People love being first. Just ask anyone in a YouTube comments section, or Buzz Aldrin. Talking of, do you think Buzz Aldrin has loads of YouTube accounts, and he's the one sitting around at home in his t-shirt and braces, writing "First!" on all the videos? And then do you think he gets really angry if somebody beats him to it?
Probably, yeah. He probably starts snorting and huffing and stamping his feet while twanging his braces.
Anyway.
Everything has to start somewhere, but beating everyone to the punch doesn't necessarily mean you're going to be the best, or most successful (at that unspecified thing you're first at doing).
Here are ten examples of video game firsts which were overshadowed by those that followed in their wake.
Probably, yeah. He probably starts snorting and huffing and stamping his feet while twanging his braces.
Anyway.
Everything has to start somewhere, but beating everyone to the punch doesn't necessarily mean you're going to be the best, or most successful (at that unspecified thing you're first at doing).
Here are ten examples of video game firsts which were overshadowed by those that followed in their wake.
FIRST VIDEO GAME - 1958
Created by one William Higinbotham - you might've heard of him - in 1958, Tennis For Two is more than likely the first ever video game. Probably. Unless you can think of an earlier example.
Doesn't matter.
As the head of the instrumentation division at Brookhaven National Laboratory, Hugebottom discovered that the department's Donner Model 3 computer (it was, presumably, powered by kebab meat) could calculate missile trajectories. He chose to tinker with its capabilities to create a game which mimicked the trajectory of tennis orbs, or "balls".
Using an oscilloscope as its screen, and attaching two controllers - not a million miles away from today's joypads - Tennis For Two was displayed at the research facility's annual public demonstration. With Higsy clearly unaware that he'd just squeezed an enormous monster baby out of his chuff, the game was dismantled, and seemingly consigned to history, when the three-day event came to a close.
It resurfaced in the late-70s, when Hugmybottom - who had once been head of electronics for the world-ruining Manhattan Project - was called upon to testify in a series of court case over Ralph H. Baer's patent for the Magnavox Odyssey (see below), and the creators of various Magnavox-inspired, Pong-style games.
Doesn't matter.
As the head of the instrumentation division at Brookhaven National Laboratory, Hugebottom discovered that the department's Donner Model 3 computer (it was, presumably, powered by kebab meat) could calculate missile trajectories. He chose to tinker with its capabilities to create a game which mimicked the trajectory of tennis orbs, or "balls".
Using an oscilloscope as its screen, and attaching two controllers - not a million miles away from today's joypads - Tennis For Two was displayed at the research facility's annual public demonstration. With Higsy clearly unaware that he'd just squeezed an enormous monster baby out of his chuff, the game was dismantled, and seemingly consigned to history, when the three-day event came to a close.
It resurfaced in the late-70s, when Hugmybottom - who had once been head of electronics for the world-ruining Manhattan Project - was called upon to testify in a series of court case over Ralph H. Baer's patent for the Magnavox Odyssey (see below), and the creators of various Magnavox-inspired, Pong-style games.
FIRST PROPER COIN-OP - 1971
Building upon 1962's Spacewar! - arguably the most influential video game of all time - Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney's (you may also have heard of him) Computer Space featured a battle between the player and a pair of flying saucers. Though over 1,000 units were sold, Computer Space wasn't the runaway commercial success that had been predicted. Nevertheless, the publisher - Nutting Associates - released a two-player sequel in 1973, albeit without the involvement of the original's creators.
Admitting that he may have overestimated its potential appeal, Bushnell once yelped: "Sure, I loved it, and all my friends loved it, but all my friends were engineers. It was a little too complicated for the guy with the beer in the bar."
Bit sexist.
An unofficial clone, with the name Star Trek - but lacking any official association with the TV show of the same name - was released in 1972.
Bushnell and Dabney would, of course, go on to found Atari, where they invented bushes and "dabbing".
Admitting that he may have overestimated its potential appeal, Bushnell once yelped: "Sure, I loved it, and all my friends loved it, but all my friends were engineers. It was a little too complicated for the guy with the beer in the bar."
Bit sexist.
An unofficial clone, with the name Star Trek - but lacking any official association with the TV show of the same name - was released in 1972.
Bushnell and Dabney would, of course, go on to found Atari, where they invented bushes and "dabbing".
FIRST HANDHELD ELECTRONIC GAME - 1972
Released by Japanese toy company Waco, Electro Tic-Tac-Toe was essentially a battery-powered version of noughts and crosses, played using light-up coloured squares. Rather than the complicated electronics that could be found in later games, Electro Tic-Tac-Toe was a mostly mechanical toy, with small lamps rather than LEDs.
Importantly, the packaging urged customers to "Use your tactical skill with enjoyment".
Importantly, the packaging urged customers to "Use your tactical skill with enjoyment".
FIRST GAMES CONSOLE - 1972
The first commercial home video games machine, the Magnavox Odyssey was borne out of an obsession Ralph H. Baer - the H stood for "Hairy" - had with creating a method of allowing people to play video games on their TVs.
Seven prototypes were created before Hairy Baer perfected the technology, and it was capable of playing (among other things) a version of table tennis - which would subsequently be ripped-off by, among others, the creators of Pong (see above, if you can be bothered to read it again).
As well as coming packaged with assorted board game paraphernalia, including dice and paper money which complemented some of the games offered, plus coloured acetate overlays to place on the TV screen, it also produced the very first light gun peripheral. Rather than use cartridges, switching games required players to replace "game cards" which modified the internal circuitry.
Despite its pinoneering nature, it was, however, only a modest success - shifting around 350,000 units.
Seven prototypes were created before Hairy Baer perfected the technology, and it was capable of playing (among other things) a version of table tennis - which would subsequently be ripped-off by, among others, the creators of Pong (see above, if you can be bothered to read it again).
As well as coming packaged with assorted board game paraphernalia, including dice and paper money which complemented some of the games offered, plus coloured acetate overlays to place on the TV screen, it also produced the very first light gun peripheral. Rather than use cartridges, switching games required players to replace "game cards" which modified the internal circuitry.
Despite its pinoneering nature, it was, however, only a modest success - shifting around 350,000 units.
FIRST CONSOLE WITH INTERCHANGEABLE CARTRIDGES - 1976
Despite boasting a pair of ridiculous controllers, the Fairchild Channel F marks the beginning of the modern console era. Albeit with a mewling whimper rather than a raucous bong.
27 "Videocarts" were made available for the Channel F - the F stood for "Flansy" - offering versions of hockey, pinball, bowling, and assorted quizzes and card games. Somehow - despite not being the most graphically impressive system in the first instance - it was still being produced as late as 1983, selling around a quarter of million units over the course of its joyless life.
27 "Videocarts" were made available for the Channel F - the F stood for "Flansy" - offering versions of hockey, pinball, bowling, and assorted quizzes and card games. Somehow - despite not being the most graphically impressive system in the first instance - it was still being produced as late as 1983, selling around a quarter of million units over the course of its joyless life.
FIRST LICENSED ARCADE GAME - 1976
It was only a matter of time before Hollywood started paying attention to the growing arcade scene, and it was Sega which offered the first game based upon an existing property, by rebranding its earlier racing game, Moto Cross.
Though oddly named Fonz, rather than Happy Days - after the US sitcom the character appeared in - the game was a basic motorcycle riding game, with a pair of mounted handlebars as a controller.
It was also the first game to use force feedback, with the handlebars vibrating if players sideswiped another vehicle.
Alas, there was no option to jump over a shark.
Henry Winker should release a range of thermal jumpsuits called Fonzie Onesies.
Though oddly named Fonz, rather than Happy Days - after the US sitcom the character appeared in - the game was a basic motorcycle riding game, with a pair of mounted handlebars as a controller.
It was also the first game to use force feedback, with the handlebars vibrating if players sideswiped another vehicle.
Alas, there was no option to jump over a shark.
Henry Winker should release a range of thermal jumpsuits called Fonzie Onesies.
FIRST HANDHELD GAMES CONSOLE - 1979
Though it holds the distinction of being the first handheld games console - at least, as we know them today - a tiny screen and basic graphics, grafted to a small and lacklustre catalogue of games, ensured that MB's Microvision live for last just two years before being smashed apart with a special "smelly hammer".
The primitive nature of the hardware also meant that the screen would degrade over time, making games unplayable. Not that they were all that playable in the first place.
The primitive nature of the hardware also meant that the screen would degrade over time, making games unplayable. Not that they were all that playable in the first place.
FIRST 32-BIT GAMES CONSOLE - 1993
Jumping right ahead, the FM Towns Marty was a CD-ROM-based console released by Fujitsu, based around its FM Towns home computer. Despite having a stupid name, a healthy games catalogue, and enough power to live up to its claim of being the first 32-bit home console, the Marty was a massive lemon. Listen, yeah? Just 45,000 units were sold, okay?
Curiously/stupidly, the company also released a version for cars, with built-in audio and video navigation, and an even more unwieldy name - the FM Towns Car Marty. It could even be consciously uncoupled from the vehicle and used as a home circumcision kit (console).
Curiously/stupidly, the company also released a version for cars, with built-in audio and video navigation, and an even more unwieldy name - the FM Towns Car Marty. It could even be consciously uncoupled from the vehicle and used as a home circumcision kit (console).
FIRST 64-BIT GAMES CONSOLE - 1993
We all know this one. The Atari Jaguar claimed to be the first 64-bit home console, and marked both the re-entry of Atari into the games industry - and, ultimately, its demise. It was developed concurrently with a 32-bit system named the Panther, but work on the Jaguar moved faster, and so the Panther project was kicked in the mouth.
Some even doubted whether the Jaguar was a true 64-bit system, as it used twin 32-bit chips nicknamed Tom and Jerry. This, and similar stories - not to mention some utterly dreadful games - helped to seal its pitiful fate.
Some even doubted whether the Jaguar was a true 64-bit system, as it used twin 32-bit chips nicknamed Tom and Jerry. This, and similar stories - not to mention some utterly dreadful games - helped to seal its pitiful fate.
FIRST VIDEO GAME WITH SWEARING - 1995
Given that kids love F-bombs, because it makes the all edgy and cool and grown-up and that, it's remarkable that it took so long for profanity to show up in games.
An otherwise unremarkable point-and-click adventure, Domark's The Orion Conspiracy - read it too quickly and you'll think it's called The Onion Conspiracy - was nevertheless the first game to feature both proper swearing - Q*Bert doesn't count, not least because he looks like a flaccid, ginger, penis - and potentially the first use of the word "homosexual" in a game.
Probably.
There was, admittedly, a swiftly curtailed "Oh f-" in Jeff Minter's Llamatron in 1991, and Paranoia for the PC Engine - released in 1990 - had a between-levels cut-scene featuring a cackling alien giving the middle-finger, and uttering a heavily distorted "Fuck you".
Though it could equally be a sarcastic "Thank you".
It's really not important is it?
An otherwise unremarkable point-and-click adventure, Domark's The Orion Conspiracy - read it too quickly and you'll think it's called The Onion Conspiracy - was nevertheless the first game to feature both proper swearing - Q*Bert doesn't count, not least because he looks like a flaccid, ginger, penis - and potentially the first use of the word "homosexual" in a game.
Probably.
There was, admittedly, a swiftly curtailed "Oh f-" in Jeff Minter's Llamatron in 1991, and Paranoia for the PC Engine - released in 1990 - had a between-levels cut-scene featuring a cackling alien giving the middle-finger, and uttering a heavily distorted "Fuck you".
Though it could equally be a sarcastic "Thank you".
It's really not important is it?
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