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68 Mind-Blowing Video Game Facts You Probably Didn’t Know

1. The First Video Game Was Created in 1958

"Tennis for Two," created by William Higinbotham, is considered one of the first video games ever made.

2. The Best-Selling Video Game of All Time Is Minecraft

Minecraft has sold over 200 million copies worldwide across all platforms.

3. The Original Mario Was Called "Jumpman"

In the game Donkey Kong (1981), Mario was initially named Jumpman before becoming Nintendo’s iconic character.

4. The Legend of Zelda Was Inspired by Creator’s Childhood

Shigeru Miyamoto was inspired by his childhood explorations in the forests and caves near his home.

5. The PlayStation Was Originally a Nintendo Collaboration

Sony and Nintendo planned to create a CD-based console together, but the partnership fell apart.

6. The First Esports Tournament Was Held in 1972

Stanford University hosted a Spacewar tournament with a prize of a year’s subscription to Rolling Stone magazine.

7. Pac-Man Was Designed to Appeal to Women

The shape of Pac-Man was inspired by a pizza missing a slice, chosen to attract a broader audience including women.

8. The Longest Gaming Session Was Over 138 Hours

Okan Kaya set the world record playing Call of Duty: Black Ops II for 138 hours and 34 minutes in 2012.

9. Tetris Is One of the Most Ported Games

Tetris has been adapted to over 65 different platforms, from computers to calculators.

10. The Xbox Controller Has Over 100 Components

Modern Xbox controllers contain more than 100 individual parts, including buttons, sensors, and circuitry.

11. The First Video Game Console Was the Magnavox Odyssey

Released in 1972, it was the first home video game system but had very primitive graphics.

12. Sonic the Hedgehog Was Created to Rival Mario

Sega created Sonic to compete with Nintendo’s Mario, emphasizing speed and attitude.

13. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Has Over 300 Hours of Gameplay

Completing every quest and exploring every location can take players hundreds of hours.

14. The First Game to Use a Save Feature Was The Legend of Zelda

Released in 1986, it was the first popular game to allow players to save progress.

15. The Nintendo Switch Is the Fastest-Selling Console

It sold over 2 million units in its first month globally.

16. Fortnite Made $1 Billion in Its First Year

The free-to-play battle royale game earned massive revenue from in-game purchases.

17. The Pac-Man Ghosts Have Names

Blinky, Pinky, Inky, and Clyde are the four ghosts chasing Pac-Man.

18. The Most Expensive Video Game Ever Made Was Grand Theft Auto V

It had a budget of approximately $265 million.

19. Tetris Was Created by a Russian Programmer

Alexey Pajitnov developed Tetris in 1984 while working at the Soviet Academy of Sciences.

20. Mario Has Over 200 Different Games

The character Mario has appeared in more than 200 video games across various genres.

21. The First Easter Egg in a Video Game Was in Adventure

Hidden by programmer Warren Robinett, it was the first known video game Easter egg.

22. The Original Pokémon Games Released in 1996

Pokémon Red and Green debuted in Japan and launched a massive franchise worldwide.

23. The Legend of Zelda’s “Overworld” Map Is Inspired by Hyrule Castle

The design reflects medieval castles and landscapes.

24. The First-Person Shooter Genre Was Popularized by Doom

Released in 1993, Doom set the standard for FPS games.

25. Minecraft’s Creepers Were Created by Accident

Programmer Markus Persson accidentally inverted the dimensions of a pig model, resulting in the Creeper.

26. The PlayStation Portable (PSP) Was Sony’s First Handheld Console

Released in 2004, it competed with Nintendo’s handhelds.

27. The Xbox Name Was Derived from "DirectX Box"

It referred to Microsoft's DirectX graphics technology.

28. Pac-Man’s Design Was Influenced by a Pizza Missing a Slice

This simple shape became one of the most recognizable characters in gaming.

29. The Game Over Screen Was Introduced to Add Challenge

It encourages players to try again and improve their skills.

30. The Legend of Zelda Uses a Non-Linear Gameplay Design

Players can explore the game world in multiple orders.

31. The Nintendo 64 Controller Was the First to Introduce an Analog Stick

This allowed for smoother and more precise movements.

32. The Most Played Online Game Is League of Legends

It has millions of daily active players worldwide.

33. The Witcher 3 Features Over 200 Hours of Gameplay

Players can explore an enormous open world with multiple quests and storylines.

34. The First Virtual Reality Headset Was Created in 1968

The "Sword of Damocles" was the earliest VR headset prototype.

35. The “Blue Shell” in Mario Kart Targets Players in First Place

It's notorious for balancing gameplay by targeting leaders.

36. The Original Pong Was Created in 1972

It was one of the first commercially successful video games.

37. The Game "Pac-Man" Has Over 3,000 Screens

Some versions of the game feature thousands of levels or screens.

38. The First Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (MMORPG) Was Neverwinter Nights

Released in 1991, it was an early example of online role-playing games.

39. The First Video Game with Voice Acting Was 1983’s “Dragon’s Lair”

It featured animated sequences with voice-over dialogue.

40. The Speedrunning Community Tries to Complete Games Quickly

Speedrunners use glitches and techniques to finish games as fast as possible.

41. The Original Xbox Had a Built-in Hard Drive

It was one of the first consoles to include this feature for game storage.

42. The Game “Fortnite” Has Over 350 Million Registered Players

Its popularity spans multiple platforms and age groups.

43. The PlayStation 2 Is the Best-Selling Console of All Time

It sold over 155 million units worldwide.

44. “Dark Souls” Is Known for Its Difficulty

The game is famous for its challenging gameplay and punishing mechanics.

45. The First Game to Feature a Female Protagonist Was “Metroid”

Samus Aran is one of the earliest female heroes in video games.

46. The Nintendo Game Boy Sold Over 118 Million Units

It was a groundbreaking handheld console released in 1989.

47. The First 3D Video Game Was “Battlezone” (1980)

It used vector graphics to create a 3D environment.

48. The Game “Pac-Man” Was the First to Feature Power-Ups

Eating power pellets allowed Pac-Man to temporarily eat ghosts.

49. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Is Often Called the Best Game Ever

It received numerous awards and critical acclaim upon release.

50. The First Esports Event Offered a Prize of $50

The 1980 Space Invaders tournament was one of the first competitive gaming events.

51. The Game “Minecraft” Is Used in Education

Many schools use Minecraft to teach creativity and problem-solving.

52. The Original “Call of Duty” Game Released in 2003

It popularized the modern military shooter genre.

53. The Game “Tetris” Has a Unique Soundtrack

The “Korobeiniki” folk song is closely associated with Tetris gameplay.

54. The First Console to Use Optical Discs Was the Sega Saturn

It helped transition gaming away from cartridges.

55. The Game “Overwatch” Features a Diverse Cast of Characters

It emphasizes teamwork and unique abilities for each character.

56. The First Video Game to Have a Backstory Was “Adventure” (1979)

It featured one of the earliest narrative elements in gaming.

57. The Game “Halo” Popularized Console FPS Gaming

It was a major success on the Xbox platform.

58. The Original “Street Fighter II” Revolutionized Fighting Games

It introduced combo attacks and diverse character moves.

59. The “Legend of Zelda” Series Has Sold Over 100 Million Copies

It remains one of Nintendo’s most successful franchises.

60. The Game “Animal Crossing: New Horizons” Sold Over 30 Million Copies

It became a cultural phenomenon during the COVID-19 pandemic.

61. The First Video Game to Use 3D Polygon Graphics Was “Virtua Racing”

Released in 1992, it showcased early 3D racing gameplay.

62. The PlayStation 3 Was the First Console with Blu-ray Support

This allowed for larger game storage and high-definition media.

63. The Game “Among Us” Became Popular in 2020

Its social deduction gameplay attracted a large audience during the pandemic.

64. The “Counter-Strike” Series Began as a Half-Life Mod

It evolved into one of the most popular competitive shooters.

65. The Original “Pac-Man” Game Sold Over 400,000 Arcade Units

It became one of the highest-grossing arcade games ever.

66. The First Video Game to Feature Multiplayer Was “Pong”

It allowed two players to compete on the same screen.

67. The Game “Super Mario Bros.” Popularized Side-Scrolling Platformers

Released in 1985, it set the standard for many future platform games.

68. The Game “World of Warcraft” Has Over 100 Million Registered Accounts

It is one of the most successful MMORPGs in history