Video Game History
What was the first video game ever created?
A) Tennis for Two (1958)
B) Pong (1951)
C) Spacewar! (1962)
Tennis for Two (1958)
Created by physicist William Higinbotham at the Brookhaven National Laboratory, this is widely considered the first video game designed purely for entertainment. Players used physical controllers connected to an analog computer to hit a glowing dot over a net on an oscilloscope screen.
This 1980's main character is yellow, eats dots, and has ghosts for enemies. Who is it?
Pac-Man
One of the highest-grossing arcade games of all time. Players main goals were navigated mazes, chomping pellets, and avoiding ghosts.
What does “NPC” stand for?
A) Non-Playable Console
B) Non-Productive Character
C) Non-Playable Character
Non-Playable Character
A Non-Player Character (NPC), also known as a non-playable character, is any character in a video game or tabletop role-playing game that is not controlled by a human player.
This puzzle game has existed since the 1980's, that involve falling pieces that must be sorted into a pile.
Tetris
Over 30 scientific studies suggest that playing the game helps the human brain operate more efficiently and can strengthen the cerebral cortex.
What platform is most popular for live-streaming games?
A) YouTube
B) Kick
C) Twitch
Twitch
The industry leader for video game streaming. It offers deep chat integration, interactive extensions, and a strong community for esports and variety streamers.
Which company created the Xbox?
A) Nintendo
B) Sony Entertainment
C) Microsoft
Microsoft
The original Xbox console was developed internally by Microsoft and launched in North America on November 15, 2001. Xbox is home to popular games such as Grand Theft Auto V, the Halo franchise, and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.
This protagonist, first introduced in 1985, would eat mushrooms for power-ups and stomp on turtles. Who am I?
Mario
Super Mario Bros, released by Nintendo, is a platformer widely credited with single-handedly saving the home video game industry. It set the blueprint for side-scrolling games for decades.
What does “AFK” mean?
A) Away from Keyboard
B) Award for Kills
C) Adjust for Keyboard
Away from Keyboard
Away From Keyboard (AFK) is a common digital and gaming acronym used to let others know you are temporarily stepping away from your computer or phone.
This sports game involves motion control, and is one of the best-selling games by Nintendo.
Wii Sports
Released as a launch title in 2006 alongside the Nintendo Wii, Wii Sports is a collection of five sports games (tennis, baseball, bowling, golf, and boxing). It holds the record as Nintendo's best-selling game of all time and ranks among the top-selling video games worldwide, with over 82 million copies sold.
What does it mean to “rage quit”?
A) To break your PC or video game console
B) To quit playing a game due to feeling joy
C) To leave a game due to frustration
To leave a game due to frustration
To preserve the integrity of the online gaming community, many developers implement strict penalties for players who abandon game matches early. These punishments range from match score penalties to matchmaking bans.
Which console did Nintendo release after the GameCube?
A) Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES)
B) Nintendo Wii
C) Nintendo 64
Nintendo Wii
The most popular releases on this console were Mario Kart, the Wii fit franchise, and the Wii Sports franchise.
This character is known for being fast, being blue, and collecting rings. Who am I?
Sonic the Hedgehog
Created in 1991, this game was a popular rival to Nintendo's Super Mario. Sonic's speed was inspired by the developers' mistaken belief that real-life hedgehogs run fast.
What does "GG" stand for?
A) Gorgeous Gaming
B) Good Game
C) Great Gains
Good Game
GG is a widely used gaming acronym that stands for "good game". It is typically typed in the chat at the end of a match to show respect, congratulate the winning team, and display good sportsmanship regardless of the outcome.
This popular racing game involves multiple popular characters from a 1980's Nintendo franchise.
Mario Kart
The Mario Kart series is one of the most successful gaming franchises in history, with over 189 million copies sold worldwide. Spanning seventeen games, the franchise began in 1992 and is renowned for its chaotic items, iconic characters, and genre-defining multiplayer.
What is something typically done at conventions where individuals dress up as their favorite characters, not just from video games, but all media?
A) Costuming
B) Cosplaying
C) Levelling Up
Cosplaying
The term "cosplay" is a portmanteau of the English words "costume" and "play". The hobby blends intricate costume-making with roleplay, allowing fans to creatively step into the shoes of beloved characters while finding a tight-knit and supportive community.
What year was the first PlayStation released?
A) 1990
B) 1994
C) 1997
1994
Popular games on the PlayStation include Marvel's Spider-Man, God of War, and the Uncharted franchise.
Steve (Minecraft)
Steve is the first and the original default skin available for players of contemporary versions of Minecraft
What term describes a hidden feature or joke in a game?
A) Secret Stash
B) Easter Egg
C) Funny Fact
Easter Egg
In video games, an Easter egg is an intentional hidden message, image, joke, or secret feature tucked away by developers. These fun surprises are entirely optional, do not affect the main storyline, and usually offer no strategic gameplay advantage.
This first-person shooter, action-adventure, and racing game consists of engaging in organized crime, heists, and assassinations across large, open-world cities.
The Grand Theft Auto franchise
Grand Theft Auto (GTA) is one of the highest-grossing video game franchises of all time, created by Scottish studio DMA Design (now Rockstar North). Originally planned as a "cops and robbers" game, it pivoted to crime and quickly became a global pop-culture phenomenon.
What is the name for the premier annual video game awards, honoring creative and technical excellence in the global gaming industry?
A) Spike Video Game Awards
B) The Video Gaming Awards
C) The Game Awards
The Game Awards
The Game Awards have been running annually since their inception in 2014. Founded and produced by Canadian journalist Geoff Keighley, the event serves as the successor to the earlier Spike Video Game Awards and broadcasts live every December.
What is the highest-selling video game of all time?
A) Minecraft
B) Grand Theft Auto V
C) Wii Sports
Minecraft
Minecraft is the best-selling video game of all time, with over 350 million copies sold across all platforms.
This main character appears in Black Ops, Black Ops II, Black Ops Cold War, and Black Ops 6 as a gruff, tactical career soldier.
Frank Woods
The Call of Duty: Black Ops franchise is the best-selling sub-series in the Call of Duty universe, recognized for its complex Cold War espionage narratives, mind-bending twists, and the creation of the iconic Zombies game mode.
What is it called when you play the same level repeatedly to improve or gain items?
A) Making Gains
B) Leveling Up
C) Grinding
Grinding
In video games, "grinding" refers to the act of performing repetitive tasks—like defeating the same enemies, gathering resources, or completing mundane quests—to gain in-game benefits such as experience points (XP), loot, levels, or currency.
This Western action-adventure is set in the American frontier during the decline of the Wild West.
The Red Dead Redemption franchise
The first game took about six years to complete and used motion capture for over 1,200 actors. Meanwhile, its prequel Red Dead Redemption 2 had over 1,000 developers working on it.
What is the shortened name for the League of Legends World Championship, held annually as an e-sports event?
A) Worlds
B) Legends
C) Leagues
Worlds
Hosted by Riot Games at the end of each competitive season, it is the most-watched esports tournament in the world.