Everyone was obsessively playing and talking about video games in the early 1980s. You'd likely hear the hit song "Pac-Man Fever" if you turned on the radio that year. Even Hollywood movies introduced video games as the ultimate teenage hangout. Children pleaded with their parents to get them a video game console for Christmas.Without a doubt, the '80s is the golden age of gaming. Innovation, collaboration, and excitement stirred in the industry like a tropical storm, and this hasn't stopped.We've listed some of the best games of the 1980s that reshaped how game art and design were viewed for years to come.Pac-ManWhen Pac-Man debuted 43 years ago in Tokyo, no one could have expected or imagined it'd become one of the most iconic arcade games of all time. Game designer Toru Iwatani wanted to create something out of the ordinary.Iwatani said in an interview that the arcades before were filled with shooting or violent games. Only boys were able to connect with these games. So, he thought of designing a game that women and couples may enjoy.The game designer's whole concept revolves around the act of eating. While conjuring ideas, Iwatani was eating a slice of pizza and eureka! The remaining slices of pizza formed Pac-Man's shape, and the rest was history.Pac-Man became an instant hit, with at least 300,000 units sold from 1981 to 1987. The game introduced plenty of innovations in game design and gameplay. It featured the first cut scenes and power-ups. Also, Pac-Man was one of the first maze-genre games.Moreover, for the first time in the gaming industry, there was a game not about violence or aggression. It radically changed the kind of games that creators and developers thought they could create.Furthermore, the game's appeal lies in its simplicity, like FanDuel's jackpot games. Pac-Man only requires the players to use and control a single joystick, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's an easy game. In fact, it took about twenty years for anyone to complete the game with no lives lost and earn the maximum points from each level.Super Mario Bros.Super Mario Bros. became a huge success worldwide. The main character, Mario, first made an appearance in the game "Donkey Kong" in 1981. He was only known as Mr. Video or Jumpman, who, in 1985, finally starred in a game named Super Mario Bros.Mario raced over numerous obstacles to save and free Princess Peach from the bad guy named Browser. One may ask, "Why is this game such a hit?" According to game experts, Mario games are notable for their colorful graphics, simple controls, and accessibility. Plus, the games offer a depth of complexity and gameplay that keeps players wanting more.Moreover, Mario games pioneered groundbreaking gameplay mechanics that have become customary in the industry. For instance, power-ups have become standard in many other games.Additionally, the games introduced responsive and intuitive controls that became precedents of contemporary video games.Since its inception, Super Mario Bros. has become the highest-grossing video game franchise worldwide. It's a testament to the game's enduring appeal, innovation, and creativity.TetrisThe creation of the game Tetris was entirely unintentional. In 1984, software engineer Alexey Pajitnov was tasked to test the Electronika 60. He wrote a game based on his favorite childhood puzzle to assess how robust the new type of computer was.Pajitnov called the game Tetris. It combines the number four Greek numeral "tetra" and his favorite sport, tennis.Entirely unaware, the resulting puzzle game would become one of the most successful and addictive games ever. Geometric shapes would fall onto the base, and the player must organize them to construct gapless lines.However, it's not easy because the blocks tend to aggravate chaotically. The game ends when the blocks reach the peak. Tetris is the perfect example of easy to learn but as hard as iron to master.Additionally, its minimalist design is unparalleled. Tetris wasn't recreating action films or sci-fi movies. Instead, it maximized the limitations of the computers of the time. Everything has its place. There are no dust bunnies.Three years after Tetris was created, a computer version was released and instantly converted to other systems. The game's debut in 1989 on the Nintendo Game Boy popularized handheld gaming devices.Tetris helped develop the "home-brew" or "do-it-yourself" philosophy of video games, where ordinary people can make games that everyone can enjoy.Furthermore, Tetris doesn't need a significant graphical upgrade to feel and look modern. Generally, puzzles developed around mathematics, specifically geometry, are universal. Simply put, the original design will never cease because it's timeless.Final TakeawayPac-Man, Super Mario Bros., and Tetris are the three best video games of the 1980s that completely transformed the gaming industry. And we owe them mainly to their creators. Decades may have passed, but these games remain relevant today.

Everyone was obsessively playing and talking about video games in the early 1980s. You'd likely hear the hit song "Pac-Man Fever" if you turned on the radio that year. Even Hollywood movies introduced video games as the ultimate teenage hangout. Children pleaded with their parents to get them a video game console for Christmas.Without a doubt, the '80s is the golden age of gaming. Innovation, collaboration, and excitement stirred in the industry like a tropical storm, and this hasn't stopped.We've listed some of the best games of the 1980s that reshaped how game art and design were viewed for years to come.Pac-ManWhen Pac-Man debuted 43 years ago in Tokyo, no one could have expected or imagined it'd become one of the most iconic arcade games of all time. Game designer Toru Iwatani wanted to create something out of the ordinary.Iwatani said in an interview that the arcades before were filled with shooting or violent games. Only boys were able to connect with these games. So, he thought of designing a game that women and couples may enjoy.The game designer's whole concept revolves around the act of eating. While conjuring ideas, Iwatani was eating a slice of pizza and eureka! The remaining slices of pizza formed Pac-Man's shape, and the rest was history.Pac-Man became an instant hit, with at least 300,000 units sold from 1981 to 1987. The game introduced plenty of innovations in game design and gameplay. It featured the first cut scenes and power-ups. Also, Pac-Man was one of the first maze-genre games.Moreover, for the first time in the gaming industry, there was a game not about violence or aggression. It radically changed the kind of games that creators and developers thought they could create.Furthermore, the game's appeal lies in its simplicity, like FanDuel's jackpot games. Pac-Man only requires the players to use and control a single joystick, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's an easy game. In fact, it took about twenty years for anyone to complete the game with no lives lost and earn the maximum points from each level.Super Mario Bros.Super Mario Bros. became a huge success worldwide. The main character, Mario, first made an appearance in the game "Donkey Kong" in 1981. He was only known as Mr. Video or Jumpman, who, in 1985, finally starred in a game named Super Mario Bros.Mario raced over numerous obstacles to save and free Princess Peach from the bad guy named Browser. One may ask, "Why is this game such a hit?" According to game experts, Mario games are notable for their colorful graphics, simple controls, and accessibility. Plus, the games offer a depth of complexity and gameplay that keeps players wanting more.Moreover, Mario games pioneered groundbreaking gameplay mechanics that have become customary in the industry. For instance, power-ups have become standard in many other games.Additionally, the games introduced responsive and intuitive controls that became precedents of contemporary video games.Since its inception, Super Mario Bros. has become the highest-grossing video game franchise worldwide. It's a testament to the game's enduring appeal, innovation, and creativity.TetrisThe creation of the game Tetris was entirely unintentional. In 1984, software engineer Alexey Pajitnov was tasked to test the Electronika 60. He wrote a game based on his favorite childhood puzzle to assess how robust the new type of computer was.Pajitnov called the game Tetris. It combines the number four Greek numeral "tetra" and his favorite sport, tennis.Entirely unaware, the resulting puzzle game would become one of the most successful and addictive games ever. Geometric shapes would fall onto the base, and the player must organize them to construct gapless lines.However, it's not easy because the blocks tend to aggravate chaotically. The game ends when the blocks reach the peak. Tetris is the perfect example of easy to learn but as hard as iron to master.Additionally, its minimalist design is unparalleled. Tetris wasn't recreating action films or sci-fi movies. Instead, it maximized the limitations of the computers of the time. Everything has its place. There are no dust bunnies.Three years after Tetris was created, a computer version was released and instantly converted to other systems. The game's debut in 1989 on the Nintendo Game Boy popularized handheld gaming devices.Tetris helped develop the "home-brew" or "do-it-yourself" philosophy of video games, where ordinary people can make games that everyone can enjoy.Furthermore, Tetris doesn't need a significant graphical upgrade to feel and look modern. Generally, puzzles developed around mathematics, specifically geometry, are universal. Simply put, the original design will never cease because it's timeless.Final TakeawayPac-Man, Super Mario Bros., and Tetris are the three best video games of the 1980s that completely transformed the gaming industry. And we owe them mainly to their creators. Decades may have passed, but these games remain relevant today.

Former President Donald Trump said on Thursday that independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is “not a serious candidate,” and he would have to get his poll numbers up “before he’s credible.” After leaving the Manhattan courtroom where he is being tried for alleged hush money payments to porn actress Stormy Daniels, Trump was asked by a reporter if he would debate Kennedy. “RFK? I don’t know anything about him,” Trump replied. “Look, RFK is polling very low. He’s not a serious candidate. They say he hurts Biden. I don’t know who he hurts; he might hurt me, I don’t know.” “He has very low numbers,” Trump added. “Certainly not numbers he can debate with, and he’s gotta get his numbers up a lot higher before he’s credible. But the numbers he’s taking away, they say will be against Biden, but I don’t know; I’m not so sure. It could be a little bit against me, but I don’t see him as a factor.” Trump: "RFK is polling very low. He's not a serious candidate." pic.twitter.com/epUKaHxDm1 — The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) May 2, 2024 In a five-way race with Trump, President Joe Biden, Green Party candidate Jill Stein, and independent candidate Cornel West, Kennedy polls at 10% nationally, according to the RealClearPolitics average. Trump and Biden, meanwhile, are locked in a tight race at 41% and 39%, respectively. While Kennedy remains far behind Trump and Biden in the polls, the independent candidate has gained ballot access in critical battleground states in recent weeks. According to the Kennedy campaign, the candidate has qualified to appear on the ballots in Michigan, Nevada, and North Carolina, all states considered to be battleground races this November, according to RCP. Trump has repeatedly blasted Kennedy, calling him “the most radical Left candidate in the race” and saying he would likely pull votes away from Biden. “RFK Jr. is the most Radical Left Candidate in the race, by far. He’s a big fan of the Green New Scam, and other economy killing disasters,” Trump said in March. “I guess this would mean he is going to be taking votes from Crooked Joe Biden, which would be a great service to America.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP Last week, however, the Republican presidential candidate said that Kennedy’s campaign will help Biden, writing in a social media post that Kennedy is “a Radical Left Liberal who’s been put in place in order to help Crooked Joe Biden.” Kennedy has criticized both Biden and Trump during his presidential campaign, but more recently has focused his attacks on the sitting president. Kennedy said last month that he “can make the argument that President Biden is a much worse threat to democracy” than Trump is. “The greatest threat to democracy is not somebody who questions election returns, but a president of the United States who uses the power of his office to force the social media companies, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter to open a portal and give access to that portal to the FBI, to the CIA, to the IRS, to CISA, to NIH to censor his political critics,” Kennedy said on CNN. Earlier this week, Kennedy called on Biden to suspend his 2024 campaign, arguing that the president’s “presence gives Trump the victory instead of Kennedy.”

Actor Ryan Gosling said he’s not taking on certain roles that could affect his family. The 43-year-old Canadian-born actor had previously explored more psychologically complex characters, including roles he played in “The Notebook” (2004), “Blue Valentine” (2010) and “Drive” (2011). But he has a new perspective since becoming a dad. “I don’t really take roles that are going to put me in some kind of dark place,” Gosling told WSJ Magazine during a recently published interview.  “This moment is what I feel like trying to read the room at home and feel like what is going to be best for all of us,” he added. “The decisions I make, I make them with [girlfriend Eva Mendes] and we make them with our family in mind first.” Mendes and Gosling have two daughters – Esmeralda, 9, and Amada, 8. He said after they were born, he started exploring different genres.  “I think ‘La La Land’ was the first,” Gosling told the outlet. “It was just sort of like, oh, this will be fun for them, too, because even though they’re not coming to set, we’re practicing piano every day or we’re dancing or we’re singing.” The actor said his daughters helped influence his decision to accept the part of Ken in Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie,” a role that nabbed him an Oscar nomination earlier this year. “They were already making little movies about their Barbies on the iPad when it happened, so the fact that I was going off to work to make one too, we just felt like we were aligned,” Gosling explained.  CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP “I’m trying to just figure out who they are and be there for them in the way that I can,” he went on. “They’re such clear and distinct personalities that it’s sort of becoming obvious.” The actor is currently promoting his new action comedy, “The Fall Guy,” which hit theaters May 3.  During a previous interview with People, Gosling said his daughters told him they don’t approve of him playing with fire on set. “My kids didn’t want me to be set on fire,” he told the outlet. “Even though I said, ‘Well, it’s actually, technically the safer thing to do because there’s a lot of protective stuff involved.’ [They] “were like, ‘No. No fire.’ So I didn’t do it,” Gosling said.

Prosecutors are asking the judge overseeing the trial of the 28-year-old man accused of killing four University of Idaho students to disallow anyone other than the accused from testifying about his alibi. The suspect, who is not being named by The Daily Wire, claims that he regularly drove around at night to look at “the moon and stars,” but that he didn’t commit the murders of Ethan Chapin, 20; Kaylee Goncalves, 21; Xana Kernodle, 20; and Madison Mogen, 21, in the early morning hours of November 13, 2022, in the college town of Moscow, Idaho. In a court filing this week, Latah County Prosecuting Attorney Bill Thompson said that the alibi was too vague and said the defense shouldn’t be allowed to call any witnesses other than the defendant to prove his whereabouts, Fox News reported. “With the exception of the reference to Wawawai Park (which is new), the defendant is offering nothing new to his initial ‘alibi’ that he was simply driving around during the morning hours of November 13, 2022,” Thompson wrote in the new filing. “As the State noted during the August 2023 hearing, the State is aware that the defendant was driving around rural areas of Whitman County, Washington, and Latah County, Idaho, during the early morning hours of November 13, 2022. In fact, the defendant’s travels during that time are described in the original Probable Cause Affidavit supporting the Criminal Complaint in this case,” Thompson added. It took the defense more than a year to file an alibi for the suspect, who said he was simply driving around in the early morning hours when the murders occurred. “[The suspect] was out driving in the early morning hours of Nov. 13, 2022, as he often did to hike and run and/or see the moon and stars. He drove throughout the area south of Pullman, Washington, west of Moscow, Idaho,” Anne Taylor, the suspect’s lead attorney, wrote in a court filing last month. To back this up, the defense plans to call an expert witness “to show that [the suspect’s] mobile device was south of Pullman, Washington and west of Moscow, Idaho on November 13, 2022; that [the suspect’s] mobile device did not travel east on the Moscow-Pullman Highway in the early morning hours of November 13th,” according to the court filing. CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP For this reason, the defense claims, the suspect’s car could not be the one seen on video surveillance driving on the Moscow-Pullman highway on the night of the murders. The suspect has been charged with four counts of murder and one count of burglary relating to the killings. Part of the evidence that led to the suspect’s arrest, mentioned in a previously unsealed probable cause affidavit, showed that police were able to narrow the timeframe of the crime to between 4:00 a.m. and 4:25 a.m. and reviewed video footage taken in the area in the time before and after the murders are believed to have occurred. Video showed a white Hyundai Elantra without a front license plate (front license plates are required in Washington and Idaho, but not in Pennsylvania, where the car was registered) in the area between 3:29 a.m. and 4:20 a.m. The vehicle can be seen passing the off-campus residence three times before returning a fourth time around 4:04 a.m. and attempting to turn around on the road. The vehicle was next seen around 4:20 a.m. traveling away from the direction of the off-campus residence at high speed, heading in the direction of a road that eventually leads to Pullman, Washington, where the suspect attended Washington State University (WSU). Video footage from the WSU campus showed a white Hyundai Elantra leaving the area and heading toward Moscow at around 2:53 a.m. At around 5:25 a.m., this vehicle was again observed on five cameras in Pullman and the WSU campus. Police pulled records for white Hyundai Elantras registered at WSU on November 29 – just over two weeks after the murders were committed – and found one belonging to the man who was eventually arrested. Police reviewed the owner’s Washington state driver’s license and determined he matched the suspect’s physical description provided by one of the surviving roommates. Police matched the suspect to the vehicle through two previous traffic stops in the months before the murders. They also learned that the suspect registered his car in Washington and received Washington plates on November 18 – five days after the murders. Police also reviewed cell phone data to show the suspect’s phone did not ping any cellular towers near the crime scene during the relevant timeframe, but an expanded examination of cell phone data showed the phone stopped reporting data to the network at around 2:47 a.m. At that time, the white Elantra was leaving Pullman and heading toward Moscow. The phone next pinged at 4:48 a.m. in an area south of Moscow, heading back to Pullman. Cell records also showed that the suspect left his home in Pullman around 9:00 a.m. on November 13 and traveled back to Moscow. Cell records dating back to June 2022 showed the suspect’s phone was in the crime scene area on at least 12 occasions before the murders – all but one in the late evening or early morning hours.