Tag: video game history

01 Aug

SPACEWAR

Screenshot from 1972 Rolling Stone article showing Spacewar gameplay
Black and white photo of MIT PDP‑1 computer running Spacewar
Illustration of two spaceship combat on a CRT screen
Historic image of players competing in Spacewar Olympics at Stanford AI Lab
Photograph of early computer hackers crowded around consoles
Diagram of PDP‑1 control buttons used in Spacewar
Vintage Spacewar game pads and joysticks on a table
Spacewar torpedo explosion captured in pixel art style
Early tech culture scene with students gaming and coding
Historic game room with PDP‑1 terminals running Spacewar

Stewart Brand’s article “S P A C E W A R” chronicles the early history and cultural rise of Spacewar!, one of the first digital video games, in the December 1972 issue of Rolling Stone. Through vivid anecdotes and firsthand reporting, Brand captures the excitement of the pioneering “Intergalactic Spacewar Olympics” at Stanford’s AI Lab and the hacker‑driven evolution of gaming culture. This historic piece highlights how a simple two‑player space combat game helped spark the modern video game era. You can read the full article here. This excerpt is shared under fair use for educational and non-commercial purposes. All rights to the original content belong to Stewart Brand and Rolling Stone.

01 Aug

The Tetris Effect

Person playing Tetris on a classic Game Boy
Close-up of Tetris blocks falling on a screen
Gamer immersed in a Tetris game on a modern console
Tetris-themed artwork depicting falling blocks
Screenshot of Tetris game showing completed lines
Group of friends playing Tetris together
Tetris-inspired merchandise and collectibles
Retro Tetris arcade machine in a gaming museum
Tetris blocks forming patterns in a digital art piece
Tetris game interface showing high score leaderboard

Justin Wolfe’s article “The Tetris Effect” delves into the profound and lasting impact of video games, particularly the classic Tetris, on the human mind and life. Through personal anecdotes and psychological insights, Wolfe explores how immersive gaming experiences can alter perception, memory, and even emotional well-being. The piece offers a compelling look at the intersection of gaming and psychology. You can read the full article here. This excerpt is shared under fair use for educational and non-commercial purposes. All rights to the original content belong to Justin Wolfe and The Awl.