how can i learn more about this medium

[Hamish Durie]

being relativly new to gameing and being one of those weird people who genuinly enjoys history i want to know more about gamiengs past and more about it in general.
so what are some methods to do this because all i can think of is magazine subsciption, but i don't know what magazine


Thank you

 

[DigitalAtlas]

being relativly new to gameing and being one of those weird people who genuinly enjoys history i want to know more about gamiengs past and more about it in general.
so what are some methods to do this because all i can think of is magazine subsciption, but i don't know what magazine


Thank you

First things first, what do you want to learn? Do you want a history of retro-consoles? Current consoles? Game developers? Game publishers? The indie movement? Famous figures? Famous games? Why coin-op went the way of the dodo? How it alllll started? Please specify.

EDIT: Till then, here is a brief history of video games provided by a friend: "A guy named Ralph Baer pretty much invented video games, then there was something called Tennis for Two, then we had pong and arcades, then Atari almost ruined everything, then Nintendo saved everything, we had 8 bits, 16 bits, 32 bits, 64 bits, SO MANY BITS, then all the bits disappeared because Segata Sanshiro beat them, then Sega dropped out of the console race, and now here we are."

 

[Bostur]

For the historical aspect wikipedia is actually a good entry point. Most games that were ever popular have their own article usually with references to the games that acted as inspiration. Wikipedia also has some articles about gaming genres.

The genres can be a good point of entry:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adventure_game
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4X
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_game
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Real-time_strategy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Role-playing_video_game
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First-person_shooter

 

[luckybreak]

http://www.vghmuseum.org/news.shtml Its a museum about video game history. It has not been opened yet, there still in the stage of getting funds. Outside of that, if your not just going to try google than go to tvtropes, you might not learn a lot but you will learn some stuff and it is entertaining.

 

[Jazoni89]

Buy Retro Gamer Magazine (the handbooks are better if you can get them especially the hardware handbooks which has at least five huge pages dedicated to one Console/Computer, and both volumes together marks every single last one, from the ZX 81 all the way up to the Dreamcast), and watch Gametrailers retrospectives on various franchises (the final fantasy one is great).

Also, as you are too young to have a credit card, be sure to ask a Parent, or Guardian if you can import said magazine from the UK (as it is a UK only magazine), it's defiantly worth the hassle, as it is a great source of information.

Racketboy is a great website for retro stuff, so be sure to check that out.

 

[DigitalAtlas]

For the historical aspect wikipedia is actually a good entry point. Most games that were ever popular have their own article usually with references to the games that acted as inspiration. Wikipedia also has some articles about gaming genres.

The genres can be a good point of entry:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adventure_game
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4X
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_game
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Real-time_strategy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Role-playing_video_game
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First-person_shooter

So genres are ALL one needs to know about gaming?

What about celebs? Landmarks in developing? System differences? Mascots? Sega's demise? Sony's rise?

 

[Vrach]

For the historical aspect wikipedia is actually a good entry point.

So genres are ALL one needs to know about gaming?

Let's try reading that again, shall we?

OT: Be a bit more specific on what you're after mate, easier to get you the info you need

 

[Hamish Durie]

being relativly new to gameing and being one of those weird people who genuinly enjoys history i want to know more about gamiengs past and more about it in general.
so what are some methods to do this because all i can think of is magazine subsciption, but i don't know what magazine


Thank you

First things first, what do you want to learn? Do you want a history of retro-consoles? Current consoles? Game developers? Game publishers? The indie movement? Famous figures? Famous games? Why coin-op went the way of the dodo? How it alllll started? Please specify.

EDIT: Till then, here is a brief history of video games provided by a friend: "A guy named Ralph Baer pretty much invented video games, then there was something called Tennis for Two, then we had pong and arcades, then Atari almost ruined everything, then Nintendo saved everything, we had 8 bits, 16 bits, 32 bits, 64 bits, SO MANY BITS, then all the bits disappeared because Segata Sanshiro beat them, then Sega dropped out of the console race, and now here we are."

first of all thanks for that little bit, and to answer you question pretty much everything

 

[NathLines]

Just stick around this site for a while, not so much to learn about the past, but to stay up to date. I would also suggest that you follow TotalHalibut (on Youtube). He has this mailbox every weekday where he answers some questions about the current gaming market and such.

 

[DigitalAtlas]

being relativly new to gameing and being one of those weird people who genuinly enjoys history i want to know more about gamiengs past and more about it in general.
so what are some methods to do this because all i can think of is magazine subsciption, but i don't know what magazine


Thank you

First things first, what do you want to learn? Do you want a history of retro-consoles? Current consoles? Game developers? Game publishers? The indie movement? Famous figures? Famous games? Why coin-op went the way of the dodo? How it alllll started? Please specify.

EDIT: Till then, here is a brief history of video games provided by a friend: "A guy named Ralph Baer pretty much invented video games, then there was something called Tennis for Two, then we had pong and arcades, then Atari almost ruined everything, then Nintendo saved everything, we had 8 bits, 16 bits, 32 bits, 64 bits, SO MANY BITS, then all the bits disappeared because Segata Sanshiro beat them, then Sega dropped out of the console race, and now here we are."

first of all thanks for that little bit, and to answer you question pretty much everything

Okay.... This is tough. Retro gamer magazine was rec'd earlier and that is a good start.

History of onsoles: Look up the video game crash. Nintendo saved everything because Atari allowed an over-saturation of games. Then check out Nintendo's first big competition, The SEGA Genesis. I recommend reading/watching a history of SEGA. I know G4 did a really good one for the Dreamcast. Then read about the Nintendo platforms and the PlayStation platforms. By then, you should understand how the PS2 killed the Dreamcast and gave birth to the Xbox. Also watch some of ScrewAttack's top ten's. It won't tell you what was great, but it will tell you what was popular. Also, try emulating classic games or even investing in a few classic consoles. The best way to experience things is first hand.

Publishers: Look up Capcom, SEGA, Ubisoft, EA, and Activision.

Developers/Famous figures. Look at Capcom's Clover Studio, Treasure LTD, Fumito Ueda, Shigeru Miyamoto, Keiji Inafune, Gabe Newell, and Bioware Studios. Todd Howard and Cliffy B are also interesting figures in current gaming.

That should be a great start. Add me as a friend on here and private message me with any questions.

Just stick around this site for a while, not so much to learn about the past, but to stay up to date. I would also suggest that you follow TotalHalibut (on Youtube). He has this mailbox every weekday where he answers some questions about the current gaming market and such.

"Age badly is something women do, games are good or bad when they are released."

History matters, sir. In fact, all of the best works were released far before this gen.

 

[Neverhoodian]

Here's a good starter:
In all seriousness, checking out Wikipedia is good advice. Also there are several good documentaries on Youtube

 

[Phlakes]

I'll give a little bit here.

Okay, we're in the 7th generation of consoles here. Going back, there's 6th- Gamecube/Dreamcast/PS2/Xbox, 5th- N64/Playstation/3DO/Atari Jaguar/Sega Saturn, 4th- MegaDrive(Genesis)/SNES/TurboGrafx-16/Neo Geo, 3rd- NES and Sega Master System, and then there's a sea of Ataris and consoles nobody's heard of in 2nd and 1st. Also Pong.

If there are consoles in there you've never heard of (and I guarantee there are), it's because they failed.

Because of the terrible quality of the consoles and games in the second generation, the industry crashed in North America. Then the NES came along.

As for the technical stuff- games are funded by publishers (EA, Activision, 2K Games, Squeenix occasionally, etc.) and developed by none other than developers. Then, just like everything else, they're completed, marketed and manufactured, then sent off and sold. And now, with things like XBLA and PSN and Steam, indie developers can have their games published without having to pay for marketing and manufacturing.

And if you want to read up on it all, just head over to Wikipedia. If you want to know more about the industry today, get something like Game Informer (they usually have some history pieces and interviews with figures) and start watching Extra Credits if you're not already. Yahtzee's articles can help too. Same with the Escapist's weekly issues.

 

[oplinger]

being relativly new to gameing and being one of those weird people who genuinly enjoys history i want to know more about gamiengs past and more about it in general.
so what are some methods to do this because all i can think of is magazine subsciption, but i don't know what magazine


Thank you

My advice?

1.Start slow. Don't have it all thrown in your face.
2. It's a very broad subject, and no one will give you every detail. Some things are more important than others (to different people). Some care about the lifespans of companies, other care about technical feats, some just about the games, other care about the people behind the games and who made what. You'll have to figure out which is important for you.
3. Look up a game, any game you want, say on wikipedia. Now read it's genre, about the company that made it, the other games they made, the spin offs of those games, and just branch off from there. You'll learn more than you think; about games, genres, companies, people, all sorts of things.


I'm not going to try and summarize the history of the universe in a forum post. It's not possible and it's silly to even try.

 

[Fleeker]

Key things to learn.....learn about the creation and marketing of Pong and Atari.

Study the history of arcades the rise, the peak, and fall.....looked at failed systems and why they failed,the development of consoles, console wars, consoles verse PC gaming and its history, and the role of technology. Also look up video game lawsuits and you can get some interesting sociological arguments.

I'd also say watch every Extra Credits video on this site because they may not give you history but some of the videos touch on some very interesting stuff that will help give you a well rounded understanding of the industry.

Google those....don't use wiki like some people suggest (I have no respect for wiki and its just not credible), its not credible because anyone can add and edit. There are plenty of credible sources.



edit: as you explore and research the above let it take you in directions that you find interesting, although I gave you specifics those issues are deep and will lead you to more depth and areas of the industry. After you know a little bit about the past, look up the history and motivations for the creation of Tetris is a great and interesting story.

 

[Tesral]

For learning about the medium, you better have watched Extra Credits here on the Escapist.
As far as history goes, MovieBob both here and on Screwattack often talks about useless gaming history that I find interesting and no-one else does.

For laughs there's also James Rolfe as 'The Angry Video Game Nerd', searching through the history of games to try and find the worst, then playing them and making videos.

 

[Tips_of_Fingers]

I'd start with the internet. Usually the internet can tell you lots.

Google "The history of videogames" or words to that effect. Problem solved.

Also, the Smithsonian museum is having a History of videogames exhibition in September. check their website. Or simply Google it...

Seriously, could you not have thought about using the internet yourself???

 

[Sixcess]

I'm surprised noone has yet suggested "play games." Too obvious?

Or, to be more exact, play older games, in the genre(s) that interest you. It's difficult or impossible to really appreciate the evolution of, say, First Person Shooters if you haven't play anything older than Halo: Reach or Modern Warfare 2.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

There's been a lot of TV documentaries.

Rise of the Video Game on Discovery is worth a look in: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3637639460474263178 (47 mins long)

There are hundreds of different areas. Perhaps a good overview would be looking at developers who started in the first few generations (Like Infogrammes, ULTIMATE: Play the Game, Codemasters) and see what they've become today.

 

[Owyn_Merrilin]

<link=http://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-History-Video-Games-Pokemon/dp/0761536434>The Ultimate History of Videogames is an excellent book, which starts with Tennis for Two[footnote]Well, it discusses it briefly. As the book explains, the history of videogames really starts with a guy named Ralph Baer, who independently started work on what would eventually become the Magnavox Oddysey in his spare time while working for the military. Nolan Bushnell got Pong to the market first, but Baer started working on the concept first. Those early chapters are really interesting with all the stuff that went on between Atari and their competitors.[/footnote] and, at least in the edition I read, goes up to the launch of the PS2, the Xbox, and the Gamecube. If you're interested in the history of videogames, I couldn't recommend any better starting place. Just be careful when you get your copy -- mine was missing a few dozen pages, right in the section that covered the 1994 senate hearings that lead to the formation of the ESRB.