Video games emerged in the 1950s and 60s and made their way into homes in the early 1970s.

This generation of video game players, which I call the "bit baby" generation, were the first members of society to grow up with computers in the home. They willingly poured themselves into their Atari Video Computer Systems, Intellivisions, Apple IIs, and ZX Spectrums.

While rudimentary ("basic") by today's standards, these machines held massive storytelling potential.

Take "Missile Command", which was an immediate hit when released by Atari in 1980. Although a seemingly simple target game, people engaged with the mindset of its designer, David Theurer.

via GIFER

Reflecting his views on the threat posed by the Cold War, Theurer decided to make his game one of defense. The six cities the player protects are all in California, where Theurer lived at the time, and he suffered nightmares about the possible devastation they could face.

Here is an artist who created a work imbued ("filled") with his morality and observations of the world around him, and who suffered for it. It is no different to the experience of anyone else who has brought art into the world.

The ambition of early game developers was no less than those of today, they just lacked the tools to fully communicate their stories. More than four decades later, artists and storytellers no longer have those limitations.

1. When did video games make their way into homes?
in the 1950s
in the 1960s
in the 1970s

2. The early gaming machines were rudimentary. What might this word mean, in the context of the article?
rude
childlike
simple
surprisingly advanced

3. What was Atari?
a simple target game
a video game system (console)
a mobile game console

4. Why was the designer of Mission Command game like any artist (according to the text)?
His work reflects his feelings, worries and observations of the world.
He worked very hard to build a fictional world.
He lived in California and his work (the game) was set in his home cities.