It was a very simple game called tennis for two, similar to the classic 1970s video game Pong.

It became quite the hit at Brookhaven National Laboratory’s open house.

As the small object is hit back and forth across the net, ping and pong sounds are made.

Physicist William Higinbotham is the creator of  what is thought to be the first video game.

Video gaming has taken a change, from the console shape, to the movement of the animated character and how it looks on the screen.

Starting off as a big metal box the transformation of the video game consoles gradually become smaller and made out of plastic.

Characters which looked 2D, developed into 3-D animation that everyone came to love.

Mario is a good example, first appearing in the animated game Donkey Kong in 1981. Mario and his brother Luigi became famous and the hit of the century.

Generations of adults have played the Mario Bro’s game and passed it down to their children.

Some take it as a family tradition and others take it seriously by entering gaming competitions to show the world just how good they are.

“My parents bought us an Atari, Intellivision, NES, and some other systems. Probably to shut us up,” Algebra teacher Mr. Matthew Jenkins said.

As time passes, games become more violent and consumed mostly by children and teens.

Once video games moved from arcades to family living rooms, the video game industry moved into its own.

Now young and old are addicted to playing games to where doctors have come to the conclusion that the next official diagnosis of mental illness will be video game addiction.

“Metal Gear Solid and Final Fantasy 3 are the best console games for their time. Half-Life – best game for PC for its time.” said Jenkins.

Video games are good because… ” It helps to relieve stress,” junior Cameron Grissom said.

With newer technology being developed it makes it easier for people to play video games on the go.

Research conducted by scientist Douglas A. Gentile, examined 3,034 children and teens to see the results of addiction.

Gentile came to the conclusion that the average length of time spent playing video games was 20 hours per week.

• An estimated 72 percent of American households play video games.
• An estimated nine percent of the 3,034 participants in the study showed signs of video game addiction.
• Four percent of percent of study participants were categorized as extreme users who played video games 50 hours per week on average.

Playing all the time… “Makes me want to beat them {literally},” junior  Stacy Wethington said.

Studies show 40 percent of the people who play video games, play them as a way to escape the real world.

The mood people have daily help determine the type of video games being played.

If I couldn’t play video games…“I would cry because I would have to reveal my true identity to everyone, than I would probably get arrested,” said sophomore Shelby Wiley.

Studies state a child who plays a simple game such as Pac-man will have a better and a calmer mood compared to a child who plays violent killing games and as a result will have a more aggressive mood towards others.

The amount of time spent on video games is also another key factor that helps determine the mood of the gamer.

The less time spent on video games the brighter the mood while the more time spent on video games creates the darker the mood.