Game History - PONG-Retro Arcade Game
Pong is one of the earliest arcade video games. It is a table tennis sports
game featuring simple two-dimensional graphics. The game was originally
manufactured by Atari, which released it in 1972. Allan Alcorn created Pong as
a training exercise assigned to him by Atari co-founder Nolan Bushnell.
Bushnell based the idea on an electronic ping-pong game included in the
Magnavox Odyssey, which later resulted in a lawsuit against Atari. Surprised
by the quality of Alcorn's work, Bushnell and Atari co-founder Ted Dabney
decided to manufacture the game.
Pong quickly became a success and was the first commercially successful
video game, which helped to establish the video game industry along with the
first home console, the Magnavox Odyssey. Soon after its release, several
companies began producing games that copied Pong's gameplay, and eventually
released new types of games. As a result, Atari encouraged its staff to
produce more innovative games. The company released several sequels that
built upon the original's gameplay by adding new features. During the 1975
Christmas season, Atari released a home version of Pong exclusively through
Sears retail stores. It was also a commercial success and led to numerous
copies. The game has been remade on numerous home and portable platforms
following its release. Pong has been referenced and parodied in multiple
television shows and video games, and has been a part of several video game
and cultural exhibitions.