As a result of the advancement of technology and the creativity of developers, the next generation of computer games has become more visually appealing.
During the late 1980s two things impacted on the graphical appeal of computer games. The first was the beginning of adventure games, in such classics as 'Police Quest', George Lucas's 'Monkey Island' and 'Space Quest'. This showed there was a market for games that were not only fun, but were delightful to look at.
Second was the first Nintendo Entertainment System appearance, which showed that electronic games were not only fun to play, but fun to look at.
Almost instantly, computer game designers started modelling their games after the Nintendo philosophy and style. Almost monthly, computer games were released that surpassed the graphic look of everything that came before.
One game that particularly floored critics and fans alike by its beautiful design was 'MYST'. At around the same time, the 'DOOM' game was launched -- the first three-dimensional (3D) shooter that was really beautiful to look at. The game's impact is still found in the 3D genre.
The years from 1990 to 2000 saw the creation of new generations of major gaming consoles, like PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii, and Xbox 360. These consoles' visual appeal have neared photo-realism, with it being almost impossible to tell the difference between a live person and the computer- generated character. Therefore, real virtual reality may not be far off, when computer graphics become even more realistic.