When the computer was first invented, it was only supposed to become a really advanced calculator. For about thirty years ago (now it is 1999), when you mentioned the word game, most people would think of board games, like chess, backgammon and monopoly. As the technique evolved, more and more people used computers. An idea of using the computer for entertainment popped up. The first computer games were very simple and were in black and white. The very first computer game was named Colossal Cave, and was built up only by text. The text told you where you were, and on your command you could move or pick up something. For example, if you wanted to go forward, you would write 'north'. Colossal Cave became a hit and soon visual games (games with moving objects) were created. Some of those were Pong, Asteroids and Pacman (I assume that you recognize these). The society could first try these games out in the arcade halls in the 70's. The game machines in the arcade halls were very expensive to manufacture and distribute, so the producers put coin slots by the side of them, in order to charge people for playing. The computer games at the arcade halls became more and more popular, and more games were produced. But most of the coming games were not even used for computers. In 1985 Nintendo released the US version of the 8-bit NES (Nintendo Entertainment System), which became the first game console for domestic use. It was released with the two well-known games Super Mario Bros and Duck Hunt. 1987 the NES console was listed 1# as most selling toy. The japanese company Nintendo has also released the Game Boy in 1989, the 16-bit SNES (Super Nintendo Entertainment System) in 1991 and the N64 (Nintendo 64-bit) in 1996. In the 90's the computers became both better and faster, and more people got themselves a computer. As the computer got more and more used in the home, games made especially for the computer were produced.
