Video Games: The Movie

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1

Once upon a time, there did exist

a world without video games.

Like so many things

distinctly human,

electronic games were

born out of a combination

of innovation, necessity

and curiosity.

Early tinkerers made

electronic amusements,

cheap, crude entertainment

that would transform in time

to something potent and alive.

This would not just happen

by electronic wizardry,

but by the endeavors of artists,

designers, and entrepreneurs

whose initial goal to entertain

also came to challenge,

captivate, and enlighten

millions of people

around the world.

The men and women who created

this industry allowed their own

experiences and the world around

them to inform their creations.

This is the story of video games.

This is Video Games: The Movie.

Havin' a good time

I'm a shooting star leaping

through the skies

Like a tiger defying

the laws of gravity

I'm a racing car passing

by like Lady Godiva

I'm gonna go, go, go

There's no stopping me

I'm burning through

the sky, yeah

Two hundred degrees

That's why they call

me Mister Fahrenheit

I'm traveling

at the speed of light

I wanna make a supersonic man

out of you

Don't stop me now

I'm having such a good time

I'm having a ball

Don't stop me now

If you wanna have a good time,

just give me a call

Don't stop me now

I'm havin' a good time

Don't stop me now

Yes, I'm havin' a good time

Don't wanna stop at all

I'm a rocket ship

on my way to Mars

On a collision course

I am a satellite

I'm out of control

I am a sex machine

ready to reload

Like an atom bomb about to

oh, oh, oh, oh, oh explode

I'm burning through

the sky, yeah

Two hundred degrees

That's why they call

me Mister Fahrenheit

I'm traveling

at the speed of light

I wanna make a supersonic

woman of you

Don't stop me, don't stop me

Don't stop me

Don't stop me, don't stop me

Ooh, ooh, ooh, I like it

Don't stop me, don't stop me

Have a good time, good time

Don't stop me, don't stop me

Ooh, ooh, all right

Ooh, I'm burning through

the sky, yeah

Two hundred degrees

That's why they call

me Mister Fahrenheit

I'm traveling

at the speed of light

I wanna make a supersonic man

out of you

Don't stop me now

I love video games, because I have

the same experience that I have

when I watch a movie that I love

or read a book

that captures my imagination.

But, I'm an active participant

instead of a passive observer.

Video games have a really

interesting role to play

in the future of our species,

and we're just starting

to figure it out right now.

I feel like video

games at this point

are intrinsically linked

into our culture

in a way that's irrevocable.

I think from here on

it goes deeper.

I think video games root

deeper and deeper

into everything we're doing,

until they're just part

of our lives in a way

we don't even notice.

All media's relevant to its time.

For example,

records and cassette tapes

disappeared from existence,

but music didn't disappear,

it was digitized.

The same is true

for movies and books.

They evolve from one

form to another.

For video games,

the evolution is the same.

They will change and evolve.

They will forever be

a part of our global culture.

A hundred,

two hundred years from now,

video games will still exist.

According to The Entertainment

Software Association,

the average gamer's

been playing video games

for 12 years.

Adult gamers have been playing

for an average of 14 years.

Males average 16 years of gameplay,

while females average 12.

As of 2013, 49 percent

of all U.S. households

own a dedicated game console,

and those that do,

own an average of two.

The average game player's age

as of 2013 is 30.

And no, it's not all males.

Forty-seven percent

of gamers are females.

Forty-two percent

of game players believe

that computer and video games give

them the most value for their money,

compared with DVDs, music,

or going out to the movies.

Who buys video games?

The average age of the most

frequent game purchaser is 35.

The point?

Video games have grown up, and now they're

not just in arcades or our living rooms.

They're in our pockets.

Fifteen percent of the most

frequent game players

pay to play online games,

while 33 percent play

games on their smartphones,

and 25 percent play games

on a handheld device.

Most gamers who own

dedicated game consoles

use them for other

entertainment media as well

like watching movies,

TV shows, and music.

Are gamers social?

Sixty-two percent of all gamers

play games with others,

either in person or online.

What about rating game content?

Over 85 percent of parents are

aware of the ESRB rating system

which rate a game's content

and match it

with the appropriate gaming age.

E for Everyone, T or Teen,

M for Mature.

But the question

on a lot of minds is,

do parents really control

what their kids play?

Over 73 percent of parents believe

that the parental controls

available

in all new video game consoles

are useful.

Further, parents impose time

usage limits on video games

more than any other form

of entertainment.

Over 90 percent of the time,

parents are present

when games are purchased or rented,

and 82 percent of the time

children receive

their parents' permission

before purchasing

or renting a game.

Much like movies, games have

specific genres and sub-genres

such as action, adventure,

role playing, casual games,

shooters, strategy games,

open world versus linear games,

sports games, racing games.

This list goes on and on,

and each genre offers its own

special mix of interactive

entertainment.

And yes, each is wildly

successful in its own way.

In the past decade, video games

have gone from a six billion

to an over $24 billion

annual industry,

far surpassing movies and music.

The bottom line?

Video games are here,

and they are here to stay.

But where did all this begin?

The answer is...

well, a bit complicated.

That's the debate of the century,

who's the father of video games?

And, you know, you can always say

Nolan Bushnell

because he founded Atari.

The godfather of video games

has to be Nolan Bushnell.

It's gotta be Nolan Bushnell.

I would say Bushnell.

Nolan Bushnell.

I would probably

give that to Bushnell.

Nolan Bushnell.

I would probably be

in the Nolan Bushnell camp.

Man who came up

with the whole Atari series.

I'd have to say

the creator of Atari.

Whoever created Pong.

Ralph Baer.

You know, back in the late '60s,

early '70s, makin' the Brown Box.

Ralph Baer, 'cause he

created the first console.

I think we both agree,

it was Ralph Baer.

Oh, Ralph Baer.

I can take two

different angles here.

I can say, you know,

whoever started

the entire ball rolling

is whoever created Pong.

Whoever started games

as we know them today,

I'm gonna have to say

Shigeru Miyamoto

from Nintendo.

Miyamoto.

Shigeru Miyamoto.

I think... I think you know

who Shigeru Miyamoto is.

But I'd go all the way back to MIT,

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