26 Jan, 2010
While researching Videogame history for my University Dissertation, (Come on, what else did you think I would write about?), I came across what was apparently the very first computer game. Incase any of you lovely people out there didn’t know where the glorious act of gaming originated, I thought I’d show you.
Try fitting this in your loft when you didn't use it any more.
This is the game I am referring to… Good lord it’s big, and to think people complained about the PS3 being a tad chunky. The game, “Tennis for Two”, invented in 1958 by a chap called William Higinbotham, was already simulating Tennis before “Pong” was even a thought in the bored mind of its creator. It was an Oscilloscope with two handy little controllers which enabled you to direct your invisible racket’s swing, sending that glowing green ball shooting back into your opponents area – In your face Wii Tennis!
You know what’s more impressive? Even though “Pong” was much more widely known and “Tennis for two” was never patented, Tennis was kind of more advanced because the ball was affected by Gravity!
So anyway, I thought I would share that with anybody who didn’t know already. If it wasn’t for a guy in Brookhaven wanting to liven up his existence in a Laboratory, gaming may not have taken off as soon as it did.
Wow….that thing is MASSIVE! But then again, back in the 50′s they liked everything a bit bigger than we do now. XD
Wow that thing is HUGE. I always thought “Pong” was first, by the picture that thing looks loads funner than Pong with the whole gravity going on :]
That thing looks positively ancient, but I would happily play it even with all these new technological developments.