During the 1950s, various computer games were created in the context of academic computer and programming research and for demonstrations of computing power, especially after the introduction later in the decade of smaller and faster computers on which programs could be created and run in real time as opposed to being executed on a schedule. A few programs, however, were intended both to showcase the power of the computer they ran on and as entertainment products; these were generally created by undergraduate and graduate students and university employees, such as at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where staff and students were allowed on occasion to develop programs for the TX-0 experimental computer.
During the 1950s, various computer games arose in academic research and programming contexts, particularly after the introduction of smaller and faster computers that enabled real-time program execution. A few programs, however, were designed to showcase computing power while also serving as entertainment products; these were generally created by university students and staff, such as at MIT.