The history of computer games, continued.

The eighties proved to be a pivotal period in the history of computer games, often considered as the golden age of gaming and the dawn of personal computers; however, it did not start well. The arcade generation dominated the early part of the decade, developing a number of broad and innovative titles, shaping the substance of modern gaming but it was short lived, suffering a severe crash in 1983. It ended what was known as the second generation of console gaming, sending several developing houses into bankruptcy hindering the industry temporarily. Out of this depression, saw the reinvention of the console market with Nintendo’s release of the ‘Famicom’ also known as the ‘NES’ outside of Europe, which sparked a new era of home entertainment.

The nineties were known to be a period of progression, moving forward from old fashioned pixel graphics into the realms of the third dimension. It began targeting a more mainstream audience, collaborating with both music and film industries, to produce more rounded products. With a strong foundation, developers were able to produce popular games such as the iconic ‘Sonic the hedgehog’ franchise and the timeless classic ‘Monkey Island.’ From this point, it was onwards and upwards for the industry, releasing consoles such as the ‘Sega genesis’ and the ‘Nintendo64’ hitting all corners of the market and propelling the popularity of video gaming. Over the twenty year period, computer games had developed from simple, two dimensional products into impressive entertainment platforms, delivering cinematic experiences rivalling those of the film and music industry. Video gaming had just put itself on the map and it was there to stay.