Pong

Type of the game: [Coin-Op] Arcade Video Game
Pong © 1972 Atari.

PONG is a basic simulation of the racket sport of table tennis. A small square representing a ping pong ball travels across the screen in a linear trajectory. If the square strikes the perimeter of the playing field, or one of the simulated paddles, the square ricochets based on the angle of the impact.

Game play consists of players moving their respective paddles vertically to defend their scoring zones. Players score one point by maneuvering the square past their opponent's paddle.

PONG can be played either by a single player pitted against a computerized opponent, or by two players each controlling a paddle.

The arcade PONG hardware was developed using 66 TTL logic chip. The home version had an integrated chip replacing most of these logic chips in 1974.

On June 27, 1972, Mr. Nolan K. Bushnell and Mr. Ted Dabney start their own game company, named 'Syzygy' (means 'the sun, moon and earth in total eclipse'). But at this time, 'Syzygy' was already used by a roof-tiling company and finally, the name was changed to 'Atari' (a word equivalent to the term 'check' used in the Japanese strategy board game 'Go', Bushnell was an avid Go player) and give it the 'FUJI'-symbol (from the Japan's largest mountain 'Fujijama') as its logo.

Pong is the first Atari game. In September 1972, a prototype was tested on top of a barrel as the first commercial coin-operated machine in a tavern in Sunnyvale, CA called "Andy Capp's'. Within two weeks, Mr. Bill Gattis, the tavern manager, called Atari's Mr. Al Alcorn and reported that the machine was in need of repair. When examined, Alcorn discovered that the coin mechanism had been literally stuffed with quarters. Pong became an instant success and it created the arcade video game industry. The video game revolution had begun...

A Pong unit appears in the 1974 movie 'The Parallax View' and in the 1975 movie 'Rancho Deluxe'.

Scoring went up to 21 pts.

The only instruction for a game this primative : avoid missing ball for high score.

1. Pong (1972)
2. Pong Doubles (1973)
3. Quadra Pong (1974)
4. Super Pong (1974)
5. Pong - The Next Level (1999, PC CD-ROM, Sony PlayStation and Nintendo Game Boy Color)

Designed & engineered by : Alan Alcorn, Nolan Bushnell

Consoles:

Atari 2600 (October 1977) "Video Olympics [Model CX2621]" : contains multiple variations of the game.
Sega Game Gear (1996) "Arcade Classics"
Sega Genesis (1996) "Arcade Classics [Model 1715]"
Sega Mega Drive (1996) "Arcade Classics [Model 1715-50]"
Sony PlayStation (2001) "Atari Anniversary Edition Redux" [Model SLUS-01427]"
Sega Dreamcast (July 2, 2001) "Atari Anniversary Edtion [Model T-15130N]"
Sony PlayStation (March 1, 2002) "Atari Anniversary Edition Redux" [Model SLES-03808]"
Tapwave Zodiac (2004) "Atari Retro"
Microsoft XBOX (November 16, 2004) "Atari Anthology [Model 26084]"
Sony PlayStation 2 (November 22, 2004) "Atari Anthology [Model SLUS-21076]"
Microsoft XBOX (November 26, 2004) "Atari Anthology"
Sony PlayStation 2 (February 18, 2005) "Atari Anthology [Model SLES-53061]"
Microsoft XBOX (2005) "Atari Anthology [Platinum Hits]"
Nintendo DS [UK] (March 11, 2005) "Retro Atari Classics [Model NTR-ATAE-UKV]"
Nintendo DS (March 11, 2005) "Retro Atari Classics [Model NTR-ATAE-EUR]"
Nintendo DS (March 16, 2005) "Retro Atari Classics [Model NTR-ATAE-USA]"
Nintendo DS (June 30, 2005) "Atarimix Happy 10 Games [Model NTR-ATAJ-JPN]"
Microsoft XBOX (August 4, 2005) "Atari Anthology [XBOX World Collection] [Model B7X-00001]"
Nintendo Game Boy Advance (August 21, 2005) "Pong / Asteroids / Yars' Revenge [Model AGB-B64E-USA]"
Nintendo Game Boy Advance (September 23, 2005) "Pong & Asteroids & Yars' Revenge [Model AGB-B64P]"
Nintendo DS [AU] (November 2007) "Retro Atari Classics [Model NTR-ATAE-AUS]"
Sony PSP (December 19, 2007) "Atari Classics Evolved [Model ULUS-10325]"
Sony PSP [AU] (March 7, 2008) "Atari Classics Evolved"
Nintendo DS (November 2, 2010) "Atari Greatest Hits Vol.1 [Model NTR-BR6E-USA]"
Sony PlayStation (February 16, 2011) "Atari Anniversary Edition Redux" - PSOne Classics
Nintendo DS (February 24, 2011) "Atari Greatest Hits Vol.1 [Model NTR-BR6P-EUR]"
Nintendo DS (March 8, 2011) "Atari Greatest Hits Vol.2 [Model NTR-BR7E-USA]" : "Video Olympics" for the Atari 2600, which contains multiple variants.

Computers:

Tandy Color Computer 3 (1987) "Ponk" : this port is for 2 players only.
PC [MS Windows, CD-ROM] (1999) "Atari Arcade Hits 1"
PC [MS Windows, CD-ROM] (July 13, 1999) "Atari Arcade Hits"
PC [MS Windows, CD-ROM] (July 9, 2001) "Atari Anniversary Edition"
PC [MS Windows, CD-ROM] (December 14, 2001) "Atari Anniversary Edition"
PC [MS Windows, CD-ROM] (January 1, 2003) "Atari Retro"
PC [MS Windows, CD-ROM] (November 11, 2003) "Atari: 80 Classic Games in One! [Model 25069J]"
PC [MS Windows, CD-ROM] (June 10, 2005) "Atari: 80 Classic Games in One! [Replay]"
PC [MS Windows, CD-ROM] (June 17, 2005) "Atari Arcade Hits 1 [Replay]"
PC [MS Windows, CD-ROM] (December 1, 2006, as part of "Atari Kids 2006") "Atari - 80 Classic Games in One!"
PC [MS Windows, CD-ROM] (2007) "Atari Anniversary Edition [Sold Out]" - Sold Out Software

NOTE: Atari Anthology for the PS2 and XBOX, as well as "Atari: 80 Classic Games in One!" for the PC contain both the original arcade game and "Video Olympics" for the Atari 2600.

Others:

Magnavox "Odyssey [Model ITL 200]" (1972) : contains 12 games.
Universal Research "Video Action [Model VA-I]" (1973)
The Sales Team "Videomaster Home T.V. Game [Model VM577]" [UK] (1974) : contains 3 games.
Executive Games "Television Tennis [Model 035]" (1975) : contains 2 games.
First Dimension "Video Sports [Model FD-3000W]" (1975)
Magnavox "Odyssey 100" (1975) : contains 2 games.
Magnavox "Odyssey 200" (1975) : contains 3 games.
Sears "Tele-Games Pong [Model 25796]" (1975)
Universal Research "Video Action [Model VA-II]" (1975)
"Videomaster Olympic [Model VM3-D]" [UK] (1975) : contains 4 games.
"Videomaster Rally [Model VM4]" (1975) : contains 2 games.
Allied's "Name Of The Game [Model A-100]" (1976) : contains 8 games.
Allied's "Name Of The Game II [Model A-300]" (1976)
Canadian Tire "Video Sports [Model 84-6072]" [CA] (1976) : contains 4 games.
Coleco "Telstar [Model 6040]" (1976) : contains 3 games.
Coleco "Telstar Classic [Model 6045]" (1976) : contains 3 games.
Atari "Pong [Model C-100]" (1976)
Binatone "TV Gaming Unit [Model 01-4990]" [UK] (1976) : contains 2 games.
Pizon Bros. "Visiomatic 101" [FR] (1976) : contains 6 games.
"Visiomat 11" [FR] (1976) : contains 6 games.
Entex "Gameroom Tele-Pong" (1976)
First Dimension Tele Sports (1976) : contains 3 games.
GHP "Wonder Wizard - Television Sports Games [Model 7702]" (1976) : contains 3 or 6 games.
Granada ColorSport VIII (197?) : contains 8 games.
Granada Video Sports (1976) : contains 4 games.
Lloyds TV-Sports 801 (1976) : contains 6 games.
Magnavox "Odyssey 300" (1976) : contains 3 games.
Magnavox "Odyssey 400" (1976) : contains 3 games.
Magnavox "Odyssey 500" (1976) : contains 3 games.
MECCA TV Game (1976) : contains 4 games.
Mestron Fernseh Spiel [DE] (1976) : contains 6 games.
Montgomery-Ward Telstar Video World of Sports (1976) : contains 3 games.
National Semiconductor Adversary (1976) : contains 3 games.
Occitane (SOE) OC4 (orange) [FR] (1976) : contains 4 games.
Occitane (SOE) Occitel [FR] (1976) : contains 4 games.
Packel Instrument TV Sport [AU] (1976) : contains 4 games.
Prinztronic Tournament [UK] (1976) : contains 6 games.
Radio Shack TV Scoreboard (1976) : contains 4 or 6 games.
Ricochet Electronic Color TV Game (1976) : contains 4 games.
Ridgewood GAMATIC 7600 (1976) : contains 4 games.
Roberts Paddle IV (1976) : contains 4 games.
Sears "Tele-Games Super Pong [Model 99736]" (1976) : contains 4 games.
Sears "Tele-Games Super Pong IV [Model 99737]" (1976) : contains 4 games.
Sears "Tele-Games Hockey-Pong [Model 99721]" (1976) : contains 4 games.
Sears Hockey-Tennis (1976) : contains 4 games.
Superlectron TV Challenger (1976) : contains 3 games.
Tele-Match Concert Hall IV (1976) : contains 4 games.
Tele-Match 4 (1976) : contains 4 games.
Television Gaming Unit [NL] (1976) : conrains 2 games.
Unisonic Sportsman - Tournament 101 (1976) : contains 4 games.
Unisonic Tournament 100 (1976) : contains 4 games.
Unisonic Tournament 150 (1976) : contains 6 games.
Unisonic Tournament 200 (1976) : contains 4 games.
Universal Research "Video Action [Model VA-III]" (1976)
Universal Research "Video Action Indy 500 [Model S-100]" (1976) : contains 3 games.
Universum TV Multi-Spiel [DE] (1976) : contains 6 or 4 games.
Venture Electronics Video Sports (1976) : contains 4, 5, or 8 games.
Videomaster Superscore [UK] (1976) : contains 6 games.
Windsor TV Game (1976) : contains 4 games.
Academy Video Game [UK] (1977) : contains 4 games.
APF Match (1977) : contains 4 games.
APF TV FUN (1977) : contains 4 games.
APF Sportsarama (1977) : contains 8 games.
Asaflex Video Sports [FR] (1977) : contains 4 or 6 games.
Atari "Ultra Pong [Model C-402S]" (1977) : contains 16 or 32 games.
Atari Video Pinball (1977) : contains 7 games.
Audiosonic Home's TV Set (1977) : contains 4 games.
Binatone Colour TV Game [UK] (1977) : contains 4 games.
Binatone TV-Master MK 6 [UK] (1977) : contains 6 games.
Binatone TV Master MK IV [UK] (1977) : contains 4 games.
Binatone TV-TRON [UK] (1977) : contains 4 games.
Bingo TVG 203 [FR] (1977) : contains 4 games.
Bingo Video Game [FR] (1977) : contains 4 games.
Blaupunkt TV-Action [DE] (1977) : contains 4 games.
Boots Audio [UK] (1977) : conrains 4 games.
Coleco "Telstar Ranger [Model 6046]" (1977) : contains 6 games.
Coleco "Telstar Alpha [Model 6030]" (1977) : contains 4 games.
Coleco "Telstar Colormatic [Model 6130]" (1977) : contains 4 games.
Coleco "Telstar Regent [Model 6036]" (1977) : contains 4 games.
Commodore T.V. Game (1977) : contains 8 games.
Concept 2000 Spectrum 6 (1977) : contains 4 games.
Concept 2000 TV +4 (1977) : contains 4 games.
Conic Video Game (1977) : contains 4 games.
Continental Edison [FR] (1977) : contains 6 games.
Creatronic Bi.Bip 4 [FR] (1977) : contains 4 games.
Creatronic Bi.Bip 8 [FR] (1977) : contains 8 games.
Dayya Marume 2000 (1977) : contains 8 games.
DDR TV-Spiele [DE] (1977) : contains 6 games.
Decca Sports TV Game [UK] (1977) : contains 6 games.
Derby Master [UK] (1977) : contains 3 games.
Digitek TV Game (1977) : contains 4 games.
E&P 4 Electronic TV Sport Games (1977) : contains 4 games.
Electrophonic Pro-Sports (1977) : contains 4 games.
Enterprex Color Home Video Game (1977) : contains 4 or 8 games.
Grandstand Match of the Day 2000 [UK] (1977) : contains 4 games.
Grandstand Adman [UK] (1977) : contains 4 games.
Gulliver Triple Challenge (1977) : contains 3 games.
Hanimex Jeu-Tele Electronique [FR] (1977) : contains 4 games.
Hanimex TV Scoreboard (1977) : contains 8 games.
Hit-Go [FR] (1977) : contains 6 games.
Hometronics Telecourt [FR] (1977) : contains 4 games.
Honeybell Video Sports color [DE] (1977) : contains 4 games.
Intel Super-Telesport [DE] (1977) : contains 4 games.
Intel TV Sport [DE] (1977) : contains 4 or 6 games.
Interton Club Exclusiv 2000 [DE] (1977) : contains 6 games.
Interton Video 2400 (1977) : contains 5 games.
Interton Video 2501 (1977) : contains 3 games.
Interton Video 2800 (1977) : contains 4 games.
Interton Video 3000 (1977) : contains 6 games.
Interton Video 3001 (1977) : contains 6 games.
ITMC 6 Jeux [FR] (1977) : contains 6 games.
ITT / Ideal Color Tele-Match Cassette [UK] (1977) : contains 4 games.
Korting Tele-Multi-Play [DE] (1977) : contains 4 games.
K-Mart S Four Thousand (1977) : contains 4 games.
K-Mart S Eight Thousand (1977) : contains 8 games.
Magnavox "Odyssey 2000" (1977) : contains 3 games.
Magnavox "Odyssey 3000" (1977) : contains 4 games.
Magnavox "Odyssey 4000" (1977) : contains 8 games.
Markint 4a [FR] (1977) : contains 4 games.
Markint 6 [FR] (1977) : contains 6 games.
Markint Tele-Sports [FR] (1977) : contains 4 games.
Markint TV Sports [FR] (1977) : contains 4 games.
Match Spectrum 6 [DE] (1977) : contains 3 games.
MBO Tele-Ball V [DE] (1977) : contains 6 games.
Nintendo "Color TV-Game 6 [Model CTG-6S]" (1977) : contains 6 games.
Nintendo "Color TV-Game 6 [Model CTG-6V]" (1977) : contains 6 games.
Sharp "Color TV-Game [Model XG-106V]" (1977) : contains 6 games.
Novex Colour Video Sports Game (1977) : contains 3 games.
Occitane (SOE) Match Robot [FR] (1977) : contains 4 games.
OPL Optim Sport (1977) : contains 4 games.
Palladium Tele-Match 4000 [DE] (1977) : contains 4 games.
Philips Odyssey 2001 (1977) : contains 3 games.
Philips Tele-Spiel Las Vegas (1977) : contains 4, 6 or 8 games.
Pizon-Bross Visiomat 11 [FR] (1977) : contains 6 games.
Poppy Tele-Spiel [DE] (1977) : contains 4 games.
Prinztronic Tournament II Deluxe [UK] (1977) : contains 6 games.
Radofin Electronic TV Game (1977) : contains 4 games.
Radofin Tele-Sports (1977) : contains 4 games.
Radofin Tele-Sports Mini (1977) : contains 4 games.
Radofin SC Eight Thousand (1977) : contains 8 games.
Ricochet Electronic Super Pro (1977) : contains 5 games.
Roberts Rally IV (1977) : contains 4 games.
Roberts Rally X (1977) : contains 8 games.
Roberts Sportrama 8 (1977) : contains 8 games.
Samdo [FR] (1977) : contains 4 games.
Santron Home T.V. Game (1977) : contains 6 games.
Sanwa Tele-Spiel [DE] (1977) : contains 4 games.
Sears "Tele-Games Hockey-Tennis II [Model 99733]" (1977) : contains 4 games.
Sears "Tele-Games Hockey-Tennis III [Model 99734]" (1977) : contains 4 games.
Sears "Tele-Games Super Pong IV [Model 99789]" (1977) : contains 10 (5x2) games.
Sears "Tele-Games Pong Sports II [Model 99707]" (1977) : contains 16 games.
Sears "Tele-Games Pong Sports IV [Model 99708]" (1977) : contains 32 games.
SEB Telescore [FR] (1977) : contains 4 or 6 games.
Sennheiser TV Game [DE] (1977) : contains 6 games.
Sheen Video Sport (1977) : contains 4 games.
Sheen Colour Video Sport (1977) : contains 6 games.
Sonesta Hide-Away TV Game [DE] (1977) : contains 6 games.
Sportel [UK] (1977) : contains 3 games.
Sportron [FR] (1977) : contains 4 or 6 games
Starex [FR] (1977) : contains 4 games.
Superlectron Fernsehspiel [DE] (1977) : contains 4 games.
Syrelec Videosport 2 (1977) : contains 4 games.
Thomson Jeu Video [FR] (1977) : contains 5 games.
Tandy TV Scoreboard (1977) : contains 4 or 10 games.
TCR Video Sport (1977) : contains 4 games.
Tele-Match Television Computer Game (1977) : contains 5 games.
Teleng Colourstars [UK] (1977) : contains 6 games.
Tempest Video Game [AU] (1977) : contains 6 games.
Unimex Mark V-C [DE] (1977) : contains 6 games.
Unisonic Olympian 2600 (1977) : contains 10 games.
Unisonic Tournament 1000 (1977) : contains 4 games.
Unisonic Tournament 2000 (1977) : contains 6 games.
Unisonic Tournament 2501 (1977) : contains 6 games.
Universum Color Multi-Spiel [DE] (1977) : contains 4 or 10 games.
Universum Tele-Sports [DE] (1977) : contains 4 games.
Univox [FR] (1977) : contains 4 games.
Video 4000-EX (1977) : contains 4 games.
Video Stellar [FR] (1977) : contains 5 games.
Videomaster Colourscore (1977) : contains 3 games.
Videomaster Colourshot [UK] (1977) : contains 3 games.
Videomaster Visionscore [UK] (1977) : contains 3 games.
Videomaster Strika 2 [UK] (1977) : contains 4 games.
Windtronics Video Game (1977) : contains 4 games.
Binatone TV-Master MK 8 [UK] (1978) : contains 8 games.
Binatone TV-Master MK 10 [UK] (1978) : contains 10 games.
Binatone Colour TV Game 4 Plus 2 [UK] (1978) : contains 6 games.
Coleco Telstar Colortron [UK] (1978) : contains 4 games.
Coleco Telstar Marksman [UK] (1978) : contains 6 games.
Grunding Tele-Spiel 1 [DE] (1978)
Harvard Mini Color TV Game (1978) : contains 4 games.
Intercord TV Games [DE] (1978) : contains 4 games.
ITT / Ideal Color Tele-Match Cassette 2 (1978) : contains 8 games.
Klervox Jeu TV [FR] (1978) : contains 6 games.
Match Color [DE] (1978) : contains 10 games.
MBO Tele-Ball VIII [DE] (1978) : contains 8 games.
Olympos Electronic Gamatic 7706 (1978) : contains 6 games.
Occitane (SOE) OC 5000 [FR] : contains 6 games.
Philips Odyssey 2100 (1978) : contains 23 games.
Polistil Video Games [IT] (1978) : contains 4 games.
Poppy Tv-Game Fernseh Spiel [DE] (1978) : contains 4 games.
Prinztronic Tournament Mini [UK] (1978) : contains 4 games.
Prinztronic Videosport [UK] (1978) : contains 6 games.
RIL Robot [FR] (1978) : contains 6 games.
Saft-Leclanch TV 8 Sports [FR] (1978) : contains 8 games.
Sands Color TV Game (1978) : contains 6 games.
Scomark 4 Sports Tele [FR] (1978) : contains 4 games.
Sinoca T.V. Game (1978) : contains 4 games.
TV 18 Spannende Videospiele [DE] (1978) : contains 18 games.
Grandstand Sports Centre [UK] (1979) : contains 10 games.
Hanimex Electronic TV Game (1979) : contains 4 games.
ITT / Ideal Tele-Match Cassette (1979) : contains 10 games.
Videomaster Colourscore 2 [UK] (1979) : contains 6 games.
Radofin Colour TV Game (1981) : contains 10 games.
Univox Tele-Sports 6 [FR] (1981) : contains 6 games.
Audiosonic Color TV Game (1982) : contains 4 games.
Poppy Color Video Game [DE] (1982) : contains 6 games.
Rollet Robot [FR] (1982) : contains 6 games.
Bentley Compu-Vision [UK] (1983) : contains 4 games.
DMS Tele-Action (1983) : contains 4 games.
Ingersoll mini TV Game [UK] (1983) : contains 4 games.
Arcade (1993) : hidden game in "Mortal Kombat II"
Mobile phone [Motorola T720] (2003)
Atari 10 in 1 TV Game (2002 - Jakk's Pacific)
Atari Paddle TV Game (2004 - Jakk's Pacific) : "Video Olympics", which features multiple variations of the game, is also included.
Atari Flashback 2 (2005)
Nokia N-Gage (2006) "Atari Masterpieces Volume 2"
Apple Store (2011) "Atari Greatest Hits"
Android Market (2011) "Atari Greatest Hits"
Atari Flashback 2+ (2010)
Atari Flashback 4 (November 13, 2012) AtGames

Game's picture.