Galaga to Gameboy: Examining the Evolution of Video Games

Have you ever wondered what the first video game looked like?  Pacman to Playstation will explore the history of video game technology, from the very first video game ever developed, to modern times, and everything in between.  
Each class period will cover one era of video game history.  We will end class by playing a video game from the era that we have been discussing in each week.  
The class will cover the following topics:
Week 1: Early Video Game History
                -We will look at the first video games every created by researchers
Week 2: Game Consoles Reach American Homes
               -Class will examine The Magnavox Odyssey and the cultural phenomenon of Pong.  
Week 3: The Arcade Age
              -Class will explore the golden age of arcade games.  
              -Popular games like Galaga, Pac-Man, Defender, Q-Bert, and Ms. Pac-Man will be discussed, as well as their impact on 
              American popular culture.
Week 4: Handheld Gaming is King
              -Class will discuss the changing culture of handheld gaming.  
             -The Gameboy, Atari Lynx, and the Playstation Portable will be examined and compared to one another.  
Week 5: A New Era
            -PC Gaming becomes mainstream and changes the way that video games are played for many Americans
Week 6: Modern Video Games 
            -In this culminating lesson, students will look at how the internet has shaped modern gaming and changed the way that people 
            access information around the globe.
            -In Week Six, students are encouraged to share with class about their favorite video game in a three minute presentation.