Game design origins discussion

[NeoZeedeater]

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?

[Emperor Megas]

Outrun was the first game I remember playing that allowed you to select your own music, and I don't remember any other (on rail) games that had branching paths then either. I'm not how influential either were though, since not many other games allowed you to select your music.

Journey was the first celebrity tie in game I remember, thought I'd wager it was done many times before in pinball.

[NeoZeedeater]

Outrun's branching path thing was done earlier with TX-1.

There was a Fonz game in 1976 but that's a TV character so it's not quite the same type of celebrity thing as with Journey, I guess.

[Gameguy]

Journey was the first celebrity tie in game I remember, thought I'd wager it was done many times before in pinball.

Journey Escape came out the year before the Journey arcade game, but Pelé's Soccer came out in 1981 which predates either of the Journey games. That's the earliest one I can find for an actual celebrity and not a fictional character.

[Emperor Megas]

Outrun's branching path thing was done earlier with TX-1.

There was a Fonz game in 1976 but that's a TV character so it's not quite the same type of celebrity thing as with Journey, I guess.

Yeah, the whole Fonzie thing is different. Journey really impressed me when I first saw it because it was the actual band members. It wasn't like characters from a T.V. show.

[ishashobar]

We had a thread about it before but Dragon Warrior is the first game with a two part final boss.

Also Colossal Cave Adventure(1977) is the first game i know of with an actual story ending.

[treismac]

Was the first Street Fighter the first video game to use "special moves" that required the execution of button and joystick directional commands (i.e. quarter-circle punch button)?

[tom]

Double Jump, perhaps Smurf (1982) on VCS (joystick once-up for jump, double-up to high jump).

Stealth mode....SwordQuest Earthworld on VCS (1983)

Special moves (button and stick), somersault kick, Chuck Norris Superkicks (1983) VCS

Switch between characters to solve puzzle: E.T. on VCS (1982)?? Can't remember.

If not that, then it's Fathom (VCS) for sure.

Celebrity tie-ins, there are some Inty games like Poker or Chess or such with some famous US guy, late 70s?

Is Phoenix a two part final boss? Spaceship and Alien....

.

[NeoZeedeater]

By double jump I was thinking more of a second jump in mid air like in Super Ghouls n Ghosts . Smurf's is different although still unique.

Maybe the poker game you're thinking of is Ken Uston's Blackjack/Poker? That was on Colecovision, though. And it's not as old as Pele's Soccer.

Another gameplay mechanic I have been wondering about is wall jumping. I can't think of anything before Sega's Kung Fu Kid but I'm sure there must be something from before 1987.