Back to the 1980s - Video Games

Today, let’s talk about video games. While their roots go back to the 1970s, with early arcade machines and home consoles, the 1980s were a truly transformative decade. It started with arcades, headlined by Pac-Man and Donkey Kong, before a major North American industry crash in 1983. The market was revitalized with the 1985 U.S. launch of the Nintendo Entertainment System, which introduced iconic franchises like Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda.

At the same time, handheld electronic games became incredibly popular. They were small, pocket sized devices with a simple LCD screen, usually offering just one game per device (can you even imagine today?) and powered by button batteries. The most iconic line was the Game & Watch by Nintendo.

In the remaining years of the decade, Sega ignited a console rivalry with Nintendo. Developers affected by the crash began experimenting with computer games, and Nintendo released the Game Boy, which went on to become one of the best selling handheld gaming devices for decades.

How did Donkey Kong work? The character originally known as Jumpman, later Mario, tries to rescue Pauline from a giant ape by navigating four distinct, obstacle filled levels. Using a joystick and a jump button, players climb ladders and dodge barrels or fireballs to reach the top. Along the way, a hammer power up can be used to smash obstacles, with points awarded based on speed and survival.

I did not have Donkey Kong myself, but I got to borrow it. I cannot even remember the name of the game I owned. It probably was not spectacular, but for a while I spent hours and hours trying to beat my own record. My mom did not really understand the excitement, but she admired my stamina.

My real obsession was Tetris, created by Alexey Pajitnov at the Soviet Academy of Sciences in Moscow. Inspired by a pentomino puzzle, the game uses falling shapes made of four squares, called tetrominoes, which must be arranged into complete lines. It became an instant hit in Moscow, spread to the West, and turned into a global phenomenon after Nintendo bundled it with the Game Boy in 1989.

I used to play it on my then boyfriend’s computer when, in reality, I was supposed to be working on my term paper.

To this day, I claim that playing Tetris promotes coordination and resilience. As the pieces fall faster and faster, you have to make quick decisions that might pay off later or completely backfire.

Also, I am convinced that children who were good at Tetris back then can easily load a dishwasher today.

Do you agree?

Let me know what your favorite video games were!