The Evolution of Video Games: From Pixels to VR

Discover how video games have changed over time: from the first pixels to the incredible experience of virtual reality.

August 29 is World Video Game Day. Whether you owned a Nintendo, Playstation or XBOX, or simply played at your friends or neighbours’ house, video gaming has been a part of most people’s lives at some point.

Technology has greatly contributed to the evolution of video games, taking an important leap in the world of entertainment and art that has captivated millions of people. Looking back to the beginning of the history of video games, game development has evolved in incredible ways, taking players from a two-dimensional world to amazing immersive 3D and virtual reality experiences.

The evolution of video games can be traced back to the 1950s and 1960s when computer scientists began designing simple games and simulations on minicomputers and mainframes. Throughout the decades, the evolution of the game technology, the play narrative and the gaming industry has evolved rapidly.

The video game was born in 1947 thanks to the brilliance of Thomas Goldsmith and Estle Ray Mann, who developed and patented it. It was called the “Cathode Ray Tube Amusement Device”. And that's precisely how it worked: a cathode ray tube emulated a radar like those of the missiles in World War II. A beam controlled by an oscilloscope could be controlled with dials and consisted of aiming at targets created with plastic rectangles, which were the planes.

Video games had many improvements and new versions, but it wasn't until the 70's that their boom began, achieving record sales and being a more than profitable business. Pong demonstrated the power of the video game industry, being the first commercially successful. In the 1980s, growth was explosive with the advent of Pac-Man, Super Mario Bros, and Tetris, which established themselves as a cultural phenomenon and laid the foundation for future video games. The Legend of Zelda and Final Fantasy were the transition from pixels to 2D graphics. And it is here when video games become a tool with which to tell stories, they begin to have narrative and visual importance.

In the 90s, video games evolved rapidly, moving from 16-bit systems to the first internet-enabled home console. With these advancements, came the 3D revolution and immersive environments for players, offering them more realistic experiences, although it was still a very experimental time.

During the 2000s, we saw the rise of online gaming and multiplayer experiences becoming a significant trend in the industry. Within this time, the new era of video games is marked by virtual reality, with which players can interact with the environment, making their experience much more complete. A world with depth, 360º vision and physical interaction, where the player can pick up objects, throw them or move them from one place to another.

It is anticipated that the evolution of gaming will continue to develop rapidly with the continued advancements in technology from the Metaverse to AI and the development of new VR tools that we see emerging frequently.

Meanwhile, we say to all gamers: HAPPY WORLD VIDEO GAME DAY!

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