National Video Game Day powers up every year on July 8th. A holiday dedicated to one of the beloved forms of entertainment in the world. Whether you grew up feeding quarters into arcade machines or logging hours on the latest open-world RPG, today is your day.
A Quick History of National Video Game Day
National Video Game Day has been recognized since at least the early 1990’s, appearing in Chanse’s Calendar of Events as early as 1991. BY 1997, the date officially shifted to September 12, and both days are still acknowledged by gamers today.
But the real story starts much earlier:
- Cathode-Ray Tube Amusement Device: patented by Thomas T. Goldsmith and Estle Ray Mann in 1948, this used a radar-like screen allowing players to control a dot representing a missile targeting an airplane
- OXO: Created by Alexander S. Douglas at the University of Cambridge in 1952, this was a computerized, graphical version of Tic-Tac-Toe that was played on a massive vacuum tube computer.
- Spacewar!: Created by MIT students in 1962, this was widely recognized as the first digital computer game played on a video screen, kicking off gaming in research labs.
- Pong: Developed by Atari in 1972, this table tennis simulation became the world’s first commercially successful video game, igniting the modern gaming industry.
Why We Celebrate & Ways To Join In
Video games are not just for entertainment; they are for storytelling, creativity, technology, and community all in one. They bring people together and spark imagination. They always create memories that last a lifetime. National Video Game Day is all about celebrating that impact while enjoying the games and experiences that shape us.
Here are some meaningful and fun ways to honor the day:
- Play your favorite Games: Rediscover the titles that shaped your childhood or jump into the ones you can’t get enough of today.
- Host a gaming marathon: Spend the night playing, laughing, and enjoying your favorite title, with the people that matter most.
- Explore the retro classics: Dust off your old consoles or visit a local arcade for a hit of nostalgia
P.S. Staff thinks DOOM was revolutionary.
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