A strange little side quest
Between one round of Epic Blocollapse and the next, this is worth knowing: The first crossword puzzle book appeared in 1924 in a cautious initial printing of 3,600 copies, complete with a free pencil. The surprising part is how quickly the next milestone followed. Space Invaders, released in 1978, helped push video games into mainstream popular culture. That history is one reason familiar mechanics can still feel new when they are recombined well.