A Brief History of Graphics
It all started with a little game called Pong. The world’s first hugely successful video game was nothing more than a redundant game of ping pong. Small dots that sweep back and forth on a monochrome screen. The graphics are spartan at best, containing only the minimal amount of imagination needed to adapt the game’s original capabilities.
To today’s younger generation, Pong will undoubtedly seem dated and bland, but when it was first introduced by Atari in 1972, it was our hypnotic entry into the exciting world of video game technology. From that moment on, we have been fascinated and insatiable for more magnificent and immersive interactive experiences.
Artists have been pivotal in many ways in the evolution of video games from mere novelty to a lifestyle for millions of gamers around the world. Divided into five distinct chapters, the new documentary, A Brief History of Graphics, outlines the milestones in this evolution and how the role of the graphic designer has changed by contributing to the success of one of the world’s most lucrative industries The face of the entertainment industry.
Out-of-the-box thinking and boundless imagination enrich the story of how video games went from simple pixelation to 3D photorealism. The demands of the medium fuel these artists like never before, as they are challenged to expand the possibilities with each game they make. These innovations include the use of multiple colors, fully sculpted characters, realistic motion, immersive storylines and 3D player environments.
A Brief History of Graphics is an entertaining and informative look behind the scenes of video game design that will appeal to seasoned professionals and non-technical alike. From the gobbling nostalgia of Pac-Man to the haunting real-life combat of Crysis, the film pays homage to the magic and artistic achievement that forever shaped how we think about games and interactive media. These pioneering artists created worlds we could not have imagined 30 years ago, and they will continue to transcend the unknown for decades to come.
