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