Video games have become an increasingly popular form of entertainment and have evolved tremendously over the past few decades.
From simple 2D games with basic graphics and mechanics to complex and immersive virtual worlds with stunning visuals and intricate storylines, video games have captured the hearts of millions of people worldwide.
With the rise of esports and online gaming communities, video games have become more than just a form of entertainment, but a competitive sport and a social platform where players can connect and engage with each other from all corners of the globe.
In this article, we will delve into 30 cool facts about gaming, and the ‘Firsts’ of video games’ history.
- The video game industry is estimated to be worth $179.7 billion in 2020.
- The best-selling video game of all time is “Minecraft,” which has sold over 200 million copies as of 2021.
- The most played video game of all time is “League of Legends,” with over 115 million monthly active players.
- The highest-earning esports player of all time as of 2021 is Johan “N0tail” Sundstein, who has earned over $6 million playing Dota 2.
- The first-ever video game was “Tennis for Two,” which was created in 1958 by physicist William Higinbotham.
- The first commercially successful video game was “Pong,” which was released in 1972.
- The first video game console was the Magnavox Odyssey, released in 1972.
- The first home video game console with a microprocessor was the Fairchild Channel F, released in 1976.
- The first successful home video game console was the Atari 2600, released in 1977.
- The first video game to use 3D graphics was “Battlezone,” released in 1980.
- The first-person shooter game “Doom” was so popular that it was installed on more computers than Microsoft’s Windows operating system in the mid-1990s.
- The Nintendo Game Boy, which was released in 1989, was the first handheld gaming console and sold over 118 million units.
- The PlayStation 2, which was released in 2000, is the best-selling video game console of all time, selling over 155 million units.
- The Xbox 360, which was released in 2005, was the first video game console to offer achievements, a feature that has now become standard in the industry.
- The first video game to use motion controls was “Duck Hunt,” released in 1984.
- The first virtual reality headset was the “Virtual Boy,” released by Nintendo in 1995.
- The first console to support online gaming was the Sega Dreamcast, released in 1998.
- The “Guitar Hero” franchise, which was first released in 2005, popularized the use of instrument-based controllers in music rhythm games.
- The “Call of Duty” franchise is the best-selling video game franchise of all time, with over 300 million copies sold.
- The “Super Mario” franchise is the best-selling video game franchise created by a single company, with over 380 million copies sold.
- The first video game to win an Academy Award was “The Journey,” a game developed by thatgamecompany.
- The video game industry employs over 220,000 people in the United States alone.
- The first video game to be played in space was “Tetris,” played by a Russian cosmonaut in 1993.
- The first video game character to have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame was Mario, in 2020.
- The first video game to feature a female protagonist was “Ms. Pac-Man,” released in 1982.
- The first video game to feature voice acting was “Dragon’s Lair,” released in 1983.
- The first video game to be banned for its violent content was “Death Race,” released in 1976.
- The first video game console to offer online multiplayer gaming was the Sega Saturn which was released in 1994.
- The world’s first eSport event was the “Space Invaders Championship” held by Atari in 1980, which attracted more than 10,000 players across the United States.
- The first video game to be recognized as a sport and receive official recognition by a national sports federation was “StarCraft II,” which was recognized by the Korean e-Sports Association in 2010.