One of the most iconic video games of all time is the snake game google app that was featured on the Google homepage as a Google Doodle in 2010. This simple yet addictive game captured the hearts and minds of people across the globe. In this article, we'll take a closer look at the history and impact of the worldwide phenomenon that is the google doodle snake game.
Origins of the Snake Game
The origins of snake games can be traced back to the 1976 arcade game Blockade. It involved maneuvering a snake-like line to block off sections of the screen. This concept was built upon and popularized in 1978 with the release of the Snakes game on the Atari 2600 console.
The basic premise involved controlling a continually moving snake, attempting to eat food pellets while avoiding walls and its own body. Each piece of food eaten would make the snake grow longer, adding to the challenge. Through the 1980s and 90s, many variations of snake games could be found on consoles, computers and eventually cell phones.
Development of the Google Doodle
In 2010, Google wanted to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the revolutionary Pac-Man arcade game. They developed a playable version of Pac-Man as a Google Doodle that could be accessed from the Google homepage. The doodle proved so popular, getting over 1 billion players, that Google began considering more interactive doodles.
For April Fool's day in 2013, Google engineer Dave Green created a snake game doodle based on the classic Nokia cell phone version. Players could navigate a snake around a simple grid eating numbered fruit pellets. This kickstarted the doodle team's push into more frequently having interactive game doodles.
Popularity and Records of the Google Snake Game
When the snake game doodle reappeared on Google's homepage in 2016, it became an instant global phenomenon. Users spent over 498 years worth of total time playing it that day alone!
The Google snake game doodle appeared again for its 4th anniversary in May 2018. It sported updated visuals and a slightly bigger snake to accommodate larger screens. This version went on to set the Guinness World Record for the most popular Google Doodle of all time, achieving over 3.3 billion interactions.
Legacy and Impact
The overwhelming popularity of the Google snake game doodle cemented snake as one of the most recognizable video games in history. It created awareness and nostalgia for the game across generations. The simple and intuitive gameplay mechanic made it easy for anyone to grasp.
The Google doodle also demonstrated the potential for brands to meaningfully engage massive online audiences in interactive content. Many other companies have since created playable content and games to better connect with customers and ride social trends.
Snake has inspired numerous mobile apps and remains a timeless classic that will be enjoyed by gamers for decades to come. The Google doodle opened snake to a rapidly growing smartphone gaming market. It brought together families and coworkers around a shared activity of battling for high scores. In short, this unassuming doodle had a monumental impact on gaming culture.
Conclusion
The Google snake game doodle will forever be remembered as one of the company's most important interactive experiments. It showcased the universal appeal of snake gameplay and cemented its iconic status. The doodle proved that quick and easy mobile games could capture the world's attention. It paved the way for branded interactive content and the now thriving mobile gaming industry. For these reasons and many more, the snake game google doodle was a true internet phenomenon.