Speech to Inform on Video Games

For almost a century, video games have shaped not just our country, but the whole world. An entire industry was developed and it continues to thrive, even in our rough economic times. Some people fall into the clutches of games’ $60 (or more) price tags, while others wait for titles to drop into the bargain bin. But no matter how you purchase them, video games have become much more than just ways to pass the time. They make us laugh. They make us cry. They make us want to scream in anger and punch a wall. Perhaps that is just the reason why we enjoy them so much. Today, I will be discussing the history of video games, the beneficial effect they have on us today, and the controversies that come with them. Video games have existed much longer than you would realize. The very first video game was actually invented in 1942, and it was called NIM. Although it was only a strategic math game, it was revolutionary at the time. Now, up until 1970, the video games that were being created were simple games such as a game of tic-tac-toe against the computer, or a game called Tennis for Two (an early version of Pong). However, the 1970’s was when the first arcade games and console games were being made. The hit-game Pong was released by Atari in 1972, and was later ported to home consoles. In fact, the very first console used at home was called the Magnavox Odyssey, and it was released in 1972 as well. 1997 saw the rise of second-generation consoles, three of which dominated the North American markets: Atari 2600, Intellivison, and ColecoVision. From 1978-1986, arcade games such as Space Invaders, Asteroids, and Pac-Man became huge hits, and were being featured everywhere: shopping malls, restaurants, convenience stores. You name it, and they probably had it there. In the 1980’s, many of the still immensely-popular game franchises were introduced, such as The Legend of Zelda, Prince of Persia, Dragon Quest, Final Fantasy, Super Mario Bros., Metroid, Castlevania, and