But, it also drove the price of games down significantly. This not only allowed for a broader range of gaming experiences. ![]() We went from the limited confines of the cartridge (Nintendo.I'm looking at YOU!!! LOL) to the less limited disc format. That's HUGE for those of us that like to ogle or even argue about the newest and shiniest graphics. Technologically, we jumped from sprites to polygons. ![]() First person shooters, platformers, real-time strategy, survival-horror, racing, fighting, stealth, and even the MMO were genres that sprung up or were vastly improved during this time. Many of the genres that we pine for today had their birth or their revolution during this period of time. This charge was led by the Nintendo Gameboy and followed by the Sega Game Gear. ![]() Handheld gaming, though it started in the 80's, became more popular as the decade went on. Games went into an entire new space, literally, as we went from two dimensional gaming to 3D. This was a decade where many of the "innovations" that we see today had their origins. Now on to the 90's.which, arguably, could be that Renaissance that we were looking for. However, before and after the crash, there were some of the biggest moments of growth the industry has ever seen. For a short period of time, the industry DID go dark. (Yeah, I said it.we hadn't really coined the phrase "GAMER" yet.) After the great third party over-saturation that lead to the crash, it was Nintendo and Sega who took the challenge of reviving and revitalizing the industry with the NES and the Sega Master System and then towards the end of the decade with the SNES and the Genesis. However, during this time, it was PC gaming that "hobbyists" turned to. We ALL know at this point that there was a complete and total over-saturation of the market and consoles pretty much went dormant. Which means that the 80’s were the humble beginnings of PC gaming as well. What's usually NOT noted is that Microsoft released MS-DOS in 1981 and aggressively marketed to combat the home consoles. The number of arcades doubled between 19 and this portion of the industry was pulling in over $5 billion a year! This does NOT include home consoles! Atari, Intellivision, and Colecovision were killing it in the beginning of the decade. If you were alive then, you can attest to this fact. This is considered the "Golden Age" for arcades. Aside from those two years, there was a pretty huge boom in the 80's. However that crash, though huge and defining, only lasted for two years. When looking at the industry, one might first latch onto the crash of 1983 as this point. I'm not sure if there was a true Dark Ages for video games. So, if a Dark Age precedes a Renaissance, then where does the video game industry fit in this? (Bear with me Historians and Theologians.I'm setting up a premise and NOT debating the misuses of the term "Dark Ages"!) There was a lack of literature, written contemporary history was on the decline, and there was very little artistic expression to be found. We all know that the Dark Ages or Middle Ages were the years when there was a general stagnation or even deterioration of cultural and economic expansion. The actual Renaissance took place after the Dark Ages. I am more speaking of an “age of enlightenment” in the video game industry. Now that we have transcended into the 8th generation of consoles, I am questioning WHEN or IF there was a gaming renaissance? Now, I am not speaking specifically of the actual Renaissance that took place between the 14th and 17th century in Europe a time where revolution and innovation was springing up in science, literature, politics, music, intellectual inquiry, and art. It was a generic knock off of Pong! I was HOOKED!!! However, this was the FIRST time that I could play a video game on my television. At this point, younger gamers are probably laughing at the thought of getting excited over these two bars and a blip. ![]() One flip of the switch and there it was, in all of its less than standard definition black and white glory.two bars and a blip. Except, this “phone” had cords that you could plug into the back of the television. Being a single mother, and a teacher with two kids, she had extremely limited funds (read: poor.but never KNEW it!) So, my mother went to the pawn shop and picked up something that was akin to a large telephone. I can recall fondly when I told my mother that I wanted an Atari 2600. However, I was there for its humble beginnings. It seems like many articles on N4G are written by "journalists" that either ignore history completely for the sake of hits or simply aren't old enough to remember it. I am constantly thinking about the history of the video game industry.
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