Video Games

Video games are played by billions of people around the world. They are programs that create interactive worlds on a screen. Players use controllers, keyboards, or touchscreens to play. Video games have come a long way from simple dots on a screen to amazing 3D worlds that look almost real.

How Video Games Work

A video game is a computer program that creates a virtual world. The game's code controls everything: how characters move, what the world looks like, and the rules of the game. A graphics processor draws images on the screen many times per second. Physics engines make objects in the game behave like they would in real life.

The Science of Game Design

Making video games combines many types of science. Programmers write the code. Artists create the characters and worlds. Sound designers make the music and effects. Mathematicians help create realistic physics. Psychologists study what makes games fun and challenging. Game design is both an art and a science.

Fun Facts

• The first video game, Pong, was made in 1972. It was a simple tennis game with two rectangles and a dot.
• Minecraft is one of the best-selling video games ever, with over 300 million copies sold.
• Professional video game players can earn millions of dollars in esports competitions.

Did You Know?

Some video games are used for more than entertainment. Doctors use game-like simulations to practice surgery. Scientists have used a game called Foldit where players solve protein-folding puzzles. In 2011, gamers solved a protein structure in just 3 weeks that scientists had been working on for 15 years!