video game history

AppWizard
October 10, 2025
A shift in the gaming landscape is noted, with indie games like Schedule 1, R.E.P.O, Peak, and Megabonk gaining prominence while some triple-A titles face fatigue. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is highlighted as a personal favorite and has been recognized as Game of the Year (GOTY) by many. Sandfall's CEO Guillaume Broche and COO Francois Meurisse discussed their views on awards, stating that while they appreciate recognition, it is not their primary goal; they focus on creating emotional resonance with players. Broche mentioned his enjoyment of Megabonk, which has recently gained over 100,000 concurrent players on Steam. The anticipation for the next update of Expedition 33 is building, and guides for the game and Megabonk builds are available for players.
AppWizard
August 30, 2025
Video games have evolved significantly, with the personal computer playing a crucial role in the industry's growth. PC gaming is appreciated for its flexibility, diverse hardware configurations, extensive modability, and nearly 40 years of backwards compatibility. A selection of the best PC games based on Metacritic scores includes: - Disco Elysium: Score 97/100, known for its narrative design and player choices. - Half-Life 2: Score 96/100, celebrated for its innovative physics and storytelling. - Grand Theft Auto 5: Score 96/100, features a compelling single-player narrative and a vast online world. - Baldur's Gate 3: Score 96/100, recognized as a masterclass in role-playing games with community-driven updates. - BioShock: Score 96/100, blends first-person shooting with action-adventure elements and a strong morality system. - Persona 5 Royal: Score 95/100, balances dungeon exploration with a social life in a turn-based RPG format. - Portal 2: Score 95/100, known for its innovative puzzle design and engaging narrative. - The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim: Score 94/100, offers vast replayability and extensive modding options. - Mass Effect 2: Score 94/100, noted for its impactful storytelling and memorable ending. - Sid Meier's Civilization 2: Score 94/100, a classic strategy game that remains popular despite its limited availability on modern platforms.
AppWizard
August 29, 2025
The Omegathon at PAX West 2025 will feature a series of rounds centered around Minecraft, taking place from August 29 to September 1, 2025. The schedule includes five rounds of Minecraft, culminating in a final round with undisclosed game details. Contestants, known as Omeganauts, are randomly selected from pre-registered attendees and must respond to a call to secure their spot. The 2025 Omeganauts include participants from various locations, such as Taylor, British Columbia, and Mansfield, Ohio.
AppWizard
August 10, 2025
The Video Game History Foundation has digitized the magazine Computer Entertainer, originally published from 1982 to 1990, and made it accessible to the public under a Creative Commons 4.0 attribution license. Computer Entertainer is notable for surviving the 1983-84 video game industry crash, providing reviews and insights during that period. It features American reviews of iconic games such as The Legend of Zelda, Final Fantasy, and Super Mario Bros. The entire collection can be accessed at gamehistory.org/computerentertainer.
AppWizard
July 4, 2025
Valve Corporation, founded in 1996 by Gabe Newell and Mike Harrington, is known for its influential role in the gaming industry, particularly with its groundbreaking title Half-Life, released in 1998. The company has a unique corporate structure and impressive revenue-per-employee metrics, reportedly exceeding .9 million. Valve's Steam platform, launched in 2003, dominates the PC gaming market, accounting for approximately 70% of sales in a sector valued at around billion, with over 100,000 titles available. Steam had an estimated 170 million active monthly users by May 2023. Financially, estimates suggest Steam may have handled around .3 billion in game sales in 2021, yielding a profit of approximately .6 billion from commissions. Valve's employee culture emphasizes self-organization and innovation, though it faces scrutiny regarding content moderation and legal challenges related to market competition.
AppWizard
February 20, 2025
Pacific Drive, launched a year ago, has sold over a million copies, making it a leading survival game of 2024. Developed by Ironwood Studios, the game features a station wagon that evolves into a versatile vehicle equipped with sci-fi gadgets, enhancing the gameplay experience. Players develop a bond with the vehicle, which serves as a resilient companion in the game's chaotic environment.
AppWizard
November 16, 2024
The Internet Archive has made the classic 1998 shooter Unreal and its multiplayer successor Unreal Tournament available for free, with the endorsement of Epic Games. This announcement was first shared on the OldUnreal Discord and later gained traction on Resetera. An Epic spokesperson confirmed that the games are hosted on archive.org, allowing players to link to and play these versions. Players can download and install the games from the Internet Archive or use new installers available at oldunreal.com. The games may have quirks due to their age, such as a default resolution of 640x480 and inverted mouse controls. Epic had previously removed these titles from sale, and their decision to make them freely accessible is seen as a positive step for game preservation.
AppWizard
November 13, 2024
GOG has launched a Preservation Program to ensure retro games remain playable for current and future generations, committing resources to maintain compatibility with modern systems. The program starts with 100 titles, including Diablo, System Shock 2, and Resident Evil 1-3, with plans for expansion. Benefits for purchasers include compatibility assurance, comprehensive content, technical support, and offline access to installers. GOG aims to acquire all games no longer updated by their original publishers, addressing the issue that 87 percent of games released before 2010 are no longer playable. The program positions GOG as a leader in video game preservation.
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