In a world of clones and copycats, it’s worth remembering that every idea was once new. Whether it’s Richard Garriott turning himself into the world’s first cosplayer by showing up at conventions dressed as his alter-ego Lord British, or Westwood inventing the RTS in Dune II, these are the moments that defined the games we play today. On PC, anyway. Herzog Zwei? What’s that?

But what about some of the more obscure firsts? Who made games talk? Which FPS first came up with the idea of mixing driving and shooting, in much the same way that the genius who first combined salt and vinegar chips and broken up pieces of Kit-Kat created the most delicious snack of our age? That is the question. We’ve gone back into the archives in search of the geniuses, the dreamers, the designers and games that proved there were still ideas left to explore – just as today’s designers continue to prove how much more can be done.