History of Video Games

Build your gaming IQ by charting the short history of video games

Anyone seeking a career in the game industry should take some time to study how it evolved. Video games have come a long way in just 30 years. Do you understand how successive technological platforms developed, or how the games of the '70s or '80s inspired the games we play today?

This intensive and fun 3-lesson course, developed by lead game designer Steve Kalning, gives you a deep historical context for the game industry. You'll study important issues that every aspiring developer should understand, such as what business factors led to the rise and fall of the first consoles, and how Nintendo's approach to licensing set the stage for today's system of third party software development. You'll learn how fierce competition between console manufacturers spurred the industry's growth and find out which games brought about true innovations in game design and game play.

To prepare you for a professional game development environment, papers and tests (and playing and critiquing classic games) will challenge you to develop the analytical and written skills you'll need for working in the industry.

Tuition: $300 US

Course Instructor(s):

Todd Gantzler is a 2D and 3D computer graphics artist and educator.

Course content developed by Steve Kalning.

Requirements:

To take this course you'll need:

Computer with Internet connection (56 Kbps modem or faster).
Access to a current or next generation game console (Sony, Microsoft, or Nintendo).
Some familiarity with reference video games highly recommended.

Course Objectives:

Students learn how to:

Develop an understanding of the major developments in video games over the last 30 years.
Develop an understanding of the innovative aspects of classic video game titles.
Critique classic video games and knowledgeably discuss important aspects of their art and design.
Develop an understanding of how breakthroughs in gaming platforms influenced the development of video games.
Develop an understanding of how competition between manufacturers and developers has influenced the evolution of the game industry.
Gain an historical perspective on trends in current and next-generation game development.

Course Outline

LESSON 1 Early Origins: 1958-1984

Lesson One begins with an exploration of early experiments in video games. You'll find out how academic projects led to the development of the first home consoles in the 1970s, and find out about how the exploding popularity of arcade games such as Space Invaders and Defender brought about innovations in game design. You'll also analyze the factors that contributed to the video game crash of the early '80s. In the project, you'll critique the design of a classic video game.

LESSON 2 The 2D Era: 1985-1994

Lesson Two explores the beginning of fierce competition between console manufactures in the 1980s. As you'll discover, Nintendo led the way with an innovative approach to third party development that revitalized the industry. You'll look at how innovative aspects of breakthrough games Super Mario Brothers and Legend of Zelda helped to cement Nintendo's leadership and examine the impact of the first handheld gaming devices. Finally, as competition heats up at end of the '80s, you'll explore the battle between 16-bit consoles from Nintendo and Sega. In the project, you'll critique the design of an '80s-era video game.

LESSON 3 The 3D Era and Next Generation: 1994 to the Present

Lesson Three explores the series of developments that led to today's next-generation gaming environment. First, you'll learn how advances in CD-Rom technology spurred a growth in PC gaming through games like Myst. Then you'll learn how the competition played out among 32-bit consoles in the late 90s, looking at how interface, technology, and category-killer titles contributed to each platform's success. Finally, you'll study some of the trends in the transition between current and next-generation platforms.