NATIONAL TODAY Saturday 8 July

National Video Game Day


Dust off that old Nintendo and haul your prized collection of games out of the closet.


Dust off that old Nintendo and haul your prized collection of games out of the closet. National Video Game Day happens on July 8! (Its cousin, National Video Games Day, is Sept. 12.) Primarily used for recreational purposes (although professional gaming leagues do, in fact, exist), video games have exploded in popularity over the last few decades. They’re exciting, invigorating, and most importantly — not just for kids. The very first video game ever invented involved simple table tennis. Today, there are over five million games in existence. From high-speed racing adventures to perilous virtual dueling matches, there’s a genre for everyone to enjoy. Follow these Top Video Game Journalists if you want to learn more about video games.

When is National Video Game Day 2023?

From “Pac-Man” to “Call of Duty,” from Atari to PlayStation, the digital realm of video games is celebrated on July 8.

History of National Video Game Day

Gaming is a serious business. Even though it has been one of the biggest hobbies sustained since its creation, many gamers have made a livelihood from playing video games. The world’s number one YouTuber, PewDiePie, is a testimony to this. Gaming has definitely come a long way, from its humble beginnings of old-school arcade games to entire universes created with elaborate digital storylines. There are video games out there with better stories than actual live-action movies. The “Batman: Arkham” series is considered the best superhero game of all time, and the story has received more appreciation than some of the recent “Batman” Hollywood productions.

The earliest video games were developed in universities in the 1950s. Experimental games included virtual renditions of paper games like tic-tac-toe. Dr. Edward Uhler Condon unveiled what is considered the first example of a gaming machine in 1940 at the New York World’s Fair. The game showcased was based on the mathematical game “Nim,” and was played by more than 50,000 people during its time on display. The computer algorithm won more than 90% of all games played.  

The first breakthrough for gaming occurred three decades later in 1967, when the father of gaming, Ralph Baer, developed the ‘Brown Box,’ the first-ever game system intended for commercial use. This inspired Atari to create the now-classic game “Pong.” A copyright infringement lawsuit followed this, but Atari came out the other side with the release of their Atari 2600. This led to the era of iconic games like “Donkey Kong” and “Pac-Man.”  

When the gaming scene crashed in 1983, Japan-based Nintendo had their breakthrough. They released some of the most popular gaming franchises like “Super Mario Bros.,” and “The Legend of Zelda” and smashed records with them. The competition also grew as Sega hit the market, driving towards 3D gaming.

The modern era of games in the early 21st century kicked off with the Sony PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and the Wii. Ever since, video games have stormed all digital platforms, with video game apps ranging across all stores. This also led to the birth of the online gaming community. The rising popularity of smartphones since 2007 has also evolved the way games are developed, with some of the most popular game titles belonging strictly to the mobile platform.

What’s next in gaming is virtual reality. Big companies like Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo are all aiming for breakthroughs in VR gaming.


Traditions of the Day

It is a big day for gamers and game developers worldwide, and as geeky as gamers may seem to some, they sure know how to celebrate in style! Gaming marathons and conventions are held all over the world, with competitions, cosplays, and a chance to get exclusive gaming merchandise. Streaming of both classic and new games is higher than ever on websites like YouTube and Twitch.

Those who are not hardcore gamers enjoy their favorite games on their smartphones and computers. Childhood favorites like “Super Mario” and “Sonic the Hedgehog” games are revisited and even introduced to the next generation who didn’t grow up with them. Popular games are featured on Apple and Android stores and many games have special features and sales.  



National Video Game Day Activities

   Stage a marathon with friends

   Take a sick day from work (or if your boss is super chill – just let him/her know you’re calling out because it’s Video Game Day), whip out Mario Kart 64, and get ready to party like it’s 1999. Although one could easily play for hours, it’s always nice to have a couple of different games on hand for your enthusiastic guests to choose from.

   Visit a themed bar

   If all of your buddies are busy working, look for the nearest video game-themed bar (assuming you're over 21) and head out to mingle among other comrades. Perhaps you’ll even make a couple of new friends!

   Dress up

   Whether you consider yourself more of a Luigi or a Nathan Drake, putting together the costume is half the fun. The other half? Showing it off, of course.


5 Facts

   The worst video game of all time

   The Atari game “E.T.” is widely regarded as the worst video game of all time — it was so bad that the creators literally buried copies of the game in the New Mexico desert.

   More viewers than the Super Bowl!

   Such is the popularity of e-sports that the past few championships of the League of Legends World Competition have had a bigger viewership than the NBA finals or Super Bowl!

   Not just for teenagers

   The average age of a gamer is 35, according to a recent study — this proves that the gaming market is expanding beyond kids and teenagers.

   Nameless Kombat

   The greatest fighting game of all time, “Mortal Kombat,” didn’t have a name for the first six months of its development.

   A game for the price of a cereal?

   The game “Chex Quest” was released as part of a Chex cereal promotion — it was the first video game ever to come as a cereal box prize.