Video game culture is a media-based subculture that has exploded in popularity since the invention of the first video game. Video gaming has evolved into handheld and computer-based gaming. It includes a variety of independent and group play scenarios thanks to the capabilities of the internet.
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Modern gamers tend to be fully immersed in the world of video gaming, from social networks to out-of-game entertainment, the trends of the sub-culture have a strong influence on many areas of their lives. If you are one of the many so-called gamers, then it’s time to test your knowledge with some video game trivia.
History of Video Games Trivia
From the release of Pong in 1972 to the latest Playstation 5 that is coming at the end of 2020, gamers have seen the rise of empires built around game franchises and specific characters. Test your knowledge of video game history and learn about the roots that modern gaming was built on.
Questions:
- What was the first commercially successful video game?
- What is the best selling videogame of all time?
- What year was the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) released?
- What is the highest-selling gaming console to date?
- What year was Nintendo founded?
- Blizzard Entertainment is most well known for what video game franchise?
- What video game company collaborated with SONY on the Playstation?
- What product did Nintendo first release before taking on the world of video games?
- The United States Air Force used what gaming console to create a cluster supercomputer?
- What food was the character Pac Man modeled after?
- In the original arcade version of Donkey Kong, what was the name of the character that would later be known as Mario?
- What is the best-selling handheld gaming system to date?
- What was the first video game character to have a balloon featured in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade?
- What is the most expensive video game made to date?
- What year was the first virtual reality headset created?
- What crowdsource funding platform is responsible for the success of the Oculus Rift?
- How much did a virtual reality device cost in 1980?
- What is the name of the science fiction writer from the 1930s that predicted virtual reality?
- What year was the first prototype for a home-based video game console developed?
- Who released the first flight simulator game?
- What popular dining franchise is the founder of Atari also responsible for?
- What position did the creator of the Game Boy have at Nintendo?
Easy Video Game Trivia
If you are interested in the world of video-gaming but don’t consider yourself a trivia buff, then these softball questions make a good starting point. Easy video game trivia questions also provide for a good warm-up for more skilled trivia players to get the juices flowing and loosen up.
Questions:
- What inspired game maker Satoshi Tajiri to create the character Pokemon?
- What is a ‘frag’?
- The Umbrella Corporation is a fictitious pharmaceutical company in what game?
- Mario first appeared in what video game?
- What is the name of Mario’s dinosaur sidekick?
- Nintendo owns two of the most popular gaming franchises ever. The net worth of these 2 franchises equals the combined total of the remaining eight franchises in the top 10. What are they?
- How many American households play video games?
- In Minecraft, what typically results from setting an Enderman on fire?
- What are the paintings in Minecraft modeled after?
- In Minecraft, what real-life animals portrayed the sound effects of the ghast enemies?
- In Minecraft, what is a group of Endermen called?
- Who is the Nintendo character Mario’s namesake?
- What is the name of the first video game to be played in outer space?
- What video game franchise has racked up over 1 Billion dollars in lawsuits?
- What organization hosts a bi-annual charity event on twitch revolving around speedruns on popular video games?
- What is the average of gamers in the United States?
- What United States president was asked (and declined) to voice the in-game president character in Fallout 3?
- What world market generates the most revenue in the video game industry?
- What problem plagues up to 40% of virtual reality users?
- What gaming console was largely considered a ‘flop’ and ‘before its time’ and effectively ended Sega’s console efforts in 2001?
- What percentage of gamers consider online gaming a family-bonding activity?
- What country tried to put a ban on midnight gaming?
- What popular video game character inspired the name of a human gene?
- What was Steve Wozniak (co-founder of Apple’s) favorite game?
- What games did the famous actor Robin Williams reportedly name his children after?
Hard Video Game Trivia Questions
If you found the last section to be a bit too easy, we ramp up the difficulty level with some more detailed questions in this section. Hard video game trivia questions focus less on well-known facts and more on interesting details about popular games.
Questions:
- In the original “Legend of Zelda” game, why was the maximum amount of Rupees set at 255?
- What was the first gaming console to have internal memory?
- What game did the character Sonic first appear in?
- The reference to a “stolen sweettroll” has been a running gag with what game developer?
- In the game “Bioshock,” what was the original name for the gene bank?
- What is the name of the planet that is home to the game “Gears of War?”
- What was weapon choice nearly cut from “Gears of War” over creative differences?
- What time period was L.A. Noire modeled after?
- What is the name of the Siren character in “Borderlands?”
- In “Alan Wake” what is unique about the creative process for the game enemies?
- What country refused to provide a rating for Fallout 3 due to Morphine use in the game?
- What American car manufacturer inspired the cars in Fallout 3?
- In 2011, an online puzzle gamer solved what biochemical mystery?
- What band has made more sales off of its Guitar Hero album than any of its actual recorded albums?
- What classic video game was named because the creator misunderstood a translation?
- What game franchise did the creator pay to have negative press coverage to promote the game?
- What is the name of the video game designed to treat depression?
- Why does Brazil charge 120% on video games?
- What ailment was Nintendo sued (and lost) for, resulting in payouts?
- How many people sing in the opening song to Skyrim?
- What planet is most similar to the scalable size of the Minecraft world?
- What was the original intent of the Sims?
Internet Entertainment Influencers in Gaming Trivia
The world of social media and ease of content creation has given rise to a new era of entertainment. From entertainment channels like “Rooster Teeth” to popular streamers on social media gaming platforms, gamers have developed their own channels for industry news and entertainment. How much do you know about the social influence on video games?
Questions:
- What video game franchise does Rooster Teeth use for their show “Red vs. Blue?”
- What popular streaming service launched in June 2011, allows content creators to stream video games while chatting with viewers?
- When Google created a playable Pac Man game for its homepage in 2010, how many hours of gameplay did it see from the collective internet?
- What video game is taken so seriously in South Korea it is officially recognized as an e-Sport?
- The Obama campaign paid for in-game advertising in what game?
Movies Based on Video Games Trivia
In a “chicken or the egg” scenario, there are many popular video games derived from popular movie franchises. But you may not know that there are also movies based on popular video game characters. Answer some trivia questions to find out which characters got their start in the gaming world.
Questions:
- What is the highest-grossing movie based on a video game?
- John Leguizamo and Bob Hoskins portrayed which video game brothers?
- What movie franchise influenced the creation of the game “Doom?”
- Mortal Kombat was originally developed as a licensed game version of what popular movie before the licensing deal fell through, and the game was released independently?
- What Mortal Kombat character was created based off of widely circulated rumors, but was actually an unintentional error code in the original arcade version?
- What Vin Diesel film was sued for its original title Diablo by Blizzard Entertainment, who already had a game by the same name?
The Takeaway on Video Gaming Trivia
The world of video gaming is a large sub-culture that exists around the globe. From the first arcade machines featuring Pong and Pac Man to the home-console boom launching characters like Mario and Sonic, video games have remained a popular pastime.
As with any activity that draws a large crowd, there is a history rich in details to be explored. How game characters and gameplay ideas originated and were executed are details that are of great interest to many gamers. No round of video game trivia would be complete without exploring popular game titles, history, and pop-culture references.
Susan majored in English with a double minor in Humanities and Business at Arizona State University and earned a Master’s degree in Educational Administration from Liberty University. She taught grades four through twelve in both public and private schools. Subjects included English, U.S. and world history and geography, math, earth and physical science, Bible, information technologies, and creative writing.
Susan has been freelance writing for over ten years, during which time she has written and edited books, newspaper articles, biographies, book reviews, guidelines, neighborhood descriptions for realtors, Power Point presentations, resumes, and numerous other projects.
A thriving industry, an art form, a hobby, video games have a fascinating history and an even more interesting present.