National Retro Video Game Day is annually observed on March 8. It is a day for vintage gamers to reminisce and play the games they played prior to the introduction of Xbox, PlayStation, Wii, and other modern gaming systems. It is a celebration of the evolution of video games, from the days of Mario and Pac-Man to the complex games of today, which feature intricate storylines and stunning imagery. Let’s take a stroll down memory lane to recall these classic games.
The background of National Retro Video Game Day
Numerous gamers make a living off of their gaming content, demonstrating the significance of the industry. Many gamers have converted their hobby into a source of income, despite the fact that playing video games has remained one of the most popular pastimes since their inception. From its humble beginnings as old-school arcade games to the creation of entire universes with complex stories and powerful characters in a digital world, gaming has made significant technological advancements.
In 1967, inventor and game designer Ralph Baer, also known as the ‘Father of Computing,’ created the ‘Brown Box,’ the world’s first commercially-available game system. This inspired Atari to develop the now-classic video game “Pong.” This led to the development of classic video games like Donkey Kong and Pac-Man.
National Retro Video Game Day is celebrated annually on March 8 throughout the United States to commemorate Baer and retro video games. On this day, a variety of gaming events are conducted, and new versions of existing games are released. Today is an entire day devoted to gamers and their retro games, which have gone on to inspire and create the games that everyone appreciates today.
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NATIONAL RETRO VIDEO GAME DAY ACTIVITIES
Enjoy a classic game
Bring out some of your ancient systems and play some games you haven’t played in quite some time. You can also show them to younger gamers who have never seen them before, so they can see the differences between older and more recent video games.
Host a retro game celebration.
Organize a gathering to play a variety of retro video games with your friends. You may also host a retro video game party and dress as your favourite retro video game characters.
Organize local retro video game events
Participate in and organise local tournaments and events for classic video games. This is a great way to create enjoyable and bonding activities for your gaming community.
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5 EARLY RETRO GAMES THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT
In 1958, William Higinbotham, an American physicist, devised the first video game for entertainment purposes.
It features two spaceships, ‘the needle’ and ‘the wedge,’ controlled by human users who engage in a dogfight within the gravity well of a star.
This first commercially available arcade video game was created by Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney in 1971, and it is a derivative of “Spacewar!”
This first domestic video game console was created in 1972 and consisted of a black, white, and brown oblong box connected to two rectangular controllers via wires.
It is considered the first commercially effective video game that made the industry viable.
NATIONAL RETRO VIDEO GAME DAY DATES
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | March 8 | Wednesday |
| 2024 | March 8 | Friday |
| 2025 | March 8 | Saturday |
| 2026 | March 8 | Sunday |
| 2027 | March 8 | Monday |