Exploring History of Game Design & Development

Dropdown

Was the first video game available to the public?​ ​ ​

Select answer

Drag and Drop

In​

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video games opened to the public

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

1972

1999

1985

Open Ended

When was the first gaming console created? What was it like?

Revitalizing an Industry

As popular as video games are today, it’s nearly inconceivable that said industry would fail.
However, in 1983 the video game industry did just that. With a growing demand for accessible gaming, more manufacturers rushed at the opportunity to meet demands. This resulted in an oversaturation of low-quality games in North America and major competition from PC games.

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E.T. Video Game on the Atari 2600 Console

Fortunately, this dismal industry crash was short lived, as the year 1985 brought on the dawn of the Nintendo Entertainment System.

Nintendo, single-handedly revitalized the video game industry, because of its more advanced graphics and gameplay mechanics. Its visual and audio components, immediately grabbed the attention of consumers and quickly set the standard for home gaming consoles to follow.

Interesting Fact: Nintendo has been in existence since the 1800s. Their humble beginnings were not far removed, as they originally got their start as a game card manufacturer.

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Super Mario Bros. on the NES Console

Battle of the Consoles

Nintendo’s release of the Game Boy handheld platform in 1989

Game Boy

 The first 16-bit console named the Sega Genesis.
The Sega Genesis not only had superior graphics compared to Nintendo but their use of clever marketing quickly made them a true force to be reckoned with in the video game market.

SEGA Genesis

Nintendo later fired back in 1991, with its over 16-bit console known as the Super Nintendo creating the first real video game console war.

Super Nintendo

Open Ended

1. Based on what you observed of Donna Bailey in the video, how do you think she persevered (How do you think Dona kept going ) in a male-dominated game development industry?

Open Ended

1. Who inspired Gerald “Jerry” Lawson and why?

Open Ended

1. Even though the Channel F video game console was not a financial success, Jerry’s work on it revolutionized the video game industry. How were his inventions and contributions game changing and why is Jerry sometimes known as the “Father of Modern Gaming”?