Famous Video Games that Pioneered the Visuals in Modern iGames

Believe it or not, but video game industry is half a century old. Modern achievements in esports and iGaming would never be possible without the contributions of the pioneers who laid the foundation of the industry back in the old days. Quite often, we are literally looking at the vestiges of gaming history without realizing it.

Notably, graphic design evolved along the lines defined by early games that reached worldwide popularity and set expectations for the future. There were far too many impactful video games that left a visual legacy that lives to this day, so we will mention just a few that left the deepest mark.

Space Invaders (1978)

This early console game redefined what it means to interact with a game and spawned a huge number of arcade shooters that were essentially just copies of its simple but effective concept. Long before realistic visuals became possible, this game allowed the player to get deep into the story and ride his spacecraft to victory over vicious aliens. Space Invaders used simple line graphics that would be out of place in today’s iGaming world, but its smart use of symbols and movement on the screen remain a source of inspiration. Its impact is obvious in nearly every space-themed real money slot game you can find at Canadian online casinos.

Pac Man (1980)

Just as video games reached mainstream acceptance, new hit arrived to make everyone lose their minds. Pac Man was a smashing success back in its day, and it’s one of the first games to become a media franchise. The game demonstrated considerable longevity, and has been released in many different versions including some iGaming titles. This classic maze game used colorful characters, but the graphics were still pixelated and extremely simplistic by today’s standards. Nevertheless, Pac Man can be considered a master class in game branding and character creation, with serious implications for modern game development.

Dragon’s Lair (1983)

While this game was largely forgotten, it was a big deal when it was first released. Dragon’s Lair was an adventure that combined engaging gameplay with cinematic animations that were far above any of the earlier works. It set a new bar for visual sophistication, making the playing experience more immersive. Animated characters were designed in a cartoonish style, which is a frequent choice for protagonists of contemporary iGames. All of these elements represented a step towards whimsical pseudo-realism and interaction with video content, which are some of the central tenets on which the iGaming business model is built.

Super Mario Bros (1985)

If early games were popular due to new mechanics or improved graphics, Super Mario made a splash due to lovable characters and dynamic gameplay with plenty of rewards at every step. This 2D arcade game lets the player try out different paths through a level while hunting for power ups and bonuses and avoiding dangers. This is not too dissimilar from bonus features in modern casino games, which frequently have cute main characters to get the players more interested. In fact, you would be surprised how many clones this old-school game has in the iGaming world.

SimCity (1989)

This legendary city builder challenged the way the games were played, kicking off a completely new genre where the player didn’t compete against an enemy. Instead, the objective is to maximise growth of the simulated city, using any strategy the player finds interesting. The complexity of the game and the operational freedom it affords are still easy to appreciate today, and its graphic interface that allows for easy manipulation of countless items is an example to follow when designing iGames. The art of city planning translates well into strategic goals that casino game players need to set if they want to be successful on the long term.

Tomb Raider (1996)

Immensely popular at the time of its release, Tomb Rider has gradually developed into a major franchise that transcends video games. Most people associate the title with the films, but before them gamers were trying to solve the puzzles in the original PC game. The game pioneered 3D graphics in the adventure genre, and made gameplay quite complex and mentally demanding. The game takes place in a mystical setting and features puzzles and quests, a common theme in iGaming titles from several game categories. The game also directly inspired several slots, so its legacy is enduring and new fans are still finding out about Lara Craft and her adventures at casino sites.

Angry Birds (2009)

A game that has taken the world by the storm fifteen years ago remains among the handful of most important titles in gaming history. Its stellar success came as a surprise – the game wasn’t particularly innovative, the graphics looked ordinary, and the gameplay for quite simple. The secret ingredient was fun - playing Angry Birds was extremely entertaining and the feeling of smashing into enemies was absolutely thrilling to an army of dedicated fans. That’s a huge lesson for game designers – instead of overthinking game mechanics or inserting a convoluted backstory, just make sure that the basic game feels great to play!