In 1962, Steve Russell at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology invented Space war!, a computer-based space combat video game for the PDP-1 (Programmed Data Processor-1), then a cutting-edge computer mostly found at universities. It was the first video game that could be played on multiple computer installations. Dawn of the Home Console

But The first proper game was called Dungeon. Dungeon had players competing against one another to complete a series of quests. Dungeon provided with new settings and players each time the user logged on.

The late 1970s saw the start of video game craze, with more and more households getting computer savvy. As a natural corollary, people started writing their games for the home computers. These programming hobbyists sold these home-grown games in local markets.

Other changes in the 1970s were home gaming consoles, which used game cartridges (like CDs and DVD). The people could collect games cartridges for one base unit instead of having bulky game console systems.

The 80s – some pause before the storm

In the 1980s, the growing craze for the video and computer game is very much, but online gaming wasn’t on the horizon yet. New games with enhanced sound and graphics were introduced and gained popularity. Pole Position and Pac-Man were two very popular games. It was during the 1980s when Nintendo introduced its first gaming console.

The 90s – revolution begins

The 1990s saw the phenomenal growth in both popularity and technology, mostly because of the rise of 3D and multimedia.

Myst, the intellectual adventure game, introduced gaming on the CD-ROM format. Fancier 3D graphics hardware made FPS (first-person shooter) games such as Quake possible.

 MULTI-USER GAMES

In the 1990s the exponential growth of the Internet made easily to run games, MUD (multi-user dungeons) which made online games wildly popular. New and improved graphical interfaces had people all over the world playing against each other not only in FPS (first-person shooter) games, but also in real time strategy games (RTS games) as well as third person games like Grand Theft Auto.

This was also the period when websites started offering online games such as ping pong, Mario bros, Super Mario, and other free online flash games and non-flash based games free for playing after registering with them. This really pushed online gaming.

 GAMING IN THE 21^st CENTURY

The 21st Century – world is just a playground

The early years of the 21st century were dominated by the DVD-CD-ROM. It has changed the way of games are played. The latest gaming systems such as Sony’s play station and Microsoft’s X-box have networking capabilities to enable people to play with each other in real time from all over the world. Exponentially growing internet services have made playing these online games possible in the true sense of the word.

The only drawback to the constantly evolving technology for online games is that what you buy today might become obsolete by the next year. Luckily, for the gamers, the resale industry for these online games is huge. This industry is just another element to the ever-changing history of online game.

AUTHOR: Syed Abdullah Ali