| "KonaBody"> | | | | Then there was Super Mario, which was huge as |
| Of all the things that the 1970's produced, there | | | | well. It involved an Italian anti-hero who was |
| are few that made as big of a cultural impact as | | | | deliberately designed as a character that |
| video games. There's no question about it: video | | | | everyone could relate to. Soon thereafter came |
| games have been a significant force in society | | | | Zelda, Metroid, and other classics. |
| and one of the most popular leisure pursuits. | | | | Rise and Fall of Atari |
| Chances are if you're under the age of 40, you | | | | Atari was the hottest thing in the gaming world in |
| played them, some of us a lot. There was Atari, | | | | the early '80's. Today, they are a relic of past |
| Intellivision and Colecovision. Don't forget Sega and | | | | glory. So what happened? Atari made some bad |
| Nintendo. Today there are web sites that allow | | | | decisions, and although it's a little complicated, it's |
| you to download free online games. | | | | helpful to understand the situation. At that time in |
| And if you remember those days of the late '70's | | | | the computing world, magnetic mediums were |
| and early 80's, you recall that the games relied on | | | | implemented in the data storage used in Arcade |
| graphic improvements and better ways of | | | | machines. These mediums allowed for a higher |
| shooting the enemy. It was more or less a | | | | memory capacity than ROM cartridges. |
| solitary pursuit. With the rise of the Internet and | | | | In 1982, Atari had the option to include a disk |
| online games however, lots of things changed, | | | | drive in their systems. The price difference would |
| including the ability to download games and playing | | | | have been nominal, and the memory capacity |
| online games, making games a more social | | | | would have been significant. Atari, however, |
| activity, with lots of players, or opponents playing | | | | thought that magnetic media was too "fragile" for |
| each other from different countries. This may | | | | the consumer to adequately handle. Atari's |
| be the biggest change — and the latest | | | | "concern" for the customer backfired on them. In |
| benefit that games have offered the world. | | | | the previous years, there had been a very fine |
| But what about the early days? How did it all | | | | line separating arcade game quality from home |
| start and what were the video games that | | | | game quality. With arcades utilizing storage |
| defined the era? | | | | capacities ten to forty-five times larger than |
| The Innovators | | | | home systems that fine line became a chasm. |
| Many people think that Pong was the home game | | | | Arcade games seemed to be evolving |
| that started it all, but really it was Magnavox and | | | | exponentially, while home systems seemed "stuck |
| their "Odyssey" system in 1972. Although it was | | | | in a time warp." |
| very simple, it was still the first. It had twelve | | | | The public quickly became uninterested in video |
| simple games with graphic overlays. However, | | | | game specific consoles, and sales plummeted. |
| there was lots of room for improvement, and | | | | This would mark the end of Atari's reign of the |
| that's where Pong came into play. | | | | video game market. |
| Nolan Bushnell created Pong, along with Al Alcorn, | | | | The Rise of the New |
| the founder of Atari. Rumor has it that when the | | | | In 1984, everything changed. The reason? Two |
| prototype was tested at a California bar, the | | | | innovations: The reduction in cost of Dynamic |
| machine broke down after two days, because it | | | | RAM (DRAM) chips which allowed more memory, |
| was so popular. The next logical step was to | | | | and the production of higher power 8-bit |
| create a home version. So, one year later, Atari | | | | processors, which lowered the prices of the |
| released Pong, complete with built in paddles, and | | | | previous chips. Sega, a new player in home |
| a speaker. Of course, Pong was a huge success | | | | gaming systems, entered the console market |
| and represented a new stage in the evolution of | | | | with their Master System 2. The Sega Master |
| gaming. Over sixty Pong knock-offs would be | | | | system would sell very well, but its success would |
| produced, but Atari dominated the market. | | | | be limited. |
| Next was the implementation of the | | | | The other key player was Nintendo of Japan. The |
| microprocessor, which the entire industry adopted. | | | | genius of Nintendo was their marketing prowess, |
| As a result of this, more complicated systems | | | | as they poured millions into advertisements. These |
| could be developed. These systems produced | | | | advertisements hit consumers at the perfect |
| groundbreaking and innovative graphical and | | | | time, as evidenced in their sales. In fact, Nintendo |
| auditory effects that had never been seen | | | | couldn't manufacture enough systems to keep up |
| before. Consumers were eating it up. The industry | | | | with demand. After all was said and done, the |
| was on fire. In 1981 alone, five billion dollars were | | | | Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) would |
| spent on video arcade machines and another billion | | | | become the highest selling system in history. |
| dollars was spent on home video game systems. | | | | They would also become the most notorious, as |
| Atari's VCS/2600 system remained the dominant | | | | they were involved in the intimidation of retailers, |
| player through 1982, when the gaming market | | | | competing companies, and other suppliers and |
| experienced a crash. | | | | partners. |
| What were some of the great games? How | | | | Over the next five years Sega and Nintendo |
| about Pac Man? Pac Man, the yellow blob that | | | | would battle for dominance, going back and forth. |
| ate up dots and avoided squid-like ghosts, was a | | | | The consumer definitely benefited from this |
| worldwide sensation and probably the biggest | | | | rivalry. |
| game of all time. | | | | Today, it's between PlayStation 2, the Xbox and |
| Space Invaders was another incredibly popular | | | | the GameCube. Xbox has taken the step to |
| game. In fact, it really marked a turning point for | | | | merge the past and present, where Xbox "Live |
| arcade games, bringing them out of bars and into | | | | Arcade" is a console system that has a |
| family friendly places like shops and restaurants. | | | | "download-like" characteristic where you can buy |
| The premise of Space Invaders was to stop an | | | | games via the console itself. One thing in the |
| alien invasion. This simple formula went on to | | | | video game industry will always remain: the classic |
| become the most successful arcade game of all | | | | games of yesterday were great games, helped |
| time. | | | | define an era, and will always be fun. |