Welcome to “Scott W. Palmer’s History of Video Games”

This open-world edutainment adventure explores the history of the twentieth century’s most popular inventions: electronic (video, computer, and console) games. Founded upon technologies built by America’s military-industrial-educational complex, brought to life by subterranean bands of fun-loving nerds, then exploited (and nearly killed) by corporate business interests, video games have evolved from a technological curiosity enjoyed by a few into a multi-billion dollar global industry embraced by the masses. Along the way, they have shaped (and been shaped by) prevailing cultural, social, economic, and political forces.

During the semester students will examine a wide range of topics including: the technological origins of computer gaming; the birth of “hackers” and “hacker ethics;” video game economics and (big) business; the impact of video games on popular culture; gaming genres, design, and aesthetics; on-line communities and gamer identities; the practical applications of game simulations; the rise of eSports; and the possible futures of games to come (to name but a few).

In addition to serving as a platform for honing skills at research, analysis, and writing, this course aims to demonstrate that as with airplanes, automobiles, rockets, and other technological gadgets, the historically grounded study of video games enables us to develop a greater appreciation of the fruits of human ingenuity and a deeper understanding of our shared, human condition.

About this Web Site: Scott W. Palmer’s History of Video Games is the on-line repository for browsing materials, media resources, instructional policies, and other virtual information specifically related to the meat-world course of the same name. If you are among the lucky masses currently enrolled in “History of Video Games,” this site contains all of the course-related information you will require during the semester. Please be sure to check-in regularly during the semester as the contents of this site will be updated on a frequent basis.