Industry of Amusement

History of games

Since there have been people, they have been playing games. There seems to be a need among humans to spend some their time engaged in playful activities. While nearly all animals exhibit some type of play behaviors, human civilizations have transformed the art of the game into something wondrously complex. From board games and dice to soccer and baseball, the current video game revolution is only the latest incarnation of a past time with a deep tradition.

Development of video games

Several early versions of interactive video games were met with limited success during the mid 20th century but with the release of the historic 'Pong' home video game in 1975, the nature of home entertainment was forever changed. The television was no longer simply a passive tool for receiving information and entertainment; it became an interactive platform for many types of media. As computer technology rapidly increased, the offerings for home game systems followed in lock step.
The first video game systems were simple box like machines that were only really capable of doing one thing. 'Pong' for instance did little more than move a pixilated dot around a television screen. When later models of game platform such as the Atari 2600 the Nintendo Entertainment System introduced cartridge consoles, a massive industry was born. The evolution of the console continues and modern machines can do much more than their predecessors, including serving as multimedia platforms for music, movies and internet.

Controversy

As soon as video games began to gain popularity the medium also began to attract controversial attention. Concerned parents worried that children may be adversely affected by hours in front of the television and movements to regulate the industry were spawned. As with many reactions to new technology, concerns turned out to be less serious than first thought. The issue is not resolved but there have been studies suggesting benefits to gaming such as improved motor skills and attention span. Some proponents have also asserted that it is actually difficult to find children that are good at video games and bad at school.

Future of Video Games

The vast increase in the technology of game platforms has allowed modern gaming to explode in ways that were unimaginable just a few decades ago. As the gaming generation has grown up, games and game systems have grown up along with them. This entertainment medium is no longer just for the kids. Game environments have become increasingly complex and realistic in an ongoing effort to compete in a market that is now worth billions.

Undoubtedly new technological innovations will continue to change what is possible in video games. More and more people are connected to vast multiplayer games through the internet and in the age of the global network this is just one more way that the world is shrinking. New advances in virtual reality and artificial intelligence are already testing the boundaries of the possible and the only sure thing about the future of video games is that they are here to stay.

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