The video game industry today generates more than $200 billion in revenue. It produces some of the most innovative stories using cutting-edge technology with an audience that grows year by year. But it wasn't always this way, and contemporary video games are the product of historical, economic, and social factors stretching back decades. This course answers questions like: - What did early video games look like? - How have video games evolved with technology? - What forces have influenced trends in video games? - How have video games evolved as an art form?