Today, video games are ever-prevalent in society. Many households have a gaming console, and there are plenty of Kiwis who enjoy spending the evenings tucked in front of the monitor, doused in colourful LED strip lights, and lost in a completely different world and story.
In honour of video games day, we wanted to explore the history of video games. Where did they come from? Who played the first handheld console? From legendary arcades to virtual reality, let’s take a step back through time, to the dawn of video games. At the end of this article, we will also break down the best fibre internet speed for the smoothest gaming experience.
The Rise of Simple Games
To tell the story of video games, we must take a glimpse at the early days of computers. Engineers in the 1950s began to use their machines to design simple games to play. In 1962, student from MIT Steve Russel and his friends created SpaceWar! This early version of a game featured spaceships that players could control to avoid a star’s “gravity” while also battling one another. This game was so significant that it is not in the United State’s Library of Congress – although it didn’t have any commercial success.
Pong of the 70s
The game Pong was introduced to North America in 1972, which was an industry-changing game that was a digital version of table tennis. There was a line down the middle and two paddles on either side of the screen that players could move up and down. Space Invaders launched six years later, and then Pac-Man in 1980. These games became popular with the invention of the video arcade. The digital video game arcade began to pop up in the 1970s, drawing in hordes of young people. The video games would be stored in tall cabinets, and kids would gather around to watch their friends play. Meanwhile, household gaming consoles were beginning to take off too.
The Rollercoaster 80s
Video games were rapidly rising in popularity at the dawn of the 1980s. It became such an oversaturated market that it crashed in 1983. However, this gave room for a solid comeback. Nintendo launched the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) and Super Mario Bros in 1985. Other popular NES games included Paperboy in 1985 and the Legend of Zelda in 1986.
Consoles of the 90s
In 1990, Nindendo released the first major handheld gaming system, the Game Boy. The Game Boy was a home console that was smaller yet more powerful and catalysed the development of more advanced graphics. The first-person point of view game Wolfenstein was a popular example in 1992.
Video game consoles became more popular around this time, such as Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo, followed by Nintendo 64. Sonic the Hedgehog became a household name amongst others as more games grew in popularity. Games were played both in the home, and in arcades.
The Dawn of the 2000s
By the 2000s, new innovations hit the market, bringing bigger and better gaming experiences. The best-selling home console, Sony’s PlayStation 2 arrived in 2000 and Microsoft shook the landscape with the launch of the Xbox. As each year passed, graphics got better, more crisp, and the missions and actions grew and evolved.
Gaming Today with the Right Internet
Today, gamers have access to a plethora of options. From Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and the infamous PlayStation 5, graphics now resemble films, with animations becoming more lifelike, and stories as detailed as novels. Now, video game stories are being adapted into film and TV, such as the Last of Us and Fall Out.
The most successful gaming experience cannot be completed without having the right internet speed. It’s important to understand the different types of fibre internet speed, so you can be sure to choose the right plan for your needs. For example, 50/ 100 Mbps is a suitable speed for a two person household who use the internet for social media and basic video streaming such as Netflix. However if you have a larger household, or are a gamer, you’ll probably want to consider either fibre 300 or fibre 900, which are much faster speeds that have the capability to support smooth, buffer-free gaming. There is nothing worse than experiencing lagging and interruptions when trying to complete a mission!
