Expert: gameusurper - 5/26/2008

Question
When is the first video games started?  How many fighting games all out there so far?  Do you know of all the systems that were developed for gamers?

Answer
Wow, you sure know how to ask big questions, don't you? Though I will not type out the answers to your questions here on this site (because that would take forever and I have better things to do with my time). I will direct you to a few places and resources where you can get the answers to your questions. There are also links on these pages to various related subjects you can peruse as well.

The first question you asked is, "When were the first video games started?" By that I'm guessing you are asking about the time frame when the first video games were made. Well, that answer differs depending on what you classify as a 'video game'. But you can find a more detailed story here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_video_game

The next question you asked was, "How many fighting games are out there so far?" Now, I don't know if you really expect me to answer this on this site, but that is WAY too much typing. (You will see why when you visit these links) So I will direct you to here so you can read about it as much as you like:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fighting_game

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beat_%27em_ups

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fighting_games

The last question you asked is, "Do you know of all the systems developed for gamers?" Again, fully answering this would require WAY too much typing. I will not even attempt to go into this subject here, as it is immense and vast in scope. I will however direct you once again to a resource where you can begin your education on this topic:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_game_systems

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_video_game_consoles

In addition to those online resources, I am giving you a few books to get you started. These are various books about video games that anyone interested in the topic should read.

*Phoenix: The Fall and Rise of Video Games by Leonard Herman

*The Ultimate History of Video Games : From Pong to Pokemon by Steven L. Kent

*Game Over: Press Star to Continue by David Scheff and Andy Eddy

*Opening the X-Box by Dean Takahashi

*High Score: The Illustrated History of Electronic Games by Rusel Demaria and Johnny L. Wilson

*Power-Up: How Japanese Video Games Gave the World an Extra Life by Chris Kohler

For even more reading on this topic, I suggest your local library or large book store like Borders, Barnes & Noble or Hastings, and look in the video game or games sections.

There are also two little seen tomes from the now defunct (as far as I know) company, Digital Press. These are very good books for collectors as they give a brief history of each of the consoles covered as well as a full price guide for the games on that console. Be warned, though. These books, if you can even find them, may have very large price tags. When I purchased mine from the company itself several years ago, they were only like $30 bucks a piece. Now, from what I have found online, they can run anywhere from $80-$120. Unless you are hardcore, they are not worth that much. But if you can find them for a decent, reasonable price (especially considering they are probably used) then by all means pick them up.

The first covers most systems from the beginning of videogames up to the NES and Sega Master System. So the 8-bit or less era. It is called the Digital Press Collector's Guide 7. (the most recent edition)

The other covers systems from the Genesis and SNES to the Playstation and Saturn. So the 16-32 bit era but also including N64 and Dreamcast. This one is called the Digital Press Collector's Guide Advance.

This should start you on the road to knowledge, young grasshopper, and be sure to ask advice of the master next time you seek wisdom. :)