video game

Pac Man

Day in Tech History/ Geek

October 10, 1980: Pac Man North American Release

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 0 Comment

Pac Man Released in US

1980– The video game that changed it all debut in North America. The infamous yellow pie chart gobbling up little dots and avoiding ghosts for top scores was released to the Japanese arcades in May, but finally made it to North America in 1980.

Toru Iwatani developed the game with a nine-person team. The game was first called “Pakkuman”, inspired by the paku-paku phrase (which is what Pac-Man says whilst chomping Blinky (Oikake), Pinky (Machibuse), Inky (Kimagure), and Clyde (Otoboke). 

The game had a major glitch at level 256, since it was never expected someone would get that far. 

The 80’s era officially was in full swing. Pac Man fever was on the loose.

Subcribe to Day In Tech History:

RSS Feed - iTunes - Google Play - Spotify
Twitter - Facebook

- RSS Bandwidth by Cachefly Get a 14 Day Trial

Be a Part of the Sconnie Geek Nation!

Click Here to Support the Sconnie Geek Nation!

In Wisconsin, friends are called "Sconnies". Even if you're not from Wisconsin, you can be part of the Sconnie Geek Nation through my coverage! By pledging, you join the Geek Sconnie Nation! Plus, you help me cover costs so I can continue the coverage of Gadget tech, music tech, and geek culture through the shows.

  • XP SP1 and SP1a support ends
  • The Metric system is born
  • Happy Tom Cruise Day.
Play

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe! Apple Podcasts | Android | RSS | More

sega-logo[1]

Day in Tech History/ Gaming

September 2, 1995: Sega Saturn Launched

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 0 Comment

SEGA Saturn Launches

1995 – Sega launches the Saturn video game console in the US. The 32-bit Cartridge loading system contained the 2 x Hitachi SH-2 32-bit RISC (28.6 MHz). It was launched in Japan and Europe earlier in the year, but didn’t hit the US until this date.

Subcribe to Day In Tech History:

RSS Feed - iTunes - Google Play - Spotify
Twitter - Facebook

- RSS Bandwidth by Cachefly Get a 14 Day Trial

Be a Part of the Sconnie Geek Nation!

Click Here to Support the Sconnie Geek Nation!

In Wisconsin, friends are called "Sconnies". Even if you're not from Wisconsin, you can be part of the Sconnie Geek Nation through my coverage! By pledging, you join the Geek Sconnie Nation! Plus, you help me cover costs so I can continue the coverage of Gadget tech, music tech, and geek culture through the shows.

You could get the system with Virtua Fighter for $399. Below is the teaser commercial for the game system.

Other items in Day in Tech History:

  • Ultima I released
  • The first Interface Message Processor is connected to the ARPANET
  • eBay stops an auction of a human kidney
  • Both the VHS (1983) and the CD-Video (1987) were introduced
Play

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe! Apple Podcasts | Android | RSS | More

Doom Unofficially Released

Day in Tech History/ Gaming

July 25, 2005: Violent Video Games Bill Goes into Law

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 0 Comment

Doom Unofficially Released
July 25, 2005: Violent Video Games Law

The sale of Video Games began to really heat up in 2005 as Illinois Governer Rod Blagojevich signs a bill into law restricting the sale of violent video games to minors. You could be fined up to $1,000 for selling games with adult ratings. Immediately, video game groups sued, claiming the law is a restriction on free speech.The law would be deemed unconstitutional and repealed by US District Judge Matthew Kennelly.

Subcribe to Day In Tech History:

RSS Feed - iTunes - Google Play - Spotify
Twitter - Facebook

- RSS Bandwidth by Cachefly Get a 14 Day Trial

Be a Part of the Sconnie Geek Nation!

Click Here to Support the Sconnie Geek Nation!

In Wisconsin, friends are called "Sconnies". Even if you're not from Wisconsin, you can be part of the Sconnie Geek Nation through my coverage! By pledging, you join the Geek Sconnie Nation! Plus, you help me cover costs so I can continue the coverage of Gadget tech, music tech, and geek culture through the shows.

  • Ericsson purchases Nortel‘s CDMA and LTE assets
  • Sinclair Radionics is founded
  • Duck Dodgers and the 24 1/2 Century is first aired
Play

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe! Apple Podcasts | Android | RSS | More

Tron

Day in Tech History/ Geek

July 9, 1982: Tron Movie and Video Game Released

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 0 Comment

Tron
July 9, 1982: Both the movie and video game Tron were released

It was a movie that became a cult classic. Tron – The story of Kevin Flynn who tries to figure out if ENCOM stole his game ideas. While hacking into the mainframe, the company sets a trap where Flynn gets sucked into the video game.

The movie debuted in 1982 along with the video game by Bally. Tron starred Jeff Bridges, Bruce Boxleitner and Cindy Morgan. It took 17 million to make the movie, it grossed 33 million in return. Tron’s sequel of sorts – called Legacy – was released on Dec 17, 2010.  Unfortunately, it did not receive the same status as the original did.

Subcribe to Day In Tech History:

RSS Feed - iTunes - Google Play - Spotify
Twitter - Facebook

- RSS Bandwidth by Cachefly Get a 14 Day Trial

Be a Part of the Sconnie Geek Nation!

Click Here to Support the Sconnie Geek Nation!

In Wisconsin, friends are called "Sconnies". Even if you're not from Wisconsin, you can be part of the Sconnie Geek Nation through my coverage! By pledging, you join the Geek Sconnie Nation! Plus, you help me cover costs so I can continue the coverage of Gadget tech, music tech, and geek culture through the shows.

  • 1997 – Gibert Amelio resigns from Apple
  • 2008 – Secret Diary of Steve Jobs shuts down
  • 2009 – Microsoft releases Silverlight 3
Play

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe! Apple Podcasts | Android | RSS | More

Robert Metcalfe's Sketch of Ethernet

Day in Tech History/ Internet

May 22, 1973: Ethernet is Proposed

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 0 Comment

Robert Metcalfe's Sketch of Ethernet
Robert Metcalfe’s Sketch of Ethernet

1973 – Robert Metcalfe writes a thirteen-page memo describing a new type of data transmission method. His memo was entitled “Ether Acquisition”, which would connect Hawaii’s ALOHA Network.

Alto Ethernet was born on paper, but didn’t see operation until November 11, 1973 when it was implemented.

Metcalfe was awarded the IEEE Medal of Honor in 1996 for his work on inventing Ethernet. He was also inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2007.

Subcribe to Day In Tech History:

RSS Feed - iTunes - Google Play - Spotify
Twitter - Facebook

- RSS Bandwidth by Cachefly Get a 14 Day Trial

Be a Part of the Sconnie Geek Nation!

Click Here to Support the Sconnie Geek Nation!

In Wisconsin, friends are called "Sconnies". Even if you're not from Wisconsin, you can be part of the Sconnie Geek Nation through my coverage! By pledging, you join the Geek Sconnie Nation! Plus, you help me cover costs so I can continue the coverage of Gadget tech, music tech, and geek culture through the shows.

  • Robert Metcalfe describes a new device called the Laser Printer
  • Adobe ships Illustrator 7.0
  • Apple splits Newton into it’s own division
  • SpaceX Launched and docks with Space Station
Play

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe! Apple Podcasts | Android | RSS | More

Fox and Hound 2-player game

Day in Tech History/ Gaming

May 7, 1967: Fox and Hounds – Ralph Baer Plays First Two-Player Game

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 0 Comment

Fox and Hound 2-player game
Fox and Hound 2-player game

1967 – Video game developer Ralph Baer plays the first two-player video game. Fox and Hounds was a game where the fox (a red dot) was chased by the hounds (white dots). The controller were two knobs –  horizontal and vertical. You would see how long you could avoid the hounds.

From his own website: 7 May 1967 – Played first two-player video game (I lost!)

This was part of a series of more complex video games including shooting games, handball and Ping Pong. Ultimately leading to the Magnavox Odyssey TV game system in 1972.

Baer passed away on December 8, 2014.

Subcribe to Day In Tech History:

RSS Feed - iTunes - Google Play - Spotify
Twitter - Facebook

- RSS Bandwidth by Cachefly Get a 14 Day Trial

Be a Part of the Sconnie Geek Nation!

Click Here to Support the Sconnie Geek Nation!

In Wisconsin, friends are called "Sconnies". Even if you're not from Wisconsin, you can be part of the Sconnie Geek Nation through my coverage! By pledging, you join the Geek Sconnie Nation! Plus, you help me cover costs so I can continue the coverage of Gadget tech, music tech, and geek culture through the shows.

  • The Millionaire Calculating Machine
  • Telstar II Satellite is launched
  • Microsoft lays off 3,000
  • Syria cuts off Internet and phones for 24 hours
Play

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe! Apple Podcasts | Android | RSS | More

Apple

Apple/ Day in Tech History

January 31, 1984: Apple Reorganizes

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 0 Comment

Apple
Apple

1984 – Apple announced they would split up the Cupertino based company into three divisions – Apple II (handling all Apple III computers as well), the Apple 32 division (Lisa, and new Macintosh line of computers) and Accessory Products (Printers, keyboards, etc).

Delbert Yocam led the Apple II group which Steve Jobs would take care of Apple 32. Michael Muller would lead the accessories.

Apple did a lot of reorganizing, including Michael Spindler to VP of the European group and William Campbell to VP of sales in the US.

Subcribe to Day In Tech History:

RSS Feed - iTunes - Google Play - Spotify
Twitter - Facebook

- RSS Bandwidth by Cachefly Get a 14 Day Trial

Be a Part of the Sconnie Geek Nation!

Click Here to Support the Sconnie Geek Nation!

In Wisconsin, friends are called "Sconnies". Even if you're not from Wisconsin, you can be part of the Sconnie Geek Nation through my coverage! By pledging, you join the Geek Sconnie Nation! Plus, you help me cover costs so I can continue the coverage of Gadget tech, music tech, and geek culture through the shows.

Related articles
    • Mistrial in WordPerfect antitrust case against Microsoft (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
  • January 15: Ralph Baer Patents First Video Game (dayintechhistory.com)
Play

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe! Apple Podcasts | Android | RSS | More

AT&T

Day in Tech History/ Geek

January 15, 1990: AT&T Reboots

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 0 Comment

AT&T
AT&T

1990 – AT&T suffers the oddest outage nationwide. A switch in New York crashed, then rebooted. This caused the other switches linked to the New York switch to also reboot. The cascade continued on until all 114 switches were rebooting on 6 second intervals.

The continued failure lasted for 9 hours, leaving 60,000 customers without long distance calling. The problem was resolved when engineers found a bug in the latest update dealing with 4ESS long distance switches. They applied a patch which stopped the crash-reboot cycle.

Subcribe to Day In Tech History:

RSS Feed - iTunes - Google Play - Spotify
Twitter - Facebook

- RSS Bandwidth by Cachefly Get a 14 Day Trial

Be a Part of the Sconnie Geek Nation!

Click Here to Support the Sconnie Geek Nation!

In Wisconsin, friends are called "Sconnies". Even if you're not from Wisconsin, you can be part of the Sconnie Geek Nation through my coverage! By pledging, you join the Geek Sconnie Nation! Plus, you help me cover costs so I can continue the coverage of Gadget tech, music tech, and geek culture through the shows.

  • Intel acquires Xircom
  • Wikipedia is launched
  • Coveritlive and Twitter goes down for Steve Jobs Keynote
Play

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe! Apple Podcasts | Android | RSS | More

1 2 3