To beat the summer heat, it’s fun to stay inside, crank up the AC and play a few games. Today, July 8, is Video Game Day (and it’s sister holiday, National Video Games Day, is in September).
While video games existed on computers as early as the 1950s, they gained major popularity in the 1970s. Pong - a simulated game of tennis - is often considered the first widely successful video game. Pong was released on the Atari, a console which dominated the early video game industry. Games like Space Invaders, Pac-Man and Frogger were widely popular both at home and at arcades across the country.
The video game industry hit a slump in the 1980s. Many developers were flooding the market with low-quality games. “E.T. The Extraterrestrial” released in 1982 is often referred to as one of the worst video games of all time, and is the best example of the video game industry crash.
The Japanese company Nintendo is often credited with saving the video game industry in the 1990s. The Nintendo Entertainment System found massive success with releases like Super Mario Bros and The Legend of Zelda. Nintendo dominated the industry for decades, and many of its classic games are still enjoyed by new generations of gamers today. In addition to Nintendo, companies like Microsoft and Sony have dedicated gamers on current generations of the Xbox and Playstation consoles, respectively.
There are so many types of video games that everyone can enjoy. Competitive games like Fortnite are enjoyed online playing with both friends and strangers to compete to be the last one standing. Life simulation games like Animal Crossing: New Horizons are played by those young and old to decorate their island and make friends with cute, virtual animals. Action adventure games like The Last of Us tell an intense story that sets hearts racing and pulls at heartstrings. It was also recently adapted into a television series on HBO.
You can check out books on video games and video games for the Xbox, Playstation and Nintendo consoles at the Yonkers Public Library. Check out our online catalog or ask a librarian for a recommendation!
Alison Robles is a part-time page at the Crestwood Library. She is an avid reader with a passion for YA lit, historical fiction and fantasy. A Yonkers native, she graduated from Iona University in 2020 with a dual-degree in Marketing and Public Relations. She is pursuing a Masters in Information and Library Science from the University at Buffalo.