Elite was the first game to feature a procedurally generated world, while Frontier: Elite II was the first game to feature procedurally generated star systems. Frontier: First Encounters was the first game to contain procedurally generated terrain and textures. Procedural Generation uses random inputs to a computer ‘procedure’ to create something unique that also adheres to certain rules, such as Elite II’s star systems. These were generated by the game aggregating the mass of material within an early solar system into planets and moons that Continue reading →

Television weather reports first employed satellite data in 1979.

Music from Medal of Honor: European Assault was used in a TV campaign to support Republican John McCain’s bid to become US president in June 2008. The piece of music, called “Casualties of War”, was used without the consent of composer Christopher Lennertz, who also contributed music for 2003’s Medal of Honor: Rising Sun. Guinness World Records Gamers’ Edition 2009.

The first example of a complete story, with beginning and end, told within a video game is the original Donkey Kong arcade game. It was designed by Shigeru Miyamoto in Kyoto, Japan, and released by Nintendo in July 1981. It is also the first example of the use of cutscenes to tell a story in a game: for example, an introductory animation shows Jumpman/Mario’s girlfriend being abducted by Donkey Kong. GWR Video Gamer’s Edition 2008, title: First use of visual storytelling in a video game.

The earliest surviving vessel is a pine logboat or dugout found in Pesse, Netherlands in and dated to between 7510 and 8040 BC. It is almost 3 m (10 ft) long but only 40 cm (16 in) wide. The boat, which is now in the Drents Museum, Assen, Netherlands, was found in 1955 during the construction of a road. It was initially discarded and left to lie on the side of the road until an eagle-eyed farmer recognised it as a dugout and took it Continue reading →

The first video game to be endorsed by the UK Government is Buzz!: The Schools Quiz (Sony, 2006). Designed for use in classrooms, it features more than 5,000 questions based on subjects covered by Key Stage 2 of the National Curriculum.

Final Lap Twin (1989) for the PC Engine, was the first game to combine racing and roleplaying elements (“caRPG”). Its Quest mode, in which a young boy dreams of becoming a world champion, features random battles and map-based adventuring. GWR Video Gamer’s Edition 2008, title: First “caRPG”.

Star Wars: Jedi Arena for the Atari 2600 was the first game to contain lightsaber action. While failing to accurately simulate lightsaber duelling, the game challenged the player to use their lightsaber to destroy enemies by deflecting laser bolts towards them.

The earliest video game to allow online competition from players for the Nintendo Wii was Pokémon Battle Revolution which was released in December 2007. It was also the earliest game to link the Wii and Nintendo DS.

When players completed the first Metroid within a certain time it was revealed that Samus Aran, the armoured hero they had been playing, was actually a woman. At the time of release it was extremely unusual to feature a woman in a lead video game role. Prior to the release of Metroid, the most high profile female game character was Ms PAC-Man. Jennifer Hale has voiced the character since 2002. GWR Video Gamer’s Edition 2008, title: First human female video game star.