Note: I did some editing and cut down a lot of stuff so here it is. I will probably get it check at the writing center later but this essay is roughly 1200 words total. Also I will be printing this out to bring to class on weds. =]
The History of Games
Since the 1950’s games had improve so much since then. It’s so funny how it used to just be black and white screens with dots on it and it’s considered a game. Nowadays because of the advance technology the games like that back then is nothing now. Our games now are fully rendered three dimensional with high definition screens. Nowadays we can play games on our television, computer, or in any handheld systems. Games play a major part in our culture but it’s not always a positive thing. Definitely without games it would change many people’s lifestyle. Just go ask around, I bet everyone owns at least some sort of a gaming system, and yes including a cell phone.
Did you know that the first game was invented in 1958 by a physicist Willy Higginbotham? It was created at the Brookhaven National Laboratory in Upton, New York. Higginbotham’s game is a table tennis-like game that was played on an oscilloscope; oscilloscope is an electronic device that is able to produce visual displays corresponding to electronic signals. Three years later Steve Russell, a student at Massachusetts Institute of technology (MIT), created another game called “Space War”. It was actually the first interactive computer game. Anyways you get the point how games started out.
During 1983 that is when the Japanese introduces Nintendo. Nintendo debuts their first gaming system Famicom. Nintendo did not plan to market the product in the U.S. because Atari controls such a large percentage of the market. So instead they figured that it would be a smarter idea to offer Atari rights to distribute the Famicom Gaming System. Nintendo’s gaming system did not appear in the U.S. market till 1985. In America the gaming system is known as Nintendo Entertainment System. The following year the Nintendo Entertainment System was released in the U.S. after being test-marketed in New York. During the same year both Atari and Sega introduces their own gaming system to compete in the market.
In 1989 Nintendo came up with the handheld Game boy sold for $109 USD. The gaming industry is definitely earning big bucks and the competition is high. Since games are becoming more and more popular with the public the competition is fierce and many game companies are constantly creating new games some games even contain violence. Since games are extremely popular with the underage kids, violence in the games seems to be more popular. It’s because of that the Senator Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut and Senator Herbert Kohl of Wisconsin launched a Senate investigation. Their goal was to ban all the games with violent content.
A year after the major Senate investigation, 1994, the Entertainment Software Rating Board was created. The Entertainment Software Rating Board rates the video games and then makes sure that the rating symbol it’s marked on every game’s packaging. That way it can help alert the buyers about the contents in the game, it’s definitely a good way for parents to make sure if they are buying a game that is suitable for their children or not.
By 1997 the era belongs to Sony’s PlayStation. It’s considered one of the most popular game consoles where 20 millionth units have been sold. It was incomparable with any other gaming system. While Tiger introduces their “multipurpose” handheld called, “Game.com” to compete with Nintendo’s Game Boy. Tiger’s Game.com also features a calculator, address book, and also a stylus for the built –in touch screen. Another special feature hoping to win over fans was that the Game.com can be connected to the PC where you can access your e-mail. Also during the same year Arizona tries to put down a law where it’s illegal to display or distribute violent materials to underage minors. The result was that the proposed bill was not approved. In 1998 time Wal-Mart, the retail chain, decided to ban more than 50 video games that contains that seems to be inappropriate for underage minors. Immediately a year after the Wal-Mart game banning the Columbine High School Shooting, in Littleton, Colorado, occurred. Quickly right after the incident Sega announced that the company will not be releasing a light gun game for the Dreamcast console in the U.S. Also in addition the guns, that were originally plan to be imported to America, which is compatible with the American Consoles, were instantly banned. In results the Americans had to play the popular House of the Dead 2 with standard controllers. Everyone was afraid that more shooting incidents might occur because of the influence of violent games.
Sony’s PlayStation finally launches their PlayStation 2 in the U.S. in 2000. It was sold for $ 299.99 more expensive than any other console sold from before, but it was a big hit. It was actually sold out quickly in the early morning the day it came out. The demand was so high that it’s really difficult to buy a PlayStation 2 during the first shipment because there were only 500,000 units available during that time. During the same year The Sims was released and quickly became one of the biggest hit.
By now most people know that obesity is a problem in the U.S. It’s because every kid on the block has a computer, a television with cable or/and satellite and many gaming systems including handhelds. The kids are apparently stuffing their face with junk food and sit on their butt all day long watching television, on the computer updating their facebook/myspace/twitter or playing games on whatever gaming system they can find. Also let’s not forget many adults are doing the same.
While other gaming companies concentrated on releasing the same old gaming systems or handheld system, the Nintendo aimed for a more different and unique design for their gaming system. In 2006 Nintendo released their Wii, a gaming console where the controller was made for the purpose where the gamers actually need to move around to play the games. For example the gamers need to swing the controller like a tennis racket or just use it however depending on the games they are playing. This really appeals to a wider range of audiences, especially the older generations.
Nintendo’s Wii became really popular and many good games were created specifically for their game console like the widely popular game Super Mario Galaxy and many more. In 2008 Wii officially launched Wii Fit which is a game where people can exercise in doors in front of the television. Wii Fit is a great way to get people moving and it’s a great way to get gamers of all ages to stay fit. In 2009, which is current the present day, Nintendo’s Wii is currently one of the most popular gaming system and Nintendo’s Wii Sports become one of the best-selling video game of all time.
Games have played such an important and huge role in our culture. I really think games are a great way to relief stress from other daily chores but if you became addicted it’s also creates a negative effect. For example losing your vision quicker or just not getting enough exercises because you become so sucked into the game. Also games did play a pretty big role in the obesity factor. It’s a good thing Nintendo came up with the Wii, so now we know at least some kids out there are exercising. Maybe they are not getting enough vitamin D but its okay there is vitamin pills they can take.
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This is good for a history of gaming. I think instead of changing this article to accommodate the needs of the class, you could add a small segment from the perspective of a gamer. When we read the articles that Rosetta assigned to us, they were from the perspective of people involved in a burgeoning movement or technology. They were commentaries on how they themselves were adjusting. What we could do in the lay out of this article is have a side bar or half page insert of the perspective of a life-gamer. Something that comes to mind is a train of thought written out. Find a funny picture of a gamer. I don't know if you've read any Virginia Woolf, but she is infamous for having her characters have a rolling train of thought, almost like a continuing run-on sentence.
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