July 8is National Video Game Day #NationalVideoGameDay and no, I don’t play video games on any game system yet, I do play games and there on my phone or Facebook. How about you? Davvid plays games on in a while with Charlie. As for Charlie he eats. sleeps and lives for Video Games and I’ve given up trying to get him off the games and outside.
There is only 2 weeks left before Charlie has to buckle down and look for a job. He might as well spend the next two weeks doing something he loves shouldn’t he? If you will excuse me I am going upstairs to check on Charlie who is streaming for 24 hours with his friends in Oklahoma. I might actually be able to work in peace and quiet for once.
Dust off that old Nintendo and haul your prized collection of games out of the closet. National Video Game Day happens on July 8! and its cousin, National Video Games Day, is Sept. 12. Primarily used for recreational purposes although professional gaming leagues do, in fact, exist, video games have exploded in popularity over the last few decades.
Video games are exciting, invigorating, and most importantly not just for kids. Did you know the very first video game ever invented involved simple table tennis. Today, there are over five million games in existence. From high-speed racing adventures to perilous virtual dueling matches, there’s a genre for everyone to enjoy. If you want to learn about video players then you can google Top Video Game Journalists and it will pull up a list of people for you to check out.
From “Pac-Man” to “Call of Duty,” from Atari to PlayStation, the digital realm of video games is celebrated on July 8th. Did you know gaming is a serious business. Even though gaming has been one of the biggest hobbies sustained since its creation, many gamers have made a livelihood from playing video games.
The world’s number one YouTuber, PewDiePie, is a testimony to this. Gaming has come a long way, from its humble beginnings of old-school arcade games to entire universes created with elaborate digital storylines. There are video games out there with better stories than actual live-action movies. Did you know the “Batman: Arkham” series is considered the best Superhero game of all time, and the story has received more appreciation than some of the recent “Batman” Hollywood productions.
Here is a fun tip for you. The earliest video games were developed in Universities in the 1950s. Experimental games included virtual renditions of paper games including tic-tac-toe. Dr. Edward Uhler Condon unveiled what is considered the first example of a gaming machine in 1940 at the New York World’s Fair. The game showcased was based on the mathematical game “Nim,” and was played by more than 50,000 people during its time on display. The computer algorithm won more than 90% of all games played.
The first breakthrough for gaming occurred three decades later in 1967, when the father of gaming, Ralph Baer, developed the ‘Brown Box,’ the first-ever game system intended for commercial use. This inspired Atari to create the now-classic game “Pong.” A copyright infringement lawsuit followed this, but Atari came out the other side with the release of their Atari 2600. This led to the era of iconic games like “Donkey Kong” and “Pac-Man” which I’m sure most of us have played a few dozen times. Haven’t we?
When the gaming scene crashed in 1983, Japan-based Nintendo had their breakthrough and they released some of the most popular gaming franchises including “Super Mario Bros.,” and “The Legend of Zelda” and smashed records with them. The competition also grew as Sega hit the market, driving towards 3D gaming.
The modern era of games in the early 21st Century kicked off with the Sony PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and the Wii. Ever since, video games have stormed all digital platforms, with video game apps ranging across all stores. This also led to the birth of the online gaming community. The rising popularity of smartphones since 2007 has also evolved the way games are developed, with some of the most popular game titles belonging strictly to the mobile platform. What’s next in gaming is virtual reality. Big companies like Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo are all aiming for breakthroughs in VR gaming.
TRADITIONS OF THE DAY
National Video Game Day is a big day for gamers and game developers worldwide, and as geeky as gamers may seem to some, they sure know how to celebrate in style! Gaming marathons and conventions are held all over the world, with competitions, cosplays, and a chance to get exclusive gaming merchandise. Streaming of both classic and new games is higher than ever on websites including YouTube and Twitch.
Those who are not hardcore gamers enjoy their favorite games on their smartphones and computers. Childhood favorites like “Super Mario” and “Sonic the Hedgehog” games are revisited and even introduced to the next generation who didn’t grow up with them. Popular games are featured on Apple and Android stores and many games have special features and sales.
NATIONAL VIDEO GAME DAY ACTIVITIES
- Today is the perfect day to take a sick day from work or if your boss is super chill – just let him/her know you’re calling out because it’s Video Game Day, then whip out Mario Kart 64, and get ready to party like it’s 1999. Although one could easily play for hours, it’s always nice to have a couple of different games on hand for your enthusiastic guests to choose from.
- If all of your buddies are busy working, look for the nearest video game-themed bar assuming you’re over 21 and head out to mingle among other comrades. Perhaps you’ll even make new friends!
- Whether you consider yourself more of a Luigi or a Nathan Drake, putting together the costume is half the fun and the other half showing the costume off, of course.
Facts About National Video Game Day
- Did you know the worst video game of all time is The Atari game “E.T.” which was so bad that the creators literally buried copies of the game in the New Mexico desert.
- Such is the popularity of e-sports that the past few championships of the League of Legends World Competition have had a bigger viewership than the NBA finals or Super Bowl!
- The average age of a gamer is 35, according to a recent study. This proves that the gaming market is expanding beyond kids and teenagers.
- The greatest fighting game of all time, “Mortal Kombat,” didn’t have a name for the first six months of its development.
- The game “Chex Quest” was released as part of a Chex Cereal promotion and Chex Quest was the first video game ever to come as a Cereal box prize.
WHY PEOPLE LOVE NATIONAL VIDEO GAME DAY
- Despite our increasingly complex tech world (although we don’t have flying cars yet), video games will never go out of style. Video Games just keep getting better all the time.
- Playing video games is one of the best ways to pass free time. Granted, there are certainly lots of other activities available but let’s be honest: Why would we even consider other activities, when video games are an option? Plus, the adrenaline rush we get by saving Princess Peach from the evil Bowser is incomparable.
- Believe it or not, video games can teach important life lessons because many characters possess distinct personalities, relationships, and aspirations. You get to create their destinies through thought-provoking scenarios.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
