Gaming, energy industries share innovative spirit
National Video Game Day – Sept. 12
Sept. 11, 2024
They create stories, permeate homes, schools and even libraries and challenge the mind and often connect generations in Michigan and across the U.S.
Video games, which include an array of digital options, now comprise a nearly $350 billion global industry since their emergence more than 70 years ago.
- Pac-Man and Mario are the oldest video game characters, hitting the scene in 1980 and 1981, respectively.
- Following a dip in popularity in the mid-1980s, video games experienced a resurgence when Nintendo introduced millions to Super Mario Bros and Metroid.
- Sega burst onto the scene and ushered the world into 3D gaming, which includes educational videos.
Most “gamers” simply need to have a computer and a video card or a console or mobile phone.
Believe it or not, those handheld and console devices are made possible in part from the natural gas liquids and light crude oil transported through Enbridge Line 5 in the Straits of Mackinac.
“Product transported safely each day from Enbridge Line 5 is essential to the manufacture of computers, consoles, headsets, monitors, controls and mobile phones used in gaming,” said Paul Meneghini Enbridge’s manager of Community Engagement for Michigan.
“In the early days, Line 5 also helped in the manufacturer of the video games themselves, which now are downloadable.
Meneghini also shared how today’s video games aren’t simply for those trying to apply strategy, prowess or be the victor.
“More than 6,000 products come from the energy that Line 5 carries every day. The pipeline is a major contributor towards Michigan’s economy as well as parts of the Midwest.”
—Paul Meneghini, Enbridge manager of community engagement in Michigan
“They are used to advance reading, improve concentration and memory, and develop or enhance cognitive skills for children and older adults alike,” he said.
Technological advancements, such as virtual reality, are propelling gaming into the next level, creating an immersive experience.
“Michigan and the region rely on Line 5,” continued Meneghini.
“That is why Enbridge also uses applicable technological advancements to keep Line 5 operating safely and reliably.”
In a nod to the multi-sector, multi-generational appeal of gaming, Sept. 12 is National Gaming Day in the United States. For information and ideas to celebrate, visit: NATIONAL VIDEO GAME DAY - September 12, 2024 - National Today.
