| 1 | [[WMG:[[center:[-'''TheOldestOnesInTheBook'''\ |
| 2 | '''Older Than the NES''' | Before 1985\ |
| 3 | OlderThanCableTV | 1939 -- 1980\ |
| 4 | OlderThanTelevision | 1890 -- 1939\ |
| 5 | OlderThanRadio | 1698 -- 1890\ |
| 6 | OlderThanSteam | 1439 -- 1698\ |
| 7 | OlderThanPrint | 476 -- 1439\ |
| 8 | OlderThanFeudalism | ~800 BC -- 476 AD\ |
| 9 | OlderThanDirt | Before ~800 BC-]]]]] |
| 10 | |
| 11 | [[quoteright:290:[[Platform/Atari2600 https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/300px-Atari2600a_7997.JPG]]]] |
| 12 | Here are TheOldestOnesInTheBook for VideoGames, from before MediaNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfVideoGames to MediaNotes/TheGreatVideoGameCrashOf1983. The US introduction of the Platform/NintendoEntertainmentSystem in October 1985 marked the beginning of the beginning of the [[MediaNotes/The8BitEraOfConsoleVideoGames Third Generation of consoles]].[[note]]We have chosen it as a cutoff date for TheOldestOnesInTheBook of VideoGameTropes. Mainly because the crash is kinda hard to precisely date, thus making an exact cut-off hard to calculate. Also there are a few major 1983 games that get labeled as "Oldest Ones in the (Video Game) Book", most notably ''VideoGame/DragonsLair.''[[/note]] |
| 13 | |
| 14 | A good number of the RPG tropes can be found here, since these games trace their roots pretty much directly back to {{Tabletop RPG}}s such as ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'', which were among the first commercial games to be adapted for a video game system. And to be clear: as long as it was an actual game, it counts for the purposes of this index, video or not; that being said, if a pre-1986 video game example exists, it should also be listed here. |
| 15 | |
| 16 | Of note, the Creator/{{Nintendo}} company itself is OlderThanRadio. |
| 17 | ---- |
| 18 | !!Tropes: |
| 19 | [[index]] |
| 20 | %%* OneUp |
| 21 | * ThreeQuartersView: ''Android Two'', 1983 |
| 22 | * ActionAdventure: ''VideoGame/{{Adventure}}'' (Atari 2600), 1979 |
| 23 | * AdventureGame: ''VideoGame/ColossalCave'', 1975 |
| 24 | * AlwaysClose: ''VideoGame/MajorHavoc'', 1983 |
| 25 | * ArbitraryHeadcountLimit: RPG version, ''VideoGame/{{Wizardry}}'' 1, 1981 |
| 26 | * ArbitraryWeaponRange: ''VideoGame/{{Spacewar}}'', 1962 |
| 27 | * ArmorAndMagicDontMix: The ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' Holmes Basic Set (1977) provides the earliest straight example, while ''TabletopGame/TheFantasyTrip'' (also 1977) gives the earliest {{justified|Trope}} example. |
| 28 | * ArrangeMode: Some ''VideoGame/{{Pong}}'' systems, 197X |
| 29 | * ArtificialStupidity: Many, many many games; in particular, ''VideoGame/PacMan'', 1980 |
| 30 | * AscendedGlitch: ''VideoGame/SpaceInvaders'', 1978 |
| 31 | * AsymmetricMultiplayer: ''VideoGame/{{Nautilus}}'', 1982 |
| 32 | * AsteroidsMonster: ''VideoGame/{{Asteroids}}'' (obviously), 1979 |
| 33 | * AttackItsWeakPoint: ''Franchise/StarWars: The Empire Strikes Back'', 1982 |
| 34 | * AttractMode: Many, many arcade games; ''VideoGame/{{Sinistar}}'''s (1982) is particularly famous. |
| 35 | * BlackoutBasement: ''VideoGame/{{Adventure}}'', 1979 |
| 36 | * BlockPuzzle: ''VideoGame/{{Sokoban}}'', 1982 |
| 37 | * BorderPatrol: Saucers in shooting sections of ''VideoGame/IRobot'', 1983 |
| 38 | * BossBattle: ''VideoGame/{{dnd}}'', 1975 |
| 39 | * BossButton: ''Bezare'', 1981 |
| 40 | * BottomlessPits: ''VideoGame/HuntTheWumpus'', 1972 |
| 41 | * ButThouMust: ''VideoGame/GrannysGarden'', 1983 |
| 42 | * CharacterLevel: ''VideoGame/{{dnd}}'', 1975. |
| 43 | * ClairvoyantSecurityForce: ''VideoGame/{{Zork}}'', 1979 |
| 44 | * CollisionDamage: ''VideoGame/{{Snake}}'' as ''Blockade'', 1976 |
| 45 | * ColorCodedMultiplayer: Some ''VideoGame/{{Pong}}'' systems, 197X |
| 46 | * ColorCodedArmies: Kreigsspiel, the first example of WarGaming and used to train the Prussian General Staff, 19th Century |
| 47 | * CommandAndConquerEconomy: ''VideoGame/{{Hamurabi}}'' (1968 then rewriting in BASIC in 1973) |
| 48 | * CompilationRerelease: ''VideoGame/VideoOlympics'', 1977 |
| 49 | * ControllableHelplessness: ''VideoGame/{{Adventure}}'', 1979 |
| 50 | * CoresAndTurretsBoss: ''VideoGame/{{Bosconian}}'', 1981 |
| 51 | * CorridorCubbyholeRun: ''VideoGame/SpikesPeak'', 1983 |
| 52 | * CosmeticAward: Creator/{{Activision}} [[http://www.digitpress.com/archives/cc_patches_2600.htm mailed out physical ones]] for achieving a preset score in their Platform/{{Atari 2600}} games. |
| 53 | * CosmeticallyDifferentSides: ''VideoGame/{{Spacewar}}'', 1962 |
| 54 | * CriticalExistenceFailure: ''VideoGame/{{dnd}}'', 1975, or ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'', 1974 |
| 55 | * CriticalHit: ''VideoGame/{{Avatar|PLATO}}'', 1979 |
| 56 | * {{Cutscene}}: ''The Sumerian Game'', 1966, ''Space Invaders II'', 1979, or ''VideoGame/PacMan'', 1980, depending on what you count as a "Cutscene". |
| 57 | * DeadlyWalls: ''VideoGame/{{Berzerk}}'', 1980 |
| 58 | * DeathMountain: ''VideoGame/{{Alpiner}}'', 1982 |
| 59 | * DeathThrows: ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongJunior'', 1982 |
| 60 | * DemonicSpiders: ''VideoGame/{{Centipede}}'', 1980 |
| 61 | * DifficultyByAcceleration: ''VideoGame/{{Breakout}}'', 1976 |
| 62 | * DifficultyLevels: ''VideoGame/CathodeRayTubeAmusementDevice'', 1947 (altering the circuits could make targeting easier or harder) |
| 63 | * DigitalPinballTable: ''VideoGame/VideoPinball'', 1977 |
| 64 | * DirectContinuousLevels: ''VideoGame/{{Scramble}}'', 1981 |
| 65 | * DirectionallySolidPlatforms: ''VideoGame/JumpBug'', 1981 |
| 66 | * DoubleJump: ''VideoGame/DragonBuster'', 1984 |
| 67 | * DrivingGame: ''VideoGame/GranTrak10'', 1974 |
| 68 | * DroughtLevelOfDoom: The "Void" levels of ''VideoGame/{{Sinistar}}'', 1982 |
| 69 | * DungeonCrawling: ''VideoGame/{{dnd}}'', 1975 |
| 70 | * EasterEgg: ''Moonlander'', 1973, UrExample; ''VideoGame/{{Adventure}}'', 1979, TropeCodifier |
| 71 | * EdibleCollectible: ''VideoGame/PacMan'', 1980 |
| 72 | * EnemyDetectingRadar: ''VideoGame/StarTrekTextGame'', 1971 |
| 73 | * ExpansionPack: ''Upper Reaches of Apshai'' (for ''VideoGame/TempleOfApshai''), 1981 |
| 74 | * ExtraLives: ''VideoGame/SpaceInvaders'', 1978 |
| 75 | * EveryBulletIsATracer: ''VideoGame/{{Spacewar}}'', 1962 |
| 76 | * Every10000Points: Many, many arcade games. Goes back to {{pinball}}. |
| 77 | * ExcusePlot: ''VideoGame/SpaceInvaders'', 1978 |
| 78 | * FallingDamage: Has been present in video games since at least ''VideoGame/DonkeyKong'' (1981) |
| 79 | * FauxFirstPerson3D: ''VideoGame/MazeWar'', 1974 |
| 80 | * FinalBoss: ''VideoGame/{{Dnd}}'', 1975 |
| 81 | * {{Fireballs}}: ''VideoGame/DonkeyKong'', 1981 |
| 82 | * FirstPersonShooter: ''VideoGame/MazeWar'', 1974 |
| 83 | * FlameSpewerObstacle: ''VideoGame/JumpBug'', 1981 |
| 84 | * FlipScreenScrolling: ''VideoGame/SupermanAtari2600'', 1979 |
| 85 | * GameMaker: ''VideoGame/PinballConstructionSet'', 1983 |
| 86 | * GameMod: ''VideoGame/{{Spacewar}}'' had many such as adding mines, 1962 |
| 87 | * GameOver: ''VideoGame/SpaceInvaders'', 1978 |
| 88 | * GameOverMan: The TI-99/4A port of ''VideoGame/HuntTheWumpus'', 1980 |
| 89 | * GameplayGrading: ''VideoGame/StarRaiders'', 1979 |
| 90 | * GlobalCurrency: ''VideoGame/UltimaI'', 1980 |
| 91 | * GoddamnedBats: ''VideoGame/HuntTheWumpus'', 1972 |
| 92 | * GoombaStomp: ''Horace and the Spiders'', 1983 |
| 93 | * GravityScrew: ''VideoGame/{{Spacewar}}'', 1962 |
| 94 | * GrimyWater: ''VideoGame/SpikesPeak'', 1983 |
| 95 | * GuideDangIt: ''VideoGame/ColossalCave'', 1975 |
| 96 | * HGame: Custer's Revenge, 1982 |
| 97 | * HitPoints: ''VideoGame/{{dnd}}'' |
| 98 | * HornetHole: ''Beezer'', 1982 |
| 99 | * InconvenientlyPlacedConveyorBelt: ''VideoGame/DonkeyKong'', 1981 |
| 100 | * Instant180DegreeTurn: ''Basketball'', 1978 |
| 101 | * InteractiveFiction: ''VideoGame/ColossalCave'', 1975 |
| 102 | * InteractiveMovie: ''VideoGame/EVRRace'', 1975 |
| 103 | * InterfaceScrew: ''VideoGame/{{Rogue}}'', 1983 |
| 104 | * IntoxicationMechanic: ''VideoGame/CastleWolfenstein'', 1981 |
| 105 | * InVehicleInvulnerability: ''VideoGame/GranTrak10'', 1974 |
| 106 | * InventoryManagementPuzzle: ''VideoGame/ColossalCave'', 1975 |
| 107 | * InvincibilityPowerUp: ''VideoGame/PacMan'', 1980 |
| 108 | * InvisibleGrid: ''VideoGame/MazeWar'', 1974 |
| 109 | * IsometricProjection: ''VideoGame/{{Zaxxon}}'', 1982 |
| 110 | * ItsAWonderfulFailure: ''VideoGame/MissileCommand'', 1980 |
| 111 | * JobSystem: ''VideoGame/{{Avatar|PLATO}}'', 1979 |
| 112 | * JumpPhysics: ''VideoGame/DonkeyKong'', 1981 |
| 113 | * JustifiedExtraLives: ''Major Havoc'', 1983 |
| 114 | * KarmaMeter: ''VideoGame/UltimaIV'', September 1985 |
| 115 | * LaserHallway: ''Caverns of Mars'', 1981 |
| 116 | * LastLousyPoint: ''VideoGame/ColossalCave'', 1975 |
| 117 | * LevelEditor: ''VideoGame/MazeWar'', 1974 |
| 118 | * LevelGoal: ''VideoGame/DonkeyKong'', 1981 |
| 119 | * LevelGrinding: ''VideoGame/{{Akalabeth}}'', 1979 |
| 120 | * LevelScaling: ''VideoGame/BeneathAppleManor'', 1978 |
| 121 | * LicensedGame: ''Fonz'', 1976, based on ''Series/HappyDays'' (a [[DolledUpInstallment rebranded version]] of the earlier game ''Moto-Cross''); Licensed board games go back to at least 1890, with Parker Brothers releasing a game based on Creator/MarkTwain's (1869) Literature/InnocentsAbroad. |
| 122 | * LightGunGame: ''[[http://web.archive.org/web/20100927191850/http://marvin3m.com/arcade/rayolit.htm Ray-O-Lite]]'', 1936 (also found under OlderThanTelevision) |
| 123 | * MassivelyMultiplayerOnlineRolePlayingGame: Even if you don't count earlier [[MultiUserDungeon Multi-User Dungeons]], there's still ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Island_of_Kesmai Island of Kesmai]]'' (1985). |
| 124 | * MatchThreeGame: ''VideoGame/{{OXO}}'', 1952 -- You '''do''' have to match three to win. |
| 125 | * {{Metapuzzle}}: Jumble, 1954. There were already Jumble riddles back in the day that required solving individual Jumble puzzles to be fully solved. Metapuzzles in crosswords and word search games followed suit. |
| 126 | * {{Metroidvania}}: Depends on definition, but most elements are present in ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aztec_(video_game) Aztec]]'' (Apple II, 1982). |
| 127 | * MiniBoss: ''VideoGame/{{Dnd}}'', 1975 |
| 128 | * MiniGame: ''VideoGame/EscapeFromTheMindmaster'', 1982 |
| 129 | * {{Mon}}: ''Mail Order Monsters'', September 1985 |
| 130 | * MookMaker: The oil drum in ''VideoGame/DonkeyKong'', 1981 |
| 131 | * MultiUserDungeon: ''VideoGame/MultiUserDungeon'', 1979 |
| 132 | * MultipleEndings: ''VideoGame/{{Deadline}}'', 1982 |
| 133 | * MurderSimulators: {{Discussed|Trope}} in ''VideoGame/DeusExMachina'', 1984 |
| 134 | * NintendoHard: Of course -- if you're ignorant of anything Nintendo pre-Platform/{{NES}} -- the title may now break your mind. |
| 135 | * NonStandardGameOver: ''VideoGame/StarTrekTextGame'', 1971, running out of fuel. |
| 136 | * NoPlotNoProblem: Sports and board games in general are OlderThanDirt. |
| 137 | * NumberedSequels: ''VideoGame/SpaceInvaders II'', 1981; not to be confused with Space Invaders ''part'' II. |
| 138 | * ObviousBeta: Too many to list, especially on home computers; the most well known is ''VideoGame/ETTheExtraTerrestrial'', 1982 |
| 139 | * OfficialGameVariant: ''TabletopGame/{{Monopoly}}''[='s=] Short Game, introduced in 1943 in ''Monopoly: [[UsefulNotes/WorldWarII War Time]] Pack'' |
| 140 | * OldSaveBonus: ''VideoGame/{{Wizardry}}'' 2, 1982 |
| 141 | * OneHitKill: ''VideoGame/{{Spacewar}}'', 1962 |
| 142 | * OneHitPointWonder: ''VideoGame/{{Spacewar}}'', 1962 |
| 143 | * OneBulletAtATime: At least as early as ''VideoGame/SpaceInvaders'', 1978 |
| 144 | * OxygenMeter: ''VideoGame/SpacePanic'', 1980 |
| 145 | * PainfullySlowProjectile: ''VideoGame/AirSeaBattle'', 1977 |
| 146 | * PaletteSwap: First color games, 1970s |
| 147 | * PasswordSave: ''Diamond Mine'' (Apple II, 1983) |
| 148 | * PauseScumming |
| 149 | * Main/PinballProjectile: ''VideoGame/{{Combat|Atari2600}}'', Atari 2600, 1977 |
| 150 | * PlayerVersusPlayer: ''VideoGame/TennisForTwo'', 1958 |
| 151 | * UsefulNotes/PolygonalGraphics: ''Wayout'' (Atari 400/800, 1982) |
| 152 | * PortingDisaster: ''VideoGame/PacMan'' on the Atari 2600, 1982 |
| 153 | * PowerUp: ''VideoGame/PacMan'', 1980 |
| 154 | * PressXToDie: ''VideoGame/StarTrekTextGame'', 1971 |
| 155 | * PressXToNotDie: ''VideoGame/DragonsLair'', 1983 |
| 156 | * TheProblemWithLicensedGames: ''VideoGame/ETTheExtraTerrestrial'', 1982, TropeCodifier |
| 157 | * PuzzleBoss: ''VideoGame/DonkeyKong'', 1981 |
| 158 | * RealTimeStrategy: ''[[http://datadrivengamer.blogspot.com/2019/07/games-79-80-empire-and-road-to-wizardry.html Empire I]]'' (PLATO, 1974) |
| 159 | * RegeneratingHealth: ''VideoGame/{{Dragonstomper}}'', 1982 |
| 160 | * RisingUpTheFoodChainGame: ''VideoGame/SharkShark'', 1982. |
| 161 | * {{Roguelike}}: ''VideoGame/{{Rogue}}'', 1980 |
| 162 | * SaveScumming: ''VideoGame/{{Rogue}}'', 1980 |
| 163 | * ScoringPoints: ''VideoGame/{{Pong}}'', 1972 (Exidy's 1979 UsefulNotes/ArcadeGame ''Star Fire'' was the first to feature a high score table) |
| 164 | * ScriptedEvent: ''VideoGame/SupermanAtari2600'', 1979 (Lex Luthor's henchmen blowing up the bridge) |
| 165 | * ShieldedCoreBoss: ''VideoGame/StarCastle'', 1980 |
| 166 | * ShootEmUp: ''VideoGame/SpaceInvaders'', 1978 |
| 167 | * UsefulNotes/{{Shovelware}}: A lot, most famously ''VideoGame/ETTheExtraTerrestrial'', 1982 |
| 168 | * SideView: ''VideoGame/TennisForTwo'', 1958 |
| 169 | * SillinessSwitch: The potion of hallucination in ''VideoGame/{{Rogue}}'', 1980 |
| 170 | * SimonSaysMiniGame: ''VideoGame/TouchMe'', 1974 |
| 171 | * SimulationGame: ''VideoGame/{{Utopia}}'', 1982 |
| 172 | * SkillScoresAndPerks: ''VideoGame/{{dnd}}'', 1975, or ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'', 1974 |
| 173 | * SlippySlideyIceWorld: ''VideoGame/{{Indy 500|Atari 2600}}'', 1977 |
| 174 | * SmartBomb: ''VideoGame/{{Defender}}'', 1980 |
| 175 | * SolveTheSoupCans: ''VideoGame/ColossalCave'', 1975 |
| 176 | * SomeDexterityRequired: ''VideoGame/CrazyClimber'', 1980 |
| 177 | * SpaceFillingPath: ''VideoGame/DonkeyKong'', 1981 |
| 178 | * SplitScreen: ''VideoGame/{{Nautilus}}'', 1982 |
| 179 | * SportsGame: ''VideoGame/TennisForTwo'', 1958 |
| 180 | * SpringsSpringsEverywhere: ''VideoGame/{{Mappy}}'', 1983 (non-springboard version), ''VideoGame/NutsAndMilk'', 1984 (springboard version) |
| 181 | * StalkedByTheBell: Evil Otto in ''VideoGame/{{Berzerk}}'', 1980 |
| 182 | * StatDeath: ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'', 1974 |
| 183 | * StatusLine: Vector terminal port of ''VideoGame/LunarLander'', 1973 |
| 184 | * StealthBasedGame: ''VideoGame/CastleWolfenstein'', 1981 |
| 185 | * StealthBasedMission: ''005'', 1981 |
| 186 | * StrategyGame: TabletopGame/{{Go}}, OlderThanDirt |
| 187 | * SubsystemDamage: ''VideoGame/StarTrekTextGame'', 1971 |
| 188 | * SuperDrowningSkills: While the trope is OlderThanDirt, one of the first video games to do this is VideoGame/{{Frogger}}, 1981 |
| 189 | * SuperTitle64Advance: Every game on the ''Fairchild Channel F'' |
| 190 | * TakeCover: ''VideoGame/MazeWar'', 1974 |
| 191 | * TankControls: ''Tank'', 1974 |
| 192 | * TextParser: ''VideoGame/ColossalCave'', 1975; ''VideoGame/{{Zork}}'', 1979 |
| 193 | * ThatOneLevel: ''VideoGame/DonkeyKong'', 1981 |
| 194 | * {{Tilesweeper}}: ''Mined Out'', 1983 |
| 195 | * TimedMission: ''VideoGame/CathodeRayTubeAmusementDevice'', 1947 |
| 196 | * TimedPowerUp: ''VideoGame/PacMan'', 1980 |
| 197 | * TrialAndErrorGameplay: ''VideoGame/{{Zork}}'', 1979 |
| 198 | * TurnBasedStrategy: ''VideoGame/CrushCrumbleAndChomp'', 1981 |
| 199 | * UnexpectedGameplayChange: ''VideoGame/UltimaI'' (1981), which suddenly switches from a RolePlayingGame to a ''VideoGame/StarRaiders''-style first-person space shooter near the end. |
| 200 | * UnknownItemIdentification: Roots in {{Tabletop RPG}}s where items may have hidden properties known only to the Game Master unless/until discovered by the players. For full video games, ''VideoGame/{{Rogue}}''. |
| 201 | * VectorGame: ''VideoGame/TennisForTwo'', 1958 |
| 202 | * VehicularCombat: ''Demolition Derby'' (AKA ''Destruction Derby'', but not to be confused with a later game with that title), 1975 |
| 203 | * ViolationOfCommonSense: [[spoiler:Killing the dragon]], ''VideoGame/ColossalCave'', 1975 |
| 204 | * VirtualPaperDoll: ''[=FaceMaker=]'', 1983 |
| 205 | * UnwinnableJokeGame: ''El Ajedrecista'', '''''1912'''''[[note]]OlderThanTelevision[[/note]] (A TabletopGame/{{Chess}} endgame where the computer played a rook and king and the human only had a king.) |
| 206 | * YouCantGetYeFlask: ''VideoGame/ColossalCave'', 1975 |
| 207 | * {{Walkthrough}}: There were guides written for ''VideoGame/ColossalCave'' (1975) |
| 208 | * WarpWhistle: ''VideoGame/RaidersOfTheLostArk'', 1982 |
| 209 | * WatchForRollingObjects: ''VideoGame/DonkeyKong'', 1981 |
| 210 | * WideOpenSandbox: ''VideoGame/SpaceTravel'', 1969 |
| 211 | * WizardNeedsFoodBadly: ''VideoGame/{{Moria|PLATO}}'', 1975 |
| 212 | * WrapAround: ''VideoGame/{{Spacewar}}'', 1962 |
| 213 | [[/index]] |
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