Review of How Video Games Changed the World

Video games are one of the most popular forms of home and arcade entertainment, so I was curious to see what this particular documentary would reveal about them, from it's beginnings to the present day and perhaps future, and I was hoping to have some nostalgia with mentions of games I have played. Hosted by Charlie Brooker, this programme is not a countdown programme as such, but it does list the twenty five most significant video games in the history of the medium, in terms of what games have been created, how the graphics and technology have evolved, and how playing games has changed. The twenty five games mentioned in the programme, chronologically listed by year, are: Pong – Atari, Inc., 1972; Space Invaders, Midway, Taito Corporation, 1978; Pacman, Midway, Namco, 1980; Manic Miner, Bug Byte Software, Matthew Smith, 1983; Elite, Acornsoft, David Braben and Ian Bell, 1984 (front cover illustration by Phillip Castle); Super Mario Bros., Nintendo, Nintendo R&D4, 1985; Tetris, Nintentdo, Bullet Proof Software/Nintendo, 1989; The Secret of Monkey Island, LucasArts, Lucasfilm Games, 1990; Street Fighter II, Capcom, 1991; Doom, GT interactive, id software, 1993 (Packaging ©Gold Medallion Software); Night Trap, Sega, Digital Pictures, 1992; Tomb Raider, Eidos Interactive, Core Design, 1996; PaRappa the Rapper, Sony Computer Entertainment, NanaOn-Sha, 1996; Starcraft, Blizzard Entertainment, 1998; The Sims, Electronic Arts, Maxis, 2000; Grand Theft Auto III, Rockstar Games, DMA Design, 2001; Shadow of the Colossus, Sony Computer Entertainment, Team Ico, 2005; World of Warcraft, Blizzard Entertainment, 2005; Wii Sports, Nintendo, Nintendo EAD Group No. 2, 2006; Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Activision, Infinity War, 2007; Braid, Number None, Inc., 2008; Angry Birds, Chillingo, Rovio Entertainment, 2009; Minecraft, Mojang, 2011; The Last of Us, Sony Computer Entertainment, Naughty Dog, 2013 and Twitter, Twitter, Inc., 2006, that is apparently considered a game because of it's influence, the objective being to get the most views and followers. With contributions from Jonathan Ross, Jeff Minter (game designer, Tempest 2000; effects designer, Space Invaders Extreme), Keith Stuart (games editor, The Guardian), Peter Serafinowicz, Nolan Bushnell (co-founder, Atari), Allan Alcorn (designer, Pong), Tom Watson (MP, West Bromwich East), Peter Molyneux (games designer, Godus), Aoife Wilson (journalist, OXMUK), Rob Florence (writer and comedian), Kate Russell (technology reporter), Graham Linehan, Dara O'Briain (BAFTA Games Awards presenter), Gary Whitta (screenwriter, After Earth), David Braben (co-creator, Elite), Ellie Gibson (journalist, EuroGamer), Labrinth, Felicia Day (actress & filmmaker), Keza MacDoanld (games editor, IGN UK), Pete Donaldson (radio DJ), Bernie Goode (cyber-psychologist), Tim Schafer (co-writer & designer, The Secret of Monkey Island), Neil Druckman (game director, The Last of Us), Ron Gilbert (writer & designer, The Secret of Monkey Island), Susan Calman (comedian), John Romero (co-creator, Doom), Rhianna Pratchett – Terry's daughter (writer, Tomb Raider (2013)), Matt Lees (journalist, VideoGamer), Quintin Smith (journalist, EuroGamer), Malorie Blackman OBE (author & children's laureate), Vince Zampella (co- creator, COD: Modern Warfare). Other games and platforms mentioned (not all with clips) in the programme were Crash Bandicoot, Donkey Kong, The Legend of Zelda, Grand Theft Auto, Call of Duty, L.A. Noire, Beyond Two Souls, Tekken, Wolfenstein 3D, Mortal Kombat, Carmageddon, NRA: Practice Range, NRA: Varmint Hunter, Sniper Elite, Dead or Alive (5), Wipeout, Human Absolution, Battlefield 3, Mass Effect 3, Grand Theft Auto 5, The Adventures of Lomax, Soul Blade, Metal Slug. Guitar Hero, Rocksmith, Papers Please, Call of Duty: Ghosts, Trine 2, Limbo, Journey, Candy Crush, Playstation 4, Xbox One and Killzone. Topics regarding games included puzzles, first person, multi-player, CD ROM, violence, graphics, iconic characters, parental ratings, Playstation, Wii and Xbox Kinect. Very good!