1. 1956: Arthur Samuel plays checkers against a computer on national T.V.
2. 1962: An MIT student invents the first computer-based video game.
3. 1971: Three college students create the hit game Oregon Trail.
4. 1977: Atari releases its Video Computer System with multiple game cartridges.
5. 1940: Edward U. Condon designs a computer that plays a game.