One of the aspects of video game history that really interests me is the evolution of game design. I like trying to figure out where certain gameplay (or visual or other) elements originated.
This thread is for those wanting to discuss the origins of these kind of things. Here are some examples of what I'm talking about:
Dragon Buster (arcade, 1984) is the earliest game I know of with a double jump.
Tron Deadly Discs (Intellivision, 1982) is the oldest game I can think of where you control a character that can block attacks. It's also the earliest I can think of where your character slows down from injury.
The Goonies (various computers, 1985) is the earliest example that comes to mind for me of an action-adventure game where you switch between different characters to solve puzzles (like in some Resident Evil games).
Know of any older games that do these things?
Are there any other aspects of game design where you're curious about the origins and want to discuss?