10 Little-Known Decisions That Changed The Course Of Gaming History

It's hard to believe that 2016 will mark the thirtieth anniversary of the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) in North America and Europe. Though many consoles preceded it (the first being the Magnavox Odyssey in 1972), it was the first to truly take home gaming into mainstream following the infamous 'video game crash' of 1983, which killed the burgeoning industry in the West for several years. Its success stands as one of the definitive moments in the rich (if short) history of console gaming, which has continued to go from strength to strength over the course of the past three decades. Said history has seen countless console manufacturers, developers and notable franchises come and go, but the medium has continuously grown to rival film, television and music as an entertainment form. Much of this history is well-known, as notable consoles and games live long in our memories as a result of the enjoyment they once offered. Lesser known, however, are some of the developments and decisions behind the scenes that resulted in their creation in the first place. Over the course of the next few pages, we'll look at ten such decisions, each of which the course of gaming history in their own unique way. Minor as many of them must have been at the time, without such things, who knows where we would be today?