Video games have come a very long way from when they were first introduced. Who could've imagined the variety of video game controllers currently available, the real life graphics, the sound and music options, the large number of players that you can play with and much more? Video games were destined to be popular, but who knew that popular meant a multi-billion dollar industry?

Video games were envisioned as far back as 1947. But, the first commercially made video game was not released until 1971. It was called "Computer Space", and it was created by Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney. Shortly thereafter in 1972 the Magnavox Odyssey came to market as the original home gaming console.

30 years hence, video games have exploded into some of the most lucrative entertainment devices ever. A huge assortment of systems have appeared over the years and they are made better all the time apropos of Internet play, multiplayer capabilities, computing power, etc.

There are various platforms on which video games can be played. These include the PC game which is played on the computer, a console game which is a device connected to the television, a handheld which is a portable gaming system that you can play in almost anywhere and an arcade game platform which is the classic, large electronic device found in game rooms across the world. Other places where you can play video games are on mobile phones, PDAs, graphing calculators, GPS receivers, MP3 players, digital cameras and watches but these do not have nearly the same experience and dimension as the previously mentioned platforms.

At first, arcade games permitted an individual to play a video game versus the computer and sometimes against another human player. Later on as technology advanced, video game consoles permitted as many as four different players to play simultaneously. With the invention of the Wii system, as many as 12 players can compete at once. An amazing feature of this technology is that you can play concurrently with local players and players worldwide.

The Internet makes this possible. Most video game consoles released today have Internet play capabilities. Local area networks and the Internet let as many as 32 or more players play in a single game. It is also possible to communicate with other players through instant messaging or voice chat.

Video games have progressed immensely from Pong, Pac-Man, and Atari. The world of video games grows daily and the technology is advancing rapidly. The video game manufacturers are continuously using new advances in technology to make the gaming experience better and more stimulating. The more realistic video games become the more the line between the reality and the virtual world blurs.