Video game

A video game, computer game, or simply game is an electronic game that involves interaction with a user interface or input device (such as a joystick, controller, keyboard, or motion sensing device) to generate visual feedback from a display device. Video games are typically enjoyed on a television set, computer monitor, flat-panel display or touchscreen on handheld devices, or a virtual reality headset. Most modern video games also include sound through speakers or headphones, and sometimes provide other sensations using haptic technology.

Video games come in many forms, such as console games, computer games, and mobile gaming on smartphones and tablet computers. They are also found in arcade video games and newer formats like virtual and augmented reality systems. The first video game for home use was Pong in 1972, and since then the industry has grown quickly.

Today, the video game industry is very large, with the global market reaching about US$159 billion in 2020. It is now bigger than both the global music industry and the film industry. Video games continue to shape technology and entertainment around the world.

Origins

Main articles: Early history of video games and Early mainframe games

Further information: History of arcade video games

Ralph H. Baer and Nolan Bushnell are often called the "Fathers of Video Games" for their important work in creating the first games. Early video games used special machines to show pictures on a screen. One of the first games was created in 1947 by Thomas T. Goldsmith Jr. and Estle Ray Mann. It let a person move a dot on the screen to look like a missile hitting targets. Other early games include OXO, a game of tic-tac-toe from 1952, and Spacewar!, a space battle game from 1962.

These early games helped start the video game industry. In 1966, Ralph H. Baer made a simple table tennis game that could be shown on a TV. This led to the first home video game console, the Magnavox Odyssey, in 1972. Around the same time, Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney created the first arcade video game, _Computer Space, in 1971. Their big hit came in 1972 with _Pong, a game inspired by the TV table tennis idea. These inventions helped launch the video game industry we know today.

Terminology

The term "video game" was created to describe electronic games played on a video display instead of on a teletype printer, audio speaker, or similar device. This term helps to differentiate video games from handheld electronic games like Merlin, which used lights for indicators but not for creating images.

"Computer game" is another name sometimes used because these games need a computer processor to work. In places like the United Kingdom and Western Europe, this term is common because of the history of small home computers. Other names include "digital game," used by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. "Computer game" can also mean PC games, played on personal computers, to make them different from console games, arcade games, or mobile games.

In the past, people also used terms like "television game" or "TV game," especially in the 1970s and 1980s for games played on home consoles connected to a television set. In Japan, such games are often called "TV games" or "terebi geemu." The term "video game" first appeared around 1973, with early uses in magazines and letters discussing new gaming machines.

Components

Video games need a platform—a combination of electronic parts and software—to work. These platforms can include brands like Nintendo or Sony, and games are usually made for one or a few platforms. Sometimes, games are made to work on different platforms, called "ports."

There are many types of platforms, like PC games played on personal computers, home consoles such as Xbox and PlayStation, and handheld consoles you can carry anywhere. Arcade games are special machines that usually play only one game, and browser games are played on the internet. Mobile games are played on smartphones and tablets, while cloud gaming lets you play games on almost any device with an internet connection. Virtual reality games need special headsets to immerse players in a digital world.

Classifications

Video games can be grouped in many ways based on how people play them. One way is by genre. Genres are like categories that describe the main type of gameplay. For example, a shooter game focuses on aiming and shooting, while a role playing game lets you create and guide a character on an adventure. Some genres, like horror games, are based on the story and feelings they create rather than just the gameplay.

Another way to classify video games is by mode, which describes how many players can play at the same time. Most games are either single-player video games, where one person plays alone, or multiplayer video games, where two or more people play together. Multiplayer games can be played on the same device, on different devices connected together, or online with people all over the world.

Finally, video games can be sorted by type. Most games are made for fun and challenge, called core games. Others, like casual games, are easier to pick up and play quickly. There are also educational games that aim to teach while you play, and serious games used for purposes like fitness or training. Each type offers a different experience for players.

Content rating

Video games, like movies, often have content ratings to help families know what age group is appropriate for a game. These ratings look at things like violence, how it is shown, and other themes that might affect children. Different countries have their own rating systems, such as the Entertainment Software Rating Board in the United States and the Pan European Game Information system in Europe. These ratings help make sure players are playing games suitable for their age.

Development

See also: Video game industry practices

Video game development is a team effort, much like making a movie. It involves many different skills, including programming, graphic design, sound design, and more. In the early days, one person could handle all the tasks needed to create a game. But as games grew more complex, larger teams were required.

Today, games are programmed like computer software. Early games used simple circuits, but later, microprocessors allowed for more detailed games. Modern games often use special tools called game engines to help create gameplay and graphics. These tools can simulate physics and other features, making games more realistic and fun.

Industry

The video game industry began with simple games in the 1970s and grew quickly during the golden age of arcade video games. Many early companies made games by copying popular ideas, which led to too many games being made and a big drop in sales in 1983. Japan’s industry stayed strong, and Nintendo helped bring back excitement with the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1985.

Today, the industry includes many jobs. Publishers help bring games to players, distributors make sure games reach stores or online shops, and retailers sell the games. Hardware manufacturers make gaming consoles and computers, while journalists and influencers share news and reviews. Esports competitions have also become popular, drawing big crowds online. Big markets for video games are in North America, Europe, and southeast Asia, with different types of games being popular in each place. In 2020, the global video game industry made over $159 billion, with mobile games making up almost half of all sales.

Effects on society

Video game culture is a worldwide subculture formed around video games and game playing. As video games have grown in popularity, they have greatly influenced popular culture. Gamers often identify with this culture, especially as games become more social with multiplayer and online features. Gaming can be both entertainment and competition, with electronic sports gaining wider acceptance. In the 2010s, video games became common topics in social media, politics, television, film, and music. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted video games as a way to connect with friends and family online while staying apart.

Since the mid-2000s, there has been discussion about whether video games qualify as art. In 2011, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that video games are a protected form of speech with artistic merit. Since then, developers have used games more for artistic expression. Video games have been featured in museum exhibits and have inspired television shows, films, comics, and novels. Video game music has also become popular, with concerts featuring game soundtracks. Video games can also create new forms of media, like machinima, using game engines to tell stories.

Collecting and preservation

See also: List of video game museums

Many people enjoy collecting video games, especially older games from the early days of gaming. These games, especially those in good condition, can be very valuable. There is also an effort to preserve these games because the old hardware and game media can break down over time. Some of the original creators of these games are no longer around, so keeping these games safe is important for history.

There are video game museums around the world where you can see and sometimes play important games from the past. For example, the National Videogame Museum in Frisco, Texas shows many famous games. Other museums, like the Computer Games Museum in Berlin and the Museum of Soviet Arcade Machines in Moscow and Saint-Petersburg, also focus on video game history. The International Center for the History of Electronic Games at The Strong in Rochester, New York has a large collection of games and lets visitors play through gaming history. Even places like the Museum of Modern Art have added video games to their collections.