A history of computer games; Part 2: 1980s – 1990s

It was not until the 1980s were the video game industry picked up real competition as more and more publishers found out that making games which looked and played similar to each other could make them some money. Thus, one of the gaming pioneers EA (Electronic Arts) was born, along with other publishers. Sadly not all of the companies survived, many survived roughly about 20 years; but EA still lives and in my eyes conquers today. Pong was the first commercially available video game made in 1973 by Atari, but it was not until the 1980s were it reached the mass audience as more people played it on their home systems using computers like the Commodore 64, Apple II and Atari 800.

I am actually quite surprised at the amount of genres that were available to play at the time, such as adventure games, fighting games, racing games and the list goes on. Even sound and speech comes alive in this era in a game called Stratovox.

In the late 1980’s the UK was in a strong form in the gaming market, as personal computers were offered more power over price, such as the ZX Spectrum and the Amiga. Online gaming was also coming in to play with users sharing information with other computers.

I just remembered one of my all time favorite game called Guardian Heroes which was only released on the Sega Saturn, I so wish they do re-make of that game on XBOX Arcade or the PSN, better yet SEGA SATURN 2, if they do I will defiantly buy it on the first day.

I am not really playing any games at the moment (don’t want to get distracted from work), but I do sometimes play Call of Duty from time to time, just so I don’t lose my touch of WHOOPING EVERYONES ASSESS………ermm… got little over my head then.

Task 2: A history of computer games, part one: 1950s - 1970s

During the 1950s – 1970s there were a lot of computer games which incorporated the use of university mainframe computers these games were actually developed by individuals as a hobby in which they enjoy and have fun in creating. One game which exploited the use of fun games was Spacewar, this was programmed by a group of university students at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), including a student named Steve Russell. Russell was born in the United States in 1937. Steve Russell is a programmer who is well known for creating the game Spacewar with a few students at MIT. Steve Russell programmed Spacewar on the DEC PDP-1, a relatively new computer in 1961. Spacewar is recognised as the world’s first “shoot -‘em’up” genre, which is actually quite interesting as I did not think the world’s first shooter game would be so simple.

In my opinion I think Steve Russell would be one of the first to have fun with a computer, because it was after Spacewar when everyone took notice of the huge capabilities that a simple computer can have. I think in a way Steve Russell pioneered something great in which a person can have fun by just sitting at home in front of a computer. This is still being used 60 – 70 years later and will be used for many generations to come.

I do not think it strikes me as significant, however I am very fascinated by the way in which the development of games has come such a long way in a short period of time, and I know the evolution of games will keep on expanding in the coming years. I am very curious on how games will look and play in about 20 – 30 years. 3D has been introduced to gaming and it is slowly but surely having an impact in the gaming world. I wonder what’s next after 3D......the most obvious answer would be 4D.duhJ. But I am thinking more about how we see, interact and feel each game, and each genre would have its own unique capabilities.

We are now on the third week; I do not know how these weeks have gone by so quickly, but I feel like I have learnt so much in such a short period of time. I thought it might be overwhelming to take in so much but everything soon kicks in to play. We recently watched Vision of the Future in Chris’s lessons. In all honesty I would not watch something like that in my own time, only because I do not want someone to tell me how the future is going to operate I would want find out myself and make my own future. In addition this is the second time I have watched this movie because I watched it last year before I broke my arm and turned in to a mini Wolverine.....ooohh yeeaaahh.

By Junadur Rahman

About Junadur (Juned)

My name is Junadur Rahman but I hate being called Junadur because it sounds like a typical Asian name which is hard to pronounce, I would rather be called Juned. It’s just plain and simple and it’s my REAL NAME. Right enough with my name.

I was actually doing this course last year, but due to a nearly fatal injury on my left arm I had to re-do the year again because I missed a lot of lessons. About my arm; I shattered both of my bones so I had an operation where I have had two metal plates inserted in my arm............................cool? not really, it left me with two humongous scars and hurts now and then, aaahhhhh. The only good thing about my metal plates is that people call me Wolverine, which is sweet.

When I was 5 or 6 years old I got my first copy of Street Fighter II which was the first game I played and which got me addicted to video games, I played it on the Sega Mega Drive using cartridges for games. The most recent games I played were Halo Reach, CoD-MW2, Final Fantasy XIII etc. After Sega Mega Drive I got the Sega Saturn for my seventh birthday which came bundled with Street Fighter II Collection, I really had most of the consoles including handheld ones. I was not a great a fan of Nintendo, infact I only had one console from them which was Nintendo Cube, I had the Cube for about a month and sold it I only got it to play Resident Evil. I also had the Nintendo SP which was also not good. I then started to get the Playstation consoles starting with PSOne, PS2 and Currently the PS3. I play all sorts of games which brought me in buying Xbox and the Xbox 360.

The thing that makes me play games today is the sheer excitement I get from playing my favourite games with my family and friends. And also the drive and passion to one day get involved in creating a game, and say to my self I created that character or I made that game what it is today.

By Junadur Rahman (Juned)