The Colorful History of Video Game Animation

The Colorful History of Video Game Animation



These days, we're used to the bright, often realistic images in our video games, but it wasn't always this way. Back in the day, video games weren't just simple pixels; they were simple in color, as well! From playing Pong in black and white to the full-color games available today, video game colors have come a long way.



Starting Out In Black and White

It might seem odd now, but at one time, video games were played on black screens with white or green graphics.



1958

William Higinbotham invents Electronic Tennis.

It was black and white, using a cathode-ray tube like early televisions.



1972

Arcade version of "Pong," another tennis game, debuts.

"Pong" cut costs with a cheaper B&W Hitachi television screen.

Color overlays are introduced as a way to include color by using cellophane sheets placed over the TV.

Magnavox was the first game to use this technique, but the four-player version of "Pong" also used overlays.



1975

"Pong" comes out with a home edition.



1978

The first space shooting game, "Space Invaders," comes out.

Again, balack and white, as the hardware, could not keep up with color graphics. However, colored overlays were used, and the graphics were reflected onto a a cardboard background using mirrors.

"Galaxian" is the first game to use RGB colors.

1985

Sega Master System is released with 32 on-screen colors.

1989

Game Boy is released by Nintendo.

This handheld game was black and white and more popular than competing color models because the batteries lasted much longer.

Sega Genesis game console is introduced. It displays up to 64 colors at a time.

1991

The Super Nintendo debuts with 256 colors available on screen.

1994

Sony Playstation appears with 16.7 million colors displayed.

1998

Game Boy Color is released.

It could display 56 colors at a time (out of over 32,000), and a liquid crystal display allowed batteries to last up to 10 hours.

Original Game Boy Paks are compatible with this model; 4-10 colors are overlaid to create a colored game.

2007

Video game sales hit $41.9 billion

2010

In 2010, Sharp introduced the Quattron 3D TV, which offered RGBY, red, green, blue and yellow.

2011

"Call Of Duty: Black Ops" and "Modern Warfare 3" (with over 16.7 colors) are produced with color blind assist to aid those with color blindness.



On-Screen Video Game Colors By The Console

Atari 5200 (1982) 256 colors

Sega Master System (1985) 32 colors

Nintendo (1985) 52 colors

Atari 7800 (1986) 256 colors

Sega Genesis (1989) 64 colors

Super Nintendo (1991) 256 colors

Sony Playstation (1994) 16.7 million colors

Nintendo 64 (1996) 32,000 colors

Sega Dreamcast (1997) 16.7 million colors



Today's video games are played on a range of different consoles and offer millions of colors. Speed has also drastically improved, making it possible to render many hues in order to provide the best colors possible. However, some game developers still prefer the simpler, brighter graphics for their game-playing experience. THE COLORFUL HISTORY OF MDEOGAME NIMATION These days, we're used to the bright, often realistic images in our video games, but it wasn't always this way. Back in the day, video games weren't just simple pixels; they were simple in color, as well! From playing Pong in black and white to the full-color games available today, video game colors have come a long way. STARTING OUT IN BLACK AnD WHITE It might seem odd now, but at one time, video games were played on black screens with white or green graphics. 1958 William Higinbotham invents ELECTRONIC TENNIS. It was black and white, using a cathode-ray tube like early televisions. Arcade version of "Pong," another tennis game, debuts. "Pong" cut costs with a CHEAPER B&W HITACHI TELEVISION Screen. Color overlays are introduced as a way to > include color by using cellophane sheets placed over the TV. MAGNAVOX was the first game to use this technique, but the four-player version of "Pong" also used overlays. 1975 "PONG" comes out with a HOME EDITION. 1978 The first space shooting game, "Space Invaders," Again, BLACK AND WHITE, as the hardware, COULD NOT KEEP UP with color graphics. However, colored overlays were used, and the graphics were reflected onto a CARDBOARD BACKGROUND USING MIRRORS. comes out. "GALAXIAN" is the first game to use RGB COLORS. 1985 SEGA MASTER SYSTEM is released with 32 ON-SCREEN COLORS. 1989 > Game Boy is released by Nintendo. This handheld game was BLACK AND WHITE and more popular than competing color models because the BATTERIES lasted much longer. SEGA GENESIS game console is introduced. If displays up to 64 COLORS at a time. 1991 The SUPER NINTENDO debuts with 256 COLORS gvailable on screen. 1994 SONY PLAYSTATION appears with 16.7 MILLION COLORS displayed. 1998 It could display 56 colors at a time (out of over 32,000), and a liquid crystal display allowed batteries to last up to 10 hours. GAME BOY COLOR is relegsed, Original Game Boy Paks are compatible with this model; 4-10 colors are overlaid to create a colored 2007 game. VIDEO GAME Sales hit $41.9 BILLION. 2010 In 2010, Sharp introduced the QUATTRON 3D TV, which offered RGBY, red, green, blue and yellow. 2011 "CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS" and "MODERN WARFARE 3" (WITH OVER 16.7 BILLION COLORS) are produced with COLOR BLIND ASSIST to aid those wwith color blindness. ON SCREEN DIDEO GA ME COLORS BY THE CONSOLE Atari 5200 (1982) 256 COLORS Sega Master System (1985) 32 COLORS Nintendo (1985) 52 COLORS Atari 7800 (1986) 256 COLORS Sega Genesis (1989) 64 COLORS Super Nintendo (1991) 256 COLORS Sony PlayStation (1994) 16.7 MILLION COLORS Nintendo 64 (1996) 32,000 COLORS Sega Dreamcast (1997) 16.7 MILLION COLORS Today's video games are played on a range of and offer has also drastically many hues in order to improved, making it provide the best colors possible. However, some game developers still prefer the for their game-playing experience. SOURCES: BY: COLOURlovers.com http://www.pong-story.com/arcade.htm http://www.pong-story.com/odyssey.htm http://www.photoshopessentials.com/essentials/16-bit/page-2.php hitp://kb.iu.edu/data/ackw.himl http://www.gamepro.com/article/features/210856/the-24-greatest-8-bit-games-ever-made/ http://www.arcade-history.com/?n=galaxian&page=detail&id=901 http://www.shacknews.com/article/69208/modern-uwarfare-3-colorblind-support http://www.tested.com/news/rgb-vs-rgby-does-adding-yellow-really-improve-tv-image-quality/1804/ hitp://www.nintendo.com/3ds/hardware/specs http://www.bnl.gov/bnlweb/history/higinbotham2.aspd http://www.technologyreview.com/communications/12075/ http://www.allgame.com/platform.php?id=17662 http://www.emuparadise.me/emulators/info.php http://www.time.com/time/interactive/0,31813,2029221,00.html ......