On October 19th, 1972, the world witnessed its first video game tournament at the Stanford Artificial Intelligence Lab in Los Altos, California. Competitors engaged in the sci-fi game Spacewar, marking the birth of esports as we know it today.
Stewart Brand’s Vision and the Role of Computers
The event was organized by Stewart Brand, a visionary who believed in the power of computers to revolutionize society. At the time, Brand was working on a feature for Rolling Stone magazine, and he saw video games as a perfect example of how technology could fuel creativity and change the world.
The First Feature Story on Video Games
In December 1972, Brand’s 9,000-word feature on the tournament appeared in Rolling Stone, where he described the event with the same excitement as a major sports competition.
The winner of the tournament received a subscription to Rolling Stone and the title of Intergalactic Spacewar Champion. Although video games were still a novelty at the time, Brand foresaw their potential to become a global phenomenon, a prediction that has since come true as esports fills arenas worldwide.
A Visionary Beyond Video Games
Stewart Brand was not only a pioneer in the world of esports but also a key figure in the technological revolution of the 1960s. He helped organize “The Mother of All Demos” in 1968, which introduced technologies that would shape the future, from video conferencing to the computer mouse.
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Through his work, Brand demonstrated that technology, including video games, could profoundly expand human consciousness and creativity. His early involvement in the first video game tournament showcased the incredible potential of gaming, setting the stage for the massive industry we see today.
(Mars)
