Question 1 of 20

In what year did the first interactive electronic game appear?

... In 1947, Thomas T. Goldsmith Jr. filed a patent for a "Cathode Ray Tube Amusement Device." That’s a long way from "Super Mario Brothers"!

Question 2 of 20

The Entertainment Software Ratings Board, or ESRB, reviews and rates video games' age-appropriateness in North America. In what year was it founded?

... ESRB was founded in 1994, in the wake of the release of controversial games like "Mortal Kombat" and "Doom."

Question 3 of 20

Many education video games simulate real-life events or situations. What did the first "video game" depict?

... The "Cathode Ray Tube Amusement Device" was inspired by World War II’s radar displays of missile launches.

Question 4 of 20

Who made the first home video game console?

... The Magnavox Odyssey's first working prototype now resides at the National Museum of American History.

Question 5 of 20

Many think that dance games began with "Dance Dance Revolution," but what was the first dance game called?

... This Nintendo "Dance Aerobics" game was released in 1987; players stepped on a Power Pad peripheral to create music.

Question 6 of 20

"Tetris" is one of the most iconic video games in the world -- and a frequent tool in studies on the educational value of gaming. Where was "Tetris" invented?

... Alexey Pajitnov developed "Tetris" while working for the Soviet Academy of Sciences, a government-run research and development center.

Question 7 of 20

"Number Munchers" and "Oregon Trail" are two classic educational games. In which state were these two landmark games developed and released?

... The Minnesota Educational Computing Consortium, founded in 1973, closed its offices in 1998 -- but not before releasing these great games and making a huge impact on schoolchildren across the country.

Question 8 of 20

In what year was "Oregon Trail" released as a standalone game?

... Within 10 years of its release in 1985, the game had become a blockbuster. "Oregon Trail" provided almost one-third of the Minnesota Educational Computing Consortium’s annual revenue.

Question 9 of 20

"Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing" introduced thousands of students to the ins and outs of touch typing. The program is named after:

... Mavis Beacon, namesake of the program, is not a real person. The program is named for the singer Mavis Staples.

Question 10 of 20

"SimCity," a simulated game of neighborhood life, may have inspired a generation of architects, home designers and urban planners. What was its original working title?

... "Micropolis" was later released on the Commodore 64 in 1985 as "SimCity."

Question 11 of 20

In what percentage of U.S. households are family members playing video games?

... This may be more or less than you'd expect, but there is a gamer in about 67 percent of American households.

Question 12 of 20

What is the age of the average gamer?

... We can only expect video games' popularity to grow, since the average gamer is now about 35 years old.

Question 13 of 20

In 2003, what percentage of the console games market was made up of educational games?

... Educational games occupied only 7 percent of the wider market in 2003, but that percentage is steadily growing, as is investment in serious gaming.

Question 14 of 20

Who supplied the initial grant for MIT’s Games-to-Teach Project?

... Microsoft wrote a $1 million check to start MIT's landmark program, which produces prototypes for educational games.

Question 15 of 20

For which system was the "Carmen Sandiego" franchise initially released?

... Broderbund Software released "Carmen Sandiego" for Apple II in 1985.

Question 16 of 20

What is the bestselling console of all time?

... The Play Station 2 holds the bestseller honor -- at least for now.

Question 17 of 20

How many hours a week does the average gamer spend in front of his or her console?

... In 2010, the average gamer spent eight hours a week playing. Sleep is for the weak!

Question 18 of 20

How many pounds of game can you take back to your wagon in "Oregon Trail"?

... You can take 100 pounds back to your wagon -- just seeing if you were paying attention during all those hours in the school computer lab!

Question 19 of 20

What are the five sports included in the original "Wii Sports"?

... Tennis, baseball, bowling, golf and boxing are the five original activities loaded for enjoyment in "Wii Sports."

Question 20 of 20

In the landmark math game "Number Munchers," what are the Muncher’s opponents called?

... The Muncher's opposing Troggles come in different varieties, but they are all malicious beasts.

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