History

In the 1990s, gaming was booming — but global gaming was still in its infancy.Japanese developers were creating masterpieces, yet many of these games had to cross oceans, languages, and cultures before reaching players in the West. This process wasn’t as simple as translating text. It was localization — a complex, creative act that required … Read more

Before Wi-Fi, before matchmaking lobbies, before voice chat filled our headsets — multiplayer was personal. You could hear your opponent breathing next to you. You could feel the tension in the air as you both held controllers tethered by cords, fighting not for online glory, but bragging rights in the living room. In the pre-internet … Read more

Before YouTube reviews, Reddit debates, or Twitch streams, there was paper. In the 1980s and 1990s, gaming magazines were the lifeblood of console fandom — glossy, colorful, and brimming with cheat codes, interviews, and previews that made players feel like insiders. For millions of fans, these magazines were the internet before the internet. They didn’t … Read more

When we think of classic games — Super Mario Bros., Sonic the Hedgehog, Street Fighter II — we picture mascots, not makers. But behind every sprite, every 8-bit melody, and every perfectly timed jump, were visionary developers whose names rarely made it to the box. In the 1980s and early 1990s, the gaming industry was … Read more

Before million-dollar prize pools, Twitch streams, and packed stadiums, competitive gaming was born in a simpler age — an age of glowing arcades, local bragging rights, and handwritten high scores. In the 1970s and 1980s, competition was already at the heart of gaming culture. But it wasn’t called “esports.” It was simply the thrill of … Read more

In the 1990s, most gamers played at home on a Super Nintendo or a Sega Genesis, or crowded into arcades with quarters in hand. But for those who wanted the arcade at home — without compromise — there was one name: Neo Geo. SNK’s Neo Geo wasn’t just a console; it was a statement. It … Read more

Before sprawling RPGs, cinematic graphics, or online multiplayer, gaming began with something far simpler: two paddles, a bouncing dot, and the sound of electronic blips. Released in 1972 by Atari, Pong wasn’t the first video game, but it was the first to capture the public’s imagination and launch gaming into the mainstream. In this article, … Read more

Few companies in gaming history have soared as high—or fallen as hard—as Atari. From sparking the home console revolution to becoming a cautionary tale of corporate overreach, Atari’s journey is legendary. But what exactly caused the downfall of one of the most iconic names in gaming? To answer that, we need to trace Atari’s meteoric … Read more