Pong

Pong was created by Allan Alcorn, an engineer working for Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney, who had recently incorporated under the name “Atari.” Pong was originally released in 1972 as an arcade game and quickly became a massive hit. It was one of the earliest arcade video games and is credited with helping to launch the video game industry.

Pong is a simple game, but it is also very addictive. Players control two paddles that move up and down on a screen. The goal of the game is to hit a ball back and forth across the screen, preventing the opponent from hitting it back. The first player to score 10 points wins the game.

Pong was inspired by an electronic ping-pong game included in the Magnavox Odyssey, the first home video game console. However, Pong was much simpler and more affordable than the Odyssey. This made it a much more accessible game and helped to make it a success.

Pong was a huge success for Atari. The company sold over 8,000 Pong arcade machines in 1972. In 1975, Atari released a home version of Pong that was also a big hit. Pong helped to popularize video games and paved the way for the future of the industry.

Here are some other interesting facts about Pong:

• The original Pong arcade machine was built in an old roller skating rink.
• Pong was the first video game to be featured on the cover of Time magazine.
• Pong was the subject of a legal battle between Atari and Magnavox. Magnavox claimed that Pong infringed on its patent for the Odyssey’s ping-pong game. The case was eventually settled out of court, with Atari agreeing to pay Magnavox a royalty on each Pong arcade machine sold.
• Pong has been parodied and referenced in numerous movies and television shows, including The Simpsons, Family Guy, and South Park.

Pong is a classic video game that helped to launch the video game industry. It is a simple game, but it is also very addictive and fun to play. Pong is still enjoyed by people of all ages today.