Video games have become an integral part of popular culture over the past decade. Gaming is surpassing TV and film as a favorite pastime. Last year the gaming industry made 9.4 billion dollars in revenue. Despite the enormous draw of video games, they aren't given the prestige and academic attention that film receives. This thesis covers the evolution of the First Person Shooter from game genre conception to its present state in order to demonstrate the validity of studying the video game medium. Since its beginning in 1992, the First Person Shooter has had a tremendous impact on game development. The genre has consistently been at the forefront of cutting edge technology and continues to revolutionize the way games are played and viewed.