1971-1977

1971

• In September, Galaxy Game, the first coin-operated video game, is installed at Stanford University.

• In November, Computer Space is released by Nutting Associates¹. Created by Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney, this game is recognised as the first video game and arcade video game to be commercially available in a wide range.

• The Oregon Trail, the earliest educational video game is developed by Don Rawitsch, Bill Heinemann, and Paul Dillenberger.

1972

• In June, Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney found Atari, Inc., a company specialised in the production of video games (initially only arcade video games) and home computers.

• In summer, Magnavox² introduces to the world the first home console, Odyssey. Begins the age of first generation consoles.

• In November, Atari releases Pong, a tennis sports arcade video game.

1973

• 19 March, Kagemasa Kozuki, founder of the Konami Digital Entertainment Inc., decides to launch Konami in the manufacturing of amusement machines for video arcades.

1974

• 25 March, the United States division of Service Games changes its name to Sega.

• Maze War, one of the earliest First Person Shooter video games, is internationally released.

• Namco, after the acquisition of Atari's Japanese division, enters the video arcade game market.

1975

• Gun Fight, the first video game to depict human-to-human combat and to use a microprocessor, is internationally released by Taito.

1976

• In August, Fairchild Semiconductor³ introduces the Channel F, the first cartridge-based video game console (also the first console of second generation).

1977

• Missile Attack, the first handheld electronic game to present a LED⁴ display, is released by Mattel.

• In October, Atari launches Atari 2600, one of the most successful consoles of the second generation.

• The first version of Zork⁵ is develped by Tim Anderson, Marc Blank, Bruce Daniels, and Dave Lebling for PDP-10⁶ computers.