As with most first-generation systems, the earliest video game consoles were not developed for home users, but for research and commercial purposes.
In 1951, Nimrod was the first computer designed specifically to play an electronic game. Ferranti employees John Bennett and Raymond Stuart-Williams created the system to fulfill a pledge by their company, to contribute to the Festival of Britain's Exhibition of Science.
![[Image: nimrod.jpg]](http://www.wired.com/images_blogs/gamelife/2010/06/nimrod.jpg)
Nimrod. Image from Wired.
From 1961 to 1962, the first video game was written. Spacewar! was programmed by Harvard students and later displayed to the public at an MIT exhibition.
Spacewar! became the basis for commercial video game systems by several companies. The first commercial system was the arcade game Computer Space, by Nutting Associates in 1970. Its creators went on to found the Atari company.
![[Image: computerspace-2.jpg]](http://printliberation.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/computerspace-2.jpg)
Image from printliberation.com
Also see this visual timeline and this book.
In 1951, Nimrod was the first computer designed specifically to play an electronic game. Ferranti employees John Bennett and Raymond Stuart-Williams created the system to fulfill a pledge by their company, to contribute to the Festival of Britain's Exhibition of Science.
Nimrod. Image from Wired.
From 1961 to 1962, the first video game was written. Spacewar! was programmed by Harvard students and later displayed to the public at an MIT exhibition.
Spacewar! became the basis for commercial video game systems by several companies. The first commercial system was the arcade game Computer Space, by Nutting Associates in 1970. Its creators went on to found the Atari company.
Image from printliberation.com
Also see this visual timeline and this book.