The year was 1980. Video games were alive and the arcades were as popular as ever. Then it happened. There was chaos everywhere. It was the official release of Pac-Mac. The gobbling little creature that ate what he could, grabbed the cherries, but had to avoid the enemy to survive. Pac-man caught on real quick, and to this day Pac-Man still lives in the basement and minds of thousands.
Back in the day when this game was released, most games revolved around shooting aliens and other enemies; clearly targeted at males with itchy trigger fingers. While the male population was fine with the shooting games, Pac-Man, on the other hand, brought women into the mix, thanks to an addictive and non-violent design and cute, cartoon characters. Men and women loved this game and were actually competing against each other. As the power pellet gobbling Pac-Man, players maneuver him through mazes while avoiding multicolored ghosts. This game was simple to play and understand and anybody had the ability to play it. What was an easy game in theory and was Simple to play was even more difficult to master; the game became an enormous hit and was in every arcade and pizzeria across the nation. This popularity was the leading reason it led to its much-improved sequel, Ms. Pac-Man. Pac-Man was a huge hit the 80's and remains a crowd pleaser today for all age groups both young and old.
Wii Sports (Wii, 2006)
I know this game has only been around for a little more than a year, but it qualifies as one of the top games released over the last 2 decades. It's little more than a year old, but there's no denying Wii Sports' impact. Everybody is able to get in on the act and participate on all levels. Nintendo's clever pack-in is among the primary reasons why the Wii flies off shelves, as people of all ages try their luck at tennis, boxing, golf, bowling and baseball. Bottom line, it brings folks together unlike any game before it and for great reason; it's lots of fun. Fun for the whole family and getting people off the couch and into the action and for that reason alone it ranks among the best released of all time.
Guitar Hero (PS2, 2005)
This game is great; this game provides hours and hours of fun. Make no doubt about it, our family loves this game and we spend hours jamming in the living room to the tunes and compete against each other on the different levels. The race is always on to be the high percentage winner for the song you just played to. Reaching 100% perfection is on everybody’s mind, well almost everybody. Sure, Konami broke onto the scene with its Guitar Freaks series in 1999, but it didn't catch fire like Guitar Hero. Red Octane and Harmonix's most excellent franchise did what few did before it, which is make gaming cool. Gone were the images of the overweight, snack eating weirdo, replaced with moms, dads, sisters, CEOs, accountants and doctors that want nothing more than to rock out to The Rolling Stones. It also led to the creation of Rock Band, which capitalizes on our desire to sing and bang drums. The latest editions are now wireless, interactive and you can record your own music. Guitar Hero is here to stay with new editions being introduced for many years to come. As long as the music industry survives, so will Guitar Hero.
Grand Theft Auto III (PS2, 2001)
Although to some this game may seem a bit violent at times, in reality it is fun to play or fun to watch others play. Set aside the make believe violence and you have a game that requires skill of the controls. Previous Grand Theft Auto games were top down, 2-D affairs enjoyed by PC enthusiasts. Grand Theft Auto III changed that and appealed to a wider audience, in large part because of its 3-D graphics, sprawling environments and over the top shenanigans. Gamers loved the gritty storyline, the diversity of missions and the go anywhere, kill anyone design that had them picking up prostitutes, bludgeoning old ladies and running from the law. Not only did it help save a now multimillion dollar franchise, but it also helped its publisher, Rockstar, live up to its name.
Space Invaders (Arcades, 1978)
You can trace just about every space shooter to this arcade classic, which was so popular and so addictive that it caused total chaos and a national coin shortage in Japan. Beloved worldwide, millions of gamers lined up and were lined up to get a crack at blasting the never-ending waves of aliens, and the only thing standing in their way of achieving the high score was their own skill. Your fingers wailing away on the joystick and the shooting button and with no time limit and three lives, they could play the game indefinitely. This game would speed up and you skill level determined just how far you would be able to get. This would be the beginning of the end and the gaming world would begin.
John Madden Football (PC, 1989)
John Madden football is the number sports franchise of all time. Year after year it continues to amaze even the die-hard fans.
Although Atari released Football for its 2600 console in 1978, no other pigskin game had a more important effect on gaming as Electronic Arts' John Madden Football. What started as a PC only experience blossomed into an annual gaming event that draws millions of people, many of which converge on their favorite retailers (often at midnight) to snag the newest addition. Not only is it one of the few games (all of which are under the EA umbrella) to carry the NFL license, but also it broke through hardcore gaming barriers to appeal to the masses. John Madden football is a blast to play and there is not a football fan that will not love this game experience. The Nintendo Wii version gets you off the couch and into the entire action grab your version and you are now the head coach and the player. A football fan dreams come true experience.
Super Mario Bros. (NES, 1985)
Who in the world does not love Mario? Mario, being such a charming character is beloved by all gamers regardless of age. The Mario experience continues on more than 30 years after the first release. That's right, over 30 years ago and still going strong.