When did video games get mainstream?

It seems today video games are played by everyone. Young and old everyone seems to play. But video games at some point became the super power it is now? But now it seems everyone plays and seems to make gamers feel not as special...When did this happen? (I'm not saying I don't like video games getting mainstream)

When Sony rolled into town.

Before that Gaming was seen as Kiddy thing to do. (Thx Nintendo)

September 9, 1995

seemed pretty mainstream during the nes days.

When Sony rolled into town.

Before that Gaming was seen as Kiddy thing to do. (Thx Nintendo)

Obviously_Right

Slight yes on your first point, absolutely not on your second point.

Gaming was viewed as a nerdy/niche thing, not really a kiddy thing.

Sony cracked the door slightly when they came to the scene and then really started to push it open with the PS2. The Wii and smartphones came along and blew the doors off the hinges.

In short, it started last gen and completely blew up this gen.

seemed pretty mainstream during the nes days.

CaseyWegner

Compared to what it was before, yes, but it certainly wasn't full blown mainstream.

They are mainstream now mostly because the casuals have discovered the App store and Facebook games.

Other than that, its just a generational thing. Older people playing games now were the ones playing them back in the 80's when it all got going.

When high school started it seemed every one played pretty much everything where I live :P After High school it remains that way :P

[QUOTE="CaseyWegner"]

seemed pretty mainstream during the nes days.

sandbox3d

Compared to what it was before, yes, but it certainly wasn't full blown mainstream.

what exactly is "full blown" mainstream?

When Sony rolled into town.

Before that Gaming was seen as Kiddy thing to do. (Thx Nintendo)

Obviously_Right

as always Mr. Right is... right:P

[QUOTE="sandbox3d"]

[QUOTE="CaseyWegner"]

seemed pretty mainstream during the nes days.

CaseyWegner

Compared to what it was before, yes, but it certainly wasn't full blown mainstream.

what exactly is "full blown" mainstream?

Somehow I knew that comment would lead us into the semantics of what is mainstream.

I guess you can choose what mainstream means to you.

To me, when I see all kinds of people of all ages enjoying all kinds of different games that is what I think of as mainstream. Basically the scenario that came to fruition this gen. People who arent even really into games play games.

I wouldnt describe the NES times like that. During the NES times, gamers were typically just young males. Typically considered nerds. And they were very much invested in the hobby.

You just woke SNIPER up! I can hear him stomping the floor towards us.

[QUOTE="CaseyWegner"]

[QUOTE="sandbox3d"]

Compared to what it was before, yes, but it certainly wasn't full blown mainstream.

sandbox3d

what exactly is "full blown" mainstream?

Somehow I knew that comment would lead us into the semantics of what is mainstream.

I guess you can choose what mainstream means to you.

To me, when I see all kinds of people of all ages enjoying all kinds of different games that is what I think of as mainstream. Basically the scenario that came to fruition this gen. People who arent even really into games play games.

I wouldnt describe the NES times like that. During the NES times, gamers were typically just young males. Typically considered nerds. And they were very much invested in the hobby.

i don't know, dude. i was around back then and the nes and gameboy were everywhere and a part of pop culture.

When people supported indy devs so much so that they soon got enough support and money to make games even bigger and "supposedly" better.

[QUOTE="sandbox3d"]

[QUOTE="CaseyWegner"]

what exactly is "full blown" mainstream?

CaseyWegner

Somehow I knew that comment would lead us into the semantics of what is mainstream.

I guess you can choose what mainstream means to you.

To me, when I see all kinds of people of all ages enjoying all kinds of different games that is what I think of as mainstream. Basically the scenario that came to fruition this gen. People who arent even really into games play games.

I wouldnt describe the NES times like that. During the NES times, gamers were typically just young males. Typically considered nerds. And they were very much invested in the hobby.

i don't know, dude. i was around back then and the nes and gameboy were everywhere and a part of pop culture.

I guess. Still, it appealed to a very niche audience compared to today. It wasn't widely accepted and it certainly wasn't considered a cool thing to do.

Its all relative I suppose, but I think we can both agree that its nothing like what we have today.

This gen kicked off a whole new era. An era littered with the typical positives and negatives that come about when something goes mainstream.

PS2 started the trend, Wii hammered it home, 360 added to it.

I guess when MS made the Godbox.

when the Wii came out. Then those same people became Call of Duty zombies.

when the Wii came out. Then those same people became Call of Duty zombies.

Gue1

Mainstream has to be the most misused word in this"internet era." I think the word you are looking for is, "when did videogames become this relevant?"

[QUOTE="sandbox3d"]

[QUOTE="CaseyWegner"]

seemed pretty mainstream during the nes days.

CaseyWegner

Compared to what it was before, yes, but it certainly wasn't full blown mainstream.

what exactly is "full blown" mainstream?

I'd say when you see halo 4 doritos and mt dew at the market, you know it's crazy mainstream

The Wii

Video gaming has been around at home since the late 70's and especially the 80's. They were mainstream even then. There just wasn't social media or the internet back then. I don't know where people get the idea that video gaming went mainstream recently.

Edit:

There were also arcades back in the late 70's. It was simply a matter of those games moving to the home via consoles. Once the young folks of that time started playing, it stayed with them as they grew up.

[QUOTE="Obviously_Right"]

When Sony rolled into town.

Before that Gaming was seen as Kiddy thing to do. (Thx Nintendo)

sandbox3d

Slight yes on your first point, absolutely not on your second point.

Gaming was viewed as a nerdy/niche thing, not really a kiddy thing.

Sony cracked the door slightly when they came to the scene and then really started to push it open with the PS2. The Wii and smartphones came along and blew the doors off the hinges.

In short, it started last gen and completely blew up this gen.

wrong. the NES is what brought gaming to the mainstream. lol it wasn't a "kiddy" thing, hell my dad was playing the NES when i was a kid. EVERYONE loved the NES...

EDIT: the kiddy comment was referring to obviously-right btw...

[QUOTE="CaseyWegner"]

[QUOTE="sandbox3d"]

Compared to what it was before, yes, but it certainly wasn't full blown mainstream.

wis3boi

what exactly is "full blown" mainstream?

I'd say when you see halo 4 doritos and mt dew at the market, you know it's crazy mainstream

well, mario was like that in the late 80s early 90s, all over commercials and mcdonalds and such...so yeah, nintendo made gaming the financial empire it is today...gaming has been mainstream for decades.

[QUOTE="wis3boi"]

[QUOTE="CaseyWegner"]

what exactly is "full blown" mainstream?

lazerface216

I'd say when you see halo 4 doritos and mt dew at the market, you know it's crazy mainstream

well, mario was like that in the late 80s early 90s, all over commercials and mcdonalds and such...so yeah, nintendo made gaming the financial empire it is today...gaming has been mainstream for decades.

Even before Mario, everybody knew Asteroids and Space Invaders on sight. But, Mario made the first big splash on TV.

When Pokemon Happened.....or when Pacman happened. take your pick.

When Pokemon Happened.....or when Pacman happened. take your pick.

LegatoSkyheart

I forgot about Pacman.

Heck. Wasn't there a Pacman cartoon back in the early 80's (obviously based off the game)? Doesn't get any more mainstream than that.

There wasn't really a certain time...it just grew and grew over time.

When Pacman happened.

When this came out:

F-U CKING Sony drones...

Probably 6th gen,and a GREAT deal this gen,with the Wii and all,and the better graphics.

Yeah,this gen actually.

its always been mainstream.......

September 9, 1995

Ly_the_Fairy

exactly then,being able to pirate games on the ps1 gave a tremendeous boost to its sales

its always been mainstream.......

razgriz_101

no on the snes era and before it was the exact opposite

[QUOTE="razgriz_101"]

its always been mainstream.......

Hate_Squad

no on the snes era and before it was the exact opposite

considering Atari,Pac Man and the NES are considered a huge part of pop culture in the 80's i think i'll continue disagreeing.

[QUOTE="razgriz_101"]

its always been mainstream.......

Hate_Squad

no on the snes era and before it was the exact opposite

you are wrong, so so wrong. please...leave this topic to the people over 25. you know, the gamers who actually experienced gaming in the 90's...

Probably 6th gen,and a GREAT deal this gen,with the Wii and all,and the better graphics.

Yeah,this gen actually.

GreekGameManiac