Some rare trivia right there. ![]()
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Saw that the early/illegal Spectrum Holobyte version of Tetris had a Boss Key that shows a blank command prompt.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boss_key
Apparently, firsts:
- Rogue (1980)
- Asylum (1981)
- Bezare (1982) link
- FriendlyWare PC Arcade (1983)
https://www.mobygames.com/group/10255/games-with-boss-key/
https://www.howtogeek.com/749864/gaming-when-you-should-be-working-the-history-of-the-boss-key/
I added a boss key to my game Wire Hang Redux back in 2004 ![]()
Love the boss key. I forget what game it was that put up a spreadsheet but that was solid execution.
the first on-screen depiction of a human, or the first game to take place across multiple screens. The first overworld map. The hidden “Easter Egg.” Or how about the first cutscene — those cinematic sequences that temporarily remove control from the player?
We consider a game important based on the range of its influence or concepts it innovated. Incidentally, all the “firsts” innovated above debuted in a single game: 1973’s Moonlander by Jack Burness.
First real time 3D arcade game…
1983, Cube Quest
It also adds laserdisc video backgrounds!
From https://arcadeblogger.com/2023/04/10/arcade-raid-south-dakota-mega-haul/
Seeing that in action at the arcade must’ve been mind-blowing at the time!
You know, I was wondering what the first ever bonus stage was. According to Wikipedia, “Namco’s 1980 arcade game Rally-X was one of the first to feature a bonus stage.”
So, Rally-X was one of the first, but could there have been an earlier game that featured a bonus stage?
I’ve done some searching online but all sources seem to reference the same Wikipedia article, so I guess the answer is inconclusive for now.
Claim regarding Microprose Golf https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MicroProse_Golf (1991, Amiga & Atari ST, 1992 DOS)
It was the first golf game to use the circular bar swing method, which would become common in later golf games.

The cite on wikipedia needed correcting, as the quote was featured in a magazine supplement rather than the main magazine itself.
And I would probably qualify the claim with “around the player whilst they are in-situ”, because…
Naxat Open (TG-16, 1989) had an arc around a side view of the player in an inset panel.

New 3D Golf Simulation (PC-98, 1989) used a arc (3/4 of a circle) shot meter, but it was in the the HUD rather than around the player.

As did The Golf (1989, MSX) which is a great game

Albatross (1986, MSX) had a similar arc around the ball.

Links: The Challenge of Golf (1990, DOS) had an arc power meter in the HUD.

Ultra/Konami/Konamic Golf (1991, GB) had a circular meter around the player, on its own screen.

First Escape Room (video game perhaps predated physical)
Mystery of Time & Space (2001, Logan Interactive)
https://www.mobygames.com/game/34859/mystery-of-time-and-space/

Or maybe…
https://excitingescapes.co.uk/blog/what-did-the-worlds-first-escape-rooms-look-like/
Crimson Room (2004, Toshimitsu Takagi)
https://www.mobygames.com/game/84539/crimson-room/screenshots/
The firsts, like the Cathode Ray Tube Amusement Device or Tennis for Two laid the groundwork for what we have today. While I’m a big fan of CS:GO myself, it’s fascinating to think about the early days of video games.
