Pong - An old Classic
Release Date: 29 November 1972
Originally released for Arcade and Atari 2600
So who doesn't know about Pong? Pong was one of the first commercially successful video games and also one of the first arcade video games. It was originally created as a demo that simulates a game of table tennis.
iceburg108:On the surface it may seem like a very simplistic game, try to get your ball past your opponent, and that is where the greatness lies. You have a paddle on each side of the screen that is controlled by a user. You need to hit the ball, that bounces across the screen and around the edges of the screen and your goal is to get it past the paddle of the person on the other side. Even though this was such a simple game, the addictiveness and the replay-ability factor of this game contributed to its success. You always wanted to score more than your friend and that kept you coming back for more. Even in the modern age, Pong is still just a great game.
I rate Pong a 4/5 Stars.
Mellis:
If you asked me what I consider the grandfather of multiplayer gaming, without hesitation, I would have guessed Pong (Apparently a game called "Tennis for Two" which ran on analog computer in 1958 is considered one of the very first according to quick web search).
Initially, I pictured Pong as old, simple, and boring. However, this seemingly rudimentary game has prove me wrong, showcasing the addictiveness doesn't necessarily stem from complexity or a multitude of features.
Pong's setup is as basic as it gets: a scoreboard, two bars on either side of the monitor, and a single dot posing as a "ball." The controls are straightforward - you can only move your bar up and down, aiming to block the ball from reaching your side and deflecting it towards your opponent. Yet, despite its simplicity, I found myself inexplicably hooked, losing track of time as I chased that pixelated ball like a dog on a sunny day - mindless and happy.
If I were to rate Pong back in 1972, it would undoubtedly earn a perfect 5/5.
In the context of 2024, I'd still give it a solid 4/5.
Places to play Pong: