The History of Pixel Art: From Atari to Minecraft
Pixel art is an art form that has been around for several decades. It has become a popular medium in the video game industry, and it continues to evolve and grow in popularity. In this article, we'll be taking a look at the history of pixel art, from its early beginnings to its use in modern games like Minecraft.
Early Beginnings The origins of pixel art can be traced back to the early days of computer graphics. In the 1970s, computers were just starting to become more widely available, and computer graphics were in their infancy. The first video game to use pixel art was Atari's Pong, released in 1972. Pong used simple pixelated graphics to create the game's paddles and ball.
The 8-Bit Era The 8-bit era of video games, which lasted from the late 1970s to the mid-1980s, saw the rise of pixel art. Video game consoles like the Atari 2600 and the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) used pixel art extensively in their games. The limited hardware of these consoles meant that developers had to create games with simple graphics, and pixel art was the perfect medium for this.
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| Mario Cart |
During the 8-bit era, pixel art became more sophisticated. Game developers started to use more complex color palettes and create more detailed character sprites. Games like Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda became iconic examples of the use of pixel art in video games.
The 16-Bit Era The 16-bit era of video games, which began in the late 1980s and lasted until the mid-1990s, saw a significant improvement in the quality of pixel art. The release of the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) and the Sega Genesis brought more powerful hardware to video game consoles, allowing for more detailed and complex graphics.
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| Aggeloes Cart Adventure |
Games like Sonic the Hedgehog and Super Metroid showcased the capabilities of pixel art in the 16-bit era. These games featured detailed backgrounds and character sprites, and the use of color became more sophisticated.
The Decline of Pixel Art The decline of pixel art in video games can be traced back to the introduction of 3D graphics in the mid-1990s. With the release of consoles like the Sony PlayStation and the Nintendo 64, 3D graphics became the new standard in video game graphics.
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| PS1 Game all time 1990 |
However, pixel art continued to be used in some games. The handheld console Game Boy Advance, released in 2001, used pixel art extensively in its games. The rise of mobile gaming in the 2000s also brought a resurgence in pixel art, as it was well-suited to the limited hardware of mobile devices.
Modern Pixel Art In recent years, pixel art has experienced a resurgence in popularity, thanks in part to games like Minecraft. Minecraft uses simple, blocky graphics to create a world that players can explore and build in. The popularity of Minecraft has led to a renewed interest in pixel art, and many artists have created their own pixel art designs inspired by the game.
Pixel art has also become a popular medium in independent game development. Games like Stardew Valley and Shovel Knight use pixel art to create a retro look and feel, and they have been praised for their use of the art form.
Conclusion Pixel art has come a long way since its early beginnings in the 1970s. From its use in early video games like Pong to its resurgence in games like Minecraft, pixel art has proven to be a versatile and enduring art form. While it may have been overshadowed by 3D graphics in the 1990s, pixel art continues to be used in video games and other forms of digital art. It will be interesting to see where pixel art goes in the future, and how
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