1970s in video games

The 1970s was the first decade in the history of the video game industry. The 1970s saw the development of some of the earliest video games, chiefly in the arcade game industry, but also several for the earliest video game consoles and personal computers. Notable games released in the 1970s included The Oregon Trail, Pong, Space Invaders, Asteroids, Galaxian, and Zork. History of arcade video games and History of arcade games Notable early arcade video games of the early-to-mid-1970s include Computer Space (1971), Pong (1972), Space Race (1973), Speed Race (1974), Gun Fight (1975), Heavyweight Champ (1976), Fonz (1976), Night Driver (1976), Breakout (1976), Death Race (1976), and Space Wars (1977). Golden age of arcade video games Classic arcade games of the late 1970s include Space Invaders (1978), Galaxian (1979), Asteroids (1979), Barrier (1979), Speed Freak (1979), Warrior (1979), Tail Gunner (1979), and Lunar Lander (1979). First generation of video game consoles The so-called first generation of consoles were on sale between 1972 and 1980 and included the Magnavox Odyssey, Telstar, Home Pong, and Color TV-Game. Typical characteristics of the first generation of consoles: Discrete transistor-based digital game logic. Games were native components of consoles rather than based on external or removable media. Entire game playfield occupies only one screen. Players and objects consist of very basic lines, dots or blocks. Colour graphics are basic (mostly black and white or other dichromatic combination; later games may display three or more colors). Either single-channel or no audio. Games had a high score based system. Lacked features of second generation consoles, such as microprocessor logic, ROM cartridges, flip-screen playfields, sprite-based graphics, and multi-color graphics. Second generation of video game consoles The second generation of consoles, on sale between 1976 and 1988, made several leaps forward technologically. Consoles first available in the late 1970s included the Fairchild Channel F, Atari 2600, Bally Astrocade, and Magnavox Odyssey2.