Everyone loves video games… but where do they come from? The games we play today are the most up to date versions of an industry that started in the 1970s – and there have been some amazing (and pretty hilarious) devices that have come out in that time. So read on and we’ll learn all about the oldest, the best, the smartest and maybe the stupidest bits of retro technology!

Looking for more extra-entertaining facts? Check out these 9 hidden Google games you can play right now, or have a look at these Rubik’s cube facts, or even these Chess facts! Now that’s really retro!

OK, well let’s get back to these epically ancient gaming and tech facts!

1. The first games console was invented in the 1950s

In 1958, a game called Tennis for Two was created on a huge computer at a lab. It wasn’t on a TV or a console like today’s games. Instead, players used a knob and a button to control a ball on an oscilloscope screen, which is a device usually used for scientific experiments. No fancy graphics, just a bouncing dot!

2. Arcades were very popular back in the day

Before people started playing games at home, people went to arcades to play games like Pac-Man and Donkey Kong. You had to feed coins into the machines to play, which meant saving up your pocket money all week! Just like today – getting the highest score on the leaderboard was a big deal! Many arcades also had neon lights and loud music, making them super fun places top hang out with your mates!

3. One video game character was inspired by pizza

Pac-Man, one of the most famous arcade games ever, was inspired by a pizza with a missing slice! The creator, Toru Iwatani, wanted a game that both boys and girls would enjoy, so he designed Pac-Man to be cute and friendly. Pac-Man was originally called Puck Man in Japan, but they changed it in the U.S. because it “sounded better”. Do you think they were right?

4. The Gameboy was released in 1989

Released in 1989, the Game Boy was Nintendo’s first handheld console. It was chunky (really chunky), grey, and only had a black-and-green screen. But it was still revolutionary because you could play games anywhere! It used four AA batteries and could last up to 30 hours. Games like Tetris made it hugely popular, and sold over 100 million units worldwide. That’s a lot of Game Boys!

5. Games were stored on massive cartridges

Before CDs or digital downloads, games were stored on cartridges, which were big plastic boxes with a chip inside. You had to blow into the cartridge if it wasn’t working—a trick that sometimes helped, even though it didn’t really fix anything. Some classic cartridges, like The Legend of Zelda for the NES, were even gold-colored! Unlike digital downloads, you could collect cartridges, and easily swap them with your mates.

6. The Magnavox was a big deal in the 1970s

The Magnavox Odyssey, released in 1972, was the first home video game console. It didn’t have sound or color, just basic black-and-white graphics. Players used plastic overlays on their TV screens to make games like tennis look more interesting. It was the grandparent of all modern consoles! By today’s standards it looked very basic. But respect your elders!

7. People watched films on VHS tapes

Before streaming, people watched movies on VHS tapes. These bulky, rectangular cassettes had reels of magnetic tape inside. You had to rewind them when you finished watching, which could take several minutes. Video rental stores like Blockbuster were super popular, and Friday nights often meant picking out a movie for the weekend! Obviously the quality wasn’t as good as today – but they did make quite satisfying clunking noises!

8. Consoles back then required lots of cables

Connecting old consoles to TVs wasn’t as simple as today. You needed special RF adapters or AV cables with red, yellow, and white plugs. If you lost a cable, it could be tricky to replace it! TVs also had “channel 3” or “channel 4” settings just for gaming. Other times you had to just flick through channels until you eventually found the right one!

9. People used to cheat at games using codes

Back in the day, cheat codes were secret button combinations that gave you extra lives or powers. The most famous one is the Konami Code: Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A, Start. Phew! It appeared in loads of games and became part of gaming culture. No Google back then – so players had to discover these tricks themselves or share them with friends!

10. Nintendo released the Power Glove in 1989

In 1989, Nintendo released the Power Glove, a wearable controller. It looked like something from a sci-fi movie, so it got a lot of attention! But controlling games with it was tough, and ultimately it wasn’t a big success. Still, it became a bit of a cultural icon and even appeared in movies like The Wizard. Gamers loved the design, even if it didn’t really work!

11. Games were very blocky

Games on systems like the Atari 2600 and NES used pixel art, where tiny squares (pixels) formed characters and backgrounds. Because of limited technology, there weren’t many pixels to work with, which is why the graphics were all so blocky. Characters like Mario were designed with hats and moustaches to make them easier to recognize in low resolution!

12. Games were more expensive

In the 1980s and 1990s, a single video game could cost $50 or more, which would be around $100 today! Since games were expensive, kids often rented them from video stores or traded cartridges with friends. Buying a game was a big deal, and people spent hours mastering them.

13. Sonic and Mario fans were rivals

When Nintendo’s Mario became a hit, Sega needed a mascot to compete. They created Sonic the Hedgehog, a blue, speedy character with attitude (and lots of cool sound effects). Sonic’s fast-paced levels were designed to show off how powerful Sega’s Genesis console was. The rivalry between Sonic and Mario fans was a big deal!

14. The first game Easter Egg was discovered in 1980

The first video game Easter egg appeared in a 1980 game called Adventure for the Atari 2600. The game’s creator, Warren Robinett, hid his name in a secret room because Atari didn’t give developers any credit (bit mean). Players discovered the hidden message, and now Easter eggs (hidden surprises) are a tradition in games and movies!

15. Retro gaming helped shape the consoles we use today

Many of these games seem pretty funny by modern standards – but it’s important to remember that all these retro technologies were stepping stones towards what we have now. We had to go through this phase to get to the games we have today. Which of course means that one day the games we play today will be just as old fashioned as these games are!