Milestones: Jumpin' Joysticks: History of the Video Game

1958
Physicist William Higinbotham creates Tennis for Two, a simple electronic tennis game, using an oscilloscope.

1962
Spacewar! graduates from MIT to become the first widely available computer game.

1977
The newly released Atari VCS goes on to dominate the home video game market, selling more than 25 million units.

1980
Pac-Man makes its debut in Japan. Much like Godzilla, it becomes a monster hit on arrival in North America.

1996
Online gaming takes off thanks to Quake, which allows multiple players to participate through the Internet.

2007
Kurt Cobain and Eddie Van Halen wannabes celebrate the release of Rock Band. The more challenging levels have players crying, "We're not worthy!"

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This article was first published in November 2008. Some facts may have aged gracelessly. Please call ahead to verify information.