Sitting around playing games in a dusty, smoky boardwalk is all well and good, but what if you could enjoy them in the comfort of your own home? That was the next stage in the evolution of videogames, again presided over by Atari as they introduced their Video Computer System, later renamed the 2600, which adapted many of their arcade hits for play on your TV. Previously the living room had been the domain of toys and television, but now there was a new contender vying for the attention - and the cash - of young, impressionable tikes in need of entertainment.
17. The Commodore 64 Inspires A Generation Of Coders
At this point the idea of actually making and programming games seemed like the stuff of data travelers, electro wizards, and techno anarchists. The likes of the Commodore 64 (whose motto was "computers for the masses, not the classes") and the ZX Spectrum proved that, with a lot of patience and a little knowledge, you could produce your own games - something which inspired a whole new generation of video game coders. The ones who weren't put off by Jet Set Willy's lack of a proper ending, anyway. It was the Mass Effect 3 of its time, don't you know.
Tom Baker is the Comics Editor at WhatCulture! He's heard all the Doctor Who jokes, but not many about Randall and Hopkirk. He also blogs at http://communibearsilostate.wordpress.com/
