This is a recurring, limited series where I discuss the history and evolution of video games. I will discuss general history as well as history of various genres and their ties to culture.

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Platformers might be one of the most important video game genres to push gaming forward, but there is another variety that is equally important for how video games were viewed in the future: action. As previously discussed, platform games more or less evolved into the action genre, including popular titles such as Uncharted, Assassin’s Creed, Tomb Raider, and more. Though while platformers might have evolved into action-adventure games, there are other types of action games, as well. There are Beat ’em Ups, Fighters, and First-Person Shooters. These are the types of games we will be looking at here.

Space Invaders can be considered the first major, important action game–we’ve already discussed how crucial it…