Question 1

Back to the beginning... What game is this?

Accepted Answer

Pong - Pong started it all way back in 1972.

Question 2

This one started it all for the PC game market in 1977.  What was it called?

Accepted Answer

Zork - This Infocom was the original of an entire genre of games which have outlasted the company itself.

Question 3

This wireframe game was one of the first console combat games.  What was it called?

Accepted Answer

Battlezone - Battlezone was an Atari console release and showed up in bars and pizza parlors before video arcades became a thing.

Question 4

A real classic here... this black-and-white 2D game was a big success.  What game is it?

Accepted Answer

Asteroids - Asteroids was a multi-directional shooter that arrived in 1979.

Question 5

One of the first Atari home console games was this overhead player vs player shooter.  What was it called?

Accepted Answer

Tank - Yes, the game about tanks blowing each other up was called Tank.  I guess you can call it truth in advertising?  You couldn't call it creative.

Question 6

This WWII overhead view adventure game was released by Muse for Apple and later for Commodore and DOS.  What was it called?

Accepted Answer

Castle Wolfenstein - This was the first of a growing franchise of Wolfenstein adventure games, the most recent being released in 2019.

Question 7

This classic "shoot 'em up" game is considered the beginning of the golden age of arcade video games.  What was it called?

Accepted Answer

Space Invaders - This is still considered one of the most profitable video games of all time.

Question 8

This shoot 'em up in the sky game started in arcade format in 1980 then went to the Atari home system.  What was it called?

Accepted Answer

Missile Command - Missile Command was another monster Atari success that had the player intercepting ICBMs to protect their cities.

Question 9

This Sega game involves the player dodging cars, floating on logs, and similar challenges.  What was it called?

Accepted Answer

Frogger - "Leap for your life" was the promo for Frogger, another huge success in the video game arena.

Question 10

This vector graphic game released by Atari in 1981 was one of the first color 3D video games.  What was it called?

Accepted Answer

Tempest - Tempest was a 3D lane shooter that used color line-based graphics instead of the popular pixel block style used by most arcade consoles.

Question 11

This 1981 shooter game by Atari was one of the first arcade video games with a significant female audience.  What was it called?

Accepted Answer

Centipede - Centipede sold 1.4 million cartridges when it went home gaming system, making it one of the top sellers of the early '80s.

Question 12

This Namco space shooter expanded on the Space Invaders mold by introducing a "tractor beam".  What was it called?

Accepted Answer

Galaga - Galaga was actually a sequel to Galaxian, Namcos first big arcade success story.

Question 13

Another space shooter, this game was the first to use isometric (axonometric) projection in video games.  What was it called?

Accepted Answer

Zaxxon - Zaxxon had the added distinction of being the first arcade game advertised on television.  Now THAT'S trivia.

Question 14

This 1980 maze game featured Blinky, Pinky, Inky and Clyde.  What was it called?

Accepted Answer

Pac-Man - Over $14 billion in revenues and sales... 5 times what Avengers: Endgame made at the box office.  Yowza!

Question 15

Fans of the Stranger Things series will recognize this arcade classic.  What was it called?

Accepted Answer

Dig Dug - Do the Pooka of Dig Dug remind anyone else of Minions?  Just me?  Okay...

Question 16

This 1982 isometric game gave a sense of 3D without a true 3D function.  What was it called?

Accepted Answer

Q*bert - Q*bert is probably the first video game to be popularized by pseudo-profanities.  Now that's a niche someone watching players came up with.

Question 17

1981 saw another major milestone: the first appearance of Mario.  What game was this?

Accepted Answer

Donkey Kong - Donkey Kong may be the first video game to utilize "plot", if "rescue the princess" can be considered plot.

Question 18

A game that broke several molds, this 1982 classic involved ostrich riding.  What was it called?

Accepted Answer

Joust - This game deserves recognition for thinking outside the box... jousting on ostriches... that fly... against pterodactyls.  Wait... what?

Question 19

This 1983 game showed how education and entertainment aren't mutually exclusive.  What was it called?

Accepted Answer

Math Blaster! - Along with Oregon Trail and Reader Rabbit, this is often called one of the original successful educational games.

Question 20

While other racing games may have been earlier, this game is the first major success for the racing genre.  What was it called?

Accepted Answer

Pole Position - Pole Position is still considered one of the most influential video games of all time.

Classic Video Game Trivia: Games That Started It All

2) This one started it all for the PC game market in 1977. What was it called?

3) This wireframe game was one of the first console combat games. What was it called?

4) A real classic here... this black-and-white 2D game was a big success. What game is it?

5) One of the first Atari home console games was this overhead player vs player shooter. What was it called?

6) This WWII overhead view adventure game was released by Muse for Apple and later for Commodore and DOS. What was it called?

7) This classic "shoot 'em up" game is considered the beginning of the golden age of arcade video games. What was it called?

8) This shoot 'em up in the sky game started in arcade format in 1980 then went to the Atari home system. What was it called?

9) This Sega game involves the player dodging cars, floating on logs, and similar challenges. What was it called?

10) This vector graphic game released by Atari in 1981 was one of the first color 3D video games. What was it called?

11) This 1981 shooter game by Atari was one of the first arcade video games with a significant female audience. What was it called?

12) This Namco space shooter expanded on the Space Invaders mold by introducing a "tractor beam". What was it called?

13) Another space shooter, this game was the first to use isometric (axonometric) projection in video games. What was it called?

14) This 1980 maze game featured Blinky, Pinky, Inky and Clyde. What was it called?

15) Fans of the Stranger Things series will recognize this arcade classic. What was it called?

16) This 1982 isometric game gave a sense of 3D without a true 3D function. What was it called?

17) 1981 saw another major milestone: the first appearance of Mario. What game was this?

18) A game that broke several molds, this 1982 classic involved ostrich riding. What was it called?

19) This 1983 game showed how education and entertainment aren't mutually exclusive. What was it called?

20) While other racing games may have been earlier, this game is the first major success for the racing genre. What was it called?