98 Fun Facts About Video Games

What classic arcade game stars a yellow, circular character eating its way through a maze?

Pac-Man, released by Namco in 1980, has the player steer the yellow character through a maze eating dots while four ghosts, Blinky, Pinky, Inky and Clyde, give chase.

Which video game company created The Legend of Zelda and Super Mario?

Nintendo is a Japanese multinational video game company known for developing some of the most successful and influential video game franchises in history, including Mario and The Legend of Zelda.

Which characteristic is a defining feature often associated with the "Roguelike" video game genre?

Permadeath is a hallmark of roguelikes: the genre takes its name from Rogue (1980), whose procedurally generated dungeons and permanent character death meant every run started from scratch.

Which esports title has two teams of five competing to destroy the opposing "Ancient" structure?

Dota 2 is a multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game where two teams of five players work together to destroy the opposing team's "Ancient," a large structure within their base.

What was the name of the first commercial home video game console, released in 1972?

The Magnavox Odyssey, released in 1972, holds the distinction of being the first commercial home video game console, predating Atari's home Pong by several years.

Which programmer created Minecraft in Java before handing development to Jens 'Jeb' Bergensten?

Markus Persson, known as 'Notch', wrote the original in Java; after the full release he handed the game to Jens 'Jeb' Bergensten, and Mojang was later sold to Microsoft.

Which iconic character serves as the protagonist of the "Halo" video game franchise?

Master Chief Petty Officer John-117, often simply referred to as Master Chief, is the main protagonist of the military science fiction first-person shooter Halo series.

In what year was the PlayStation 2 first released in Japan?

The PlayStation 2, Sony's highly successful console, first launched in Japan on March 4, 2000, eventually becoming the best-selling video game console worldwide.

"Doom Eternal" is primarily categorized under which video game genre?

Doom Eternal (2020) is a first-person shooter, the fast-paced sequel to 2016's Doom, in which the player tears through demonic hordes from a first-person view.

Who is the primary protagonist in the "Uncharted" video game series?

Nathan Drake is the adventurous and witty treasure hunter who serves as the main protagonist throughout the "Uncharted" series, exploring ancient ruins and uncovering historical mysteries.

Which developer is renowned for challenging action RPGs such as "Dark Souls" and "Elden Ring"?

FromSoftware is a Japanese video game developer highly acclaimed for its challenging action role-playing games, often referred to as 'Souls-like,' including Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Elden Ring.

Which hand-drawn indie Metroidvania sends a silent bug through the fallen kingdom beneath Dirtmouth?

Hollow Knight is a critically acclaimed Metroidvania-style indie game that features a silent, insect-like knight exploring the melancholic world of Hallownest, known for its deep lore and challenging boss battles.

Which gaming console revolutionized gaming with its motion-sensing controller, released in 2006?

Its success pushed rivals to respond: Microsoft's Kinect and Sony's PlayStation Move both followed the popularity of the Wii's motion games.

The character Kratos is the protagonist of which Sony video game series?

Kratos is the central character of the critically acclaimed God of War series, known for his journey from a Spartan warrior to the Ghost of Sparta, battling gods and monsters.

Which globally popular media franchise is famous for creatures like Pikachu, Charizard, and Squirtle?

Pokémon began as Pokémon Red and Green, a pair of Game Boy role-playing games from Game Freak released in Japan on 27 February 1996, before spawning the card game and anime.

Which software engineer created Tetris in 1984?

Alexey Pajitnov wrote Tetris in 1984 on an Elektronika 60 at the Dorodnitsyn Computing Centre of the Soviet Academy of Sciences in Moscow.

Which fictional city, modeled on Los Angeles, is the setting of Grand Theft Auto V?

Los Santos, a sprawling stand-in for Los Angeles in the fictional state of San Andreas, is the setting of Grand Theft Auto V, released by Rockstar Games in September 2013.

In what year was the highly influential arcade game "Pong" first released by Atari?

Pong was released by Atari in 1972 as the company's first product; the prototype cabinet installed at Andy Capp's Tavern in Sunnyvale jammed with quarters within days.

Which major technology company developed and launched the Xbox line of gaming consoles?

Microsoft developed the Xbox line, entering consoles with the original Xbox against Sony's PlayStation 2 and Nintendo's GameCube and following it with the Xbox 360, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.

Which genre has you zone land, lay roads and manage a growing settlement from above?

City-builder games such as SimCity (1989) and Cities: Skylines (2015) have the player zone land, lay roads and manage a growing town from a top-down view.

Who is the protagonist of the highly acclaimed "The Witcher" video game series?

Geralt of Rivia, known as the White Wolf, is a monster hunter (witcher) and the main protagonist of Andrzej Sapkowski's Witcher book series and the popular video game adaptations by CD Projekt Red.

"Stardew Valley" is best described as belonging to which video game genre?

Stardew Valley is a farm life sim: the player inherits a late grandfather's rundown farm, grows crops, raises animals and befriends the townsfolk of Pelican Town.

Which digital distribution platform is most closely associated with PC gaming?

Steam, developed by Valve Corporation, is the largest digital distribution platform for PC gaming, providing a wide array of video games, community features, and developer tools.

What is the name of the main antagonist and recurring villain in the "Super Mario" video game series?

Bowser, also known as King Koopa, is the arch-nemesis of Mario and the primary antagonist in most Super Mario games, constantly attempting to kidnap Princess Peach.

Solid Snake, real name David, is a protagonist of which stealth-action video game series?

Metal Gear, created by Hideo Kojima for Konami, sends Snake, a former Green Beret, on solo stealth missions; artist Yoji Shinkawa designed the character.

In what year was the Nintendo 64 console first released in North America?

The Nintendo 64 (N64) was first released in Japan on June 23, 1996, and then in North America on September 29, 1996.

Which game is widely credited with popularizing the Battle Royale genre in the mid-2010s?

PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), released in 2017, played a pivotal role in popularizing the Battle Royale genre, where many players fight to be the last one standing on a shrinking map.

Which company is the primary developer of the modern "Fallout" series (e.g., Fallout 3, Fallout 4)?

Bethesda Game Studios took over the development of the Fallout series with Fallout 3, reimagining the post-apocalyptic RPG in a 3D open-world format.

Which character is the female protagonist of the "Metroid" video game series?

Samus Aran is the iconic intergalactic bounty hunter and the main protagonist of Nintendo's Metroid series, known for her powerful Chozo-engineered Power Suit.

Which game won the coveted Game of the Year award at The Game Awards 2023?

Baldur's Gate 3, a highly praised Dungeons & Dragons-based RPG by Larian Studios, was crowned Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2023.

What is the name of the primary currency used throughout the "The Legend of Zelda" video game series?

Rupees are the gem-shaped currency of The Legend of Zelda, introduced in the 1986 original, where Link spends them on items such as the candle and bait in hidden cave shops.

Which company developed the original "Doom" game, released in 1993?

id Software developed Doom, released as shareware on 10 December 1993, building on the engine work of its earlier hit Wolfenstein 3D (1992).

In what year was the first "The Legend of Zelda" game released in Japan?

The original "The Legend of Zelda" game was first released in Japan on February 21, 1986, for the Famicom Disk System.

Which assassin is the central character of Assassin's Creed II and its sequels Brotherhood and Revelations?

Ezio Auditore da Firenze headlines Assassin's Creed II, Brotherhood and Revelations, crossing paths with Leonardo da Vinci and Lucrezia Borgia along the way.

What is the fictional continent where most of the "Elder Scrolls" series takes place?

The continent sits on the planet Nirn and is carved into provinces of humans, elves, orcs and animal-like races; each game visits one of them.

Which system was Nintendo's first programmable home console, after its Color TV-Game line?

The Famicom (Family Computer) launched in Japan on 15 July 1983 and reached New York test markets as the NES in October 1985, competing mainly with Sega's Master System.

Which game introduced the "Nemesis System," where AI enemies remember past encounters?

Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor (2014) introduced the Nemesis System: orc captains who kill or escape the player, Talion, remember the encounter and rise through Sauron's ranks.

In which 2012 indie game does a cloaked figure cross a desert toward a mountain using a magical scarf?

Journey, released by Thatgamecompany for PlayStation 3 in March 2012, sends a robed traveler across dunes toward a distant mountain; anonymous strangers can join and communicate only with a chime.

Which game studio developed "God of War" (2018) and "God of War Ragnarök"?

Santa Monica Studio, a first-party developer for Sony Interactive Entertainment, is the acclaimed studio behind the recent installments of the God of War series, including the 2018 reboot and Ragnarök.

Who is the player character in BioWare's sci-fi RPG series "Mass Effect"?

Commander Shepard, an Alliance officer whose gender and background the player chooses, is the protagonist of Mass Effect (2007), Mass Effect 2 (2010) and Mass Effect 3 (2012).

Which 2015 post-apocalyptic RPG is set in the ruins of Boston and surrounding Massachusetts, known in-game as 'the Commonwealth'?

Fallout 4 casts the player as the Sole Survivor, who leaves the vault after seeing their spouse murdered and their son Shaun kidnapped.

Which Polish video game developer created "Cyberpunk 2077" and "The Witcher" series?

CD Projekt Red is a Polish video game developer renowned for its critically acclaimed role-playing games, including The Witcher series and Cyberpunk 2077.

Meta Platforms, formerly Facebook, sells its line of standalone virtual reality headsets under what name?

Meta Quest is the former Oculus Quest, renamed after Facebook Inc. became Meta Platforms; the standalone headsets helped popularise VR gaming.

Which game pairs its popular Battle Royale with a cooperative building and survival mode against zombie-like creatures?

Fortnite is known for its highly popular Battle Royale mode, but it also features 'Save the World,' a cooperative player-versus-environment mode focused on building defenses and surviving against zombie-like husks.

What is the name of the main antagonist in the classic JRPG "Final Fantasy VII"?

Sephiroth is the iconic and memorable antagonist of Final Fantasy VII, a former SOLDIER First Class who seeks to destroy the planet.

Which game franchise is known for its intricate puzzle-solving and a silent protagonist named Link?

The Legend of Zelda series, starring the hero Link, is renowned for its blend of action, adventure, and often complex environmental puzzles.

In what year was the original "Call of Duty" first-person shooter game released?

The first Call of Duty game, a World War II-themed first-person shooter, was released in 2003, launching one of the most successful video game franchises in history.

Which turn-based tactical game has a squad of elite soldiers fighting an alien invasion?

XCOM: Enemy Unknown is a critically acclaimed turn-based tactical game where players manage an elite paramilitary organization defending Earth from an alien invasion.

Ryu and Ken throw the "Hadouken" projectile in which Capcom fighting series?

Street Fighter's Hadouken, Japanese for 'wave motion fist', debuted with Ryu in the 1987 original and became Ryu and Ken's signature move in Street Fighter II (1991).

Atari's notorious E.T. game for the 2600 was programmed by Howard Scott Warshaw in roughly how long?

Howard Scott Warshaw had just five and a half weeks to finish E.T. for Christmas 1982; Atari had paid a reported $20-25 million for the licence, and the game became a byword for the 1983 crash.

The 2014 excavation that recovered buried Atari cartridges took place in a landfill in which town?

Alamogordo, New Mexico, is where Atari dumped truckloads of cartridges in September 1983; the April 2014 dig, filmed for the documentary Atari: Game Over, unearthed about 1,300 of them.

Star Fox on the SNES was the first game to use which co-processor chip built into the cartridge?

The Super FX, a RISC co-processor designed by Argonaut Software for Nintendo, debuted in Star Fox in 1993 to draw the game's filled 3D polygons; a revised version later powered Yoshi's Island.

Star Fox 2, finished for the Super NES but shelved, was finally released officially in which year?

It shipped as a bonus title on the Super NES Classic Edition mini console.

The only surviving 'Nintendo PlayStation' SNES-CD prototype sold at auction in 2020 for how much?

The 'Nintendo PlayStation' prototype fetched $360,000 at Heritage Auctions in March 2020; Sony had shown the SNES-CD hybrid at the June 1991 CES, only for Nintendo to announce a Philips deal the next day.

Which US agency contacted Blizzard after WoW's 2005 'Corrupted Blood' plague, hoping to use it as outbreak data?

The CDC contacted Blizzard about the outbreak, which began on 13 September 2005 when Hakkar the Soulflayer's Corrupted Blood debuff escaped Zul'Gurub via players' pets and infected crowded cities.

Super Mario Bros.' glitched 'Minus' stage is reached by clipping through a wall in which level?

The Minus World is entered from World 1-2 by clipping through the wall near the exit pipe; on the NES it is an endless water level internally labelled 36-1, while the Famicom Disk System version yields three playable stages.

Why do the aliens in Space Invaders speed up as you shoot them?

Tomohiro Nishikado found the processor drew fewer sprites faster as aliens died, so the invaders sped up; he kept the effect as a built-in difficulty curve rather than fixing it.

Every GoldenEye 007 cartridge secretly holds a deactivated emulator for which computer?

GoldenEye 007's cartridge contains a dormant ZX Spectrum emulator with ten games Rare had written for the British home computer; fans activated it in 2012 using a GameShark.

Which two publishers moved Final Fantasy VII and Dragon Warrior VII from the N64 to PlayStation?

Square and Enix took Final Fantasy VII and Dragon Quest VII to Sony's CD-based PlayStation after Nintendo kept cartridges for the N64; the two firms later merged as Square Enix in 2003.

Which German hacker stole and leaked the Half-Life 2 source code in 2003?

Axel Gembe broke into Valve's network and the unfinished Half-Life 2 code spread online in October 2003; Gabe Newell lured him with a fake job interview before German police arrested him in 2004.

Besides Bad Street Brawler, which puzzle game was built specifically for the NES Power Glove?

Super Glove Ball, a 1990 puzzle game developed by Rare in which a glove swats balls down a 3D tunnel, was the only title besides Bad Street Brawler designed around the Power Glove.

How many games were officially released for Nintendo's Virtual Boy before it was discontinued?

Just 22 games were released for the Virtual Boy between its July 1995 launch and its discontinuation; only 14 reached North America, and the console sold about 770,000 units worldwide.

How quickly did David Brevik convert Diablo from turn-based to real time after Blizzard asked?

David Brevik rewrote the combat over a single weekend after a Condor team vote backed Blizzard's push for real time; the click-to-attack result shipped as Diablo, and Condor became Blizzard North in 1996.

Which composer was Nintendo's first employee hired specifically to write music, in 1984?

Koji Kondo joined Nintendo in 1984 as its first dedicated composer and wrote the Super Mario Bros. theme, which in 2023 became the first video game music added to the US National Recording Registry.

Spacewar!, written in 1962 by Steve Russell and colleagues at MIT, ran on which computer?

Spacewar! ran on the DEC PDP-1, a $120,000 minicomputer of which only about 50 were built; the game spread to most of them and DEC later shipped it as a test program.

What company released the original PlayStation console?

It launched in Japan on 3 December 1994 after a planned CD add-on for Nintendo's Super NES fell apart, pushing Sony to go it alone.

In what year was the original Nintendo Game Boy first released in Japan?

The original Nintendo Game Boy, an 8-bit portable console, was first released in Japan on April 21, 1989. It later launched in North America in July 1989.

What item does Sonic the Hedgehog collect to protect himself from losing a life?

Rings are Sonic's lifeline: taking a hit with at least one ring scatters them instead of costing a life, and collecting 100 in the 1991 original earns an extra life.

What year did Microsoft release its first Xbox console?

Microsoft introduced its first Xbox console in the United States on November 15, 2001, marking its debut in the gaming console market.

Ken Levine is primarily known for his work as the creative director on which video game series?

Ken Levine is the creative director and co-founder of Ghost Story Games (formerly Irrational Games) and is most notably known for leading the creation of the BioShock series.

Which company developed the critically acclaimed action-adventure game Grand Theft Auto V?

Grand Theft Auto V is a 2013 action-adventure game developed by Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games. Development involved a large team, including staff from various Rockstar Games studios worldwide.

The Sega Dreamcast, the company's final home console and the first of the sixth generation, launched in Japan in which year?

1998 saw the Dreamcast launch in Japan on November 27, with a worldwide release following in late 1999.

Which game is often credited as the first commercially successful arcade video game?

Released by Atari in 1972, Pong was a simple two-dimensional tennis sports game that became a groundbreaking success, establishing the video game industry.

Which Nintendo designer directed and produced the first Super Mario Bros.?

Shigeru Miyamoto directed and produced Super Mario Bros. (1985) alongside Takashi Tezuka, following the 1983 arcade game Mario Bros.; he also created The Legend of Zelda and Donkey Kong.

The original PlayStation reached North America in September of which year?

Japan got it first, on 3 December 1994; North America followed on 9 September 1995 and Europe on 29 September.

Which video game popularized the 'bullet time' mechanic of slowing time during combat?

Max Payne, released in 2001, became famous for its cinematic 'bullet time' feature, which allowed players to experience slow-motion gunfights similar to those seen in action movies.

Who composed the iconic 'Main Theme of Final Fantasy VII'?

Nobuo Uematsu is the renowned composer behind the memorable soundtrack of Final Fantasy VII, including its widely praised main theme.

What is the name of the main playable protagonist in 'Red Dead Redemption 2'?

Arthur Morgan is the central protagonist and main playable character in 'Red Dead Redemption 2', an outlaw and member of the Van der Linde gang.

Which Nintendo series has Mario, Link and Kirby knock each other off floating stages?

Super Smash Bros. began on the Nintendo 64 in 1999, pitting Nintendo mascots against each other in matches won by knocking rivals off the stage rather than draining health bars.

The original Diablo, developed by Blizzard North, was first released for which platform?

Diablo launched on Windows PC at the turn of 1997, reaching some shops in the last days of December 1996; a PlayStation port followed in 1998 and a planned Sega Saturn version was cancelled.

Which of these was NOT among id Software's four founders in 1991?

The four who left Softdisk to found id on February 1, 1991 were John Carmack, John Romero, Tom Hall and artist Adrian Carmack; Newell co-founded Valve.

What genre is Minecraft primarily categorised as, known for open-world creativity?

Minecraft revolutionized the sandbox genre by allowing players immense freedom to build, explore, and create in its blocky, procedurally generated worlds.

What is the name of Mario's younger, taller brother, often seen wearing green?

Luigi made his debut in the 1983 arcade game Mario Bros. and has since become a beloved character, frequently joining his brother Mario on adventures.

Which 2006 Xbox 360 shooter pits Marcus Fenix's squad against the Locust Horde?

Gears of War, released by Epic Games for the Xbox 360 in November 2006, follows Marcus Fenix and Delta Squad as they fight the subterranean Locust Horde on the planet Sera.

Which Sony handheld, launched in Japan in December 2004, played games on UMD discs?

The PlayStation Portable launched in Japan on 12 December 2004 and in North America in March 2005, running games from Universal Media Disc (UMD), a small optical disc in a plastic shell.

What does Nintendo call the detachable controllers that slide onto the Switch's sides?

Joy-Con is Nintendo's name for the Switch's pair of detachable controllers, which slide onto the console's rails for handheld play and split apart for two-player matches.

The Sega Mega Drive, later the Genesis in North America, launched in Japan in which year?

Sega's Mega Drive launched in Japan on 29 October 1988; the 16-bit console reached North America as the Genesis the following August and Europe in 1990.

Which independent developer single-handedly created Stardew Valley?

Eric Barone, under the pseudonym ConcernedApe, single-handedly developed Stardew Valley over four years, handling all aspects from programming to art and music.

Toru Iwatani has said his famous yellow arcade character was inspired by what?

Iwatani later admitted that was only partly true: the shape also came from rounding off the Japanese character for 'mouth'.

In the 1981 Donkey Kong arcade game, the hero later named Mario worked in what trade?

In Donkey Kong (1981) the hero, then called Jumpman, was a carpenter on a construction site; he only became a plumber with Mario Bros. in 1983.

Mario was named after Mario Segale, who had what relationship to Nintendo of America?

The oft-told story has Segale confronting president Minoru Arakawa over back rent on the company's warehouse.

Nintendo was founded in Kyoto in 1889 to make and sell what?

Playing cards were Nintendo's first product: founder Fusajiro Yamauchi made hanafuda, the traditional Japanese flower cards, by hand in Kyoto, and the firm stayed in cards for decades before electronics.

Atari was founded in 1972 by Nolan Bushnell and which partner?

Ted Dabney co-founded Atari with Nolan Bushnell in June 1972 after the pair built Computer Space together; Dabney left in 1973, and Bushnell sold Atari to Warner Communications in 1976.

The 1996 Tomb Raider was developed by Core Design, a studio based in which English city?

Core Design was based in Derby, where Toby Gard created Lara Croft; the city named a stretch of its inner ring road Lara Croft Way in 2010.

Where did Innersloth's Among Us first launch in June 2018?

Among Us arrived on iOS and Android on 15 June 2018 and on Windows via Steam that November; it went viral only in 2020 when streamers picked it up during lockdown.

Shigeru Miyamoto named Princess Zelda after the wife of which American novelist?

F. Scott Fitzgerald's wife Zelda, a novelist and socialite, gave the princess her name; Miyamoto said he liked the sound of it and that she was famous and beautiful by all accounts.

In Portal, what does GLaDOS promise Chell for completing every test chamber?

Valve's merchandise later included a model portal gun and plush Companion Cubes, and fans baked the cake for real.

Wii Sports came bundled with the Wii everywhere except Japan and which other country?

Korea, like Japan, sold Wii Sports separately; everywhere else the game was bundled with the Wii from its November 2006 launch, which helped make it the console's defining title.