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Pong

Arcade Video game published 52 years ago by Atari, Inc.

Listed in MAME

Pong screenshot

Pong © 1972 Atari, Incorporated.

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.

Atari coin-op version of Pong can only be played with two players with each player controlling a paddle.

Goodies for Pong
Click to enlarge
(members only)
TECHNICAL/MACHINE PICT.
123

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.

Screen Orientation: Horizontal
Video Resolution: 858 x 525 Pixels
Screen Refresh: 29.97 Hz
Palette Colors: Nothing

Players: 2

TRIVIA

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. It was released on November 29, 1972, selling at an MSRP of $700.

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...

According to Curt Vendel and Marty Goldberg's "Atari Inc.: Business Is Fun" regarding the original Pong: Because of the cost concerns, the timing chip that Al (Alcorn) had to use to control what scan lines the paddle was drawn across couldn't handle the full range of the screen. It actually left a small gap at the top of the screen. However as Nolan (Bushnell) and Ted (Dabney) played it during the design process, everyone realized that problem actually enhanced the game play. If two players were that good, the small hole would provide a break in the stalemate if a player could direct the ball through it. Rather than fix it by going a more expensive route, it was decided the bug would stay. The experience led Al to the mantra, "If you can't fix it, call it a feature."

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

The player versus machine/computer feature was not supported with coin-op versions of Atari Pong. The player versus machine/computer feature did eventually appear in several different versions of coin-op pong clone games after the coin-op version of Atari Pong was released.

The two Paddles and pong ball appear on the 2012 animation movie "Wreck-It Ralph" from Walt Disney Animation Studios.

Goodies for Pong
Click to see more
(members only)
SCORING
Cab operator can adjust the slide switch on an Atari Pong PCB to set winning score to either be 11 points or 15 points.
TIPS AND TRICKS

The instructions for this game consist of three lines:
Deposit quarter.
Ball will serve automatically.
Avoid missing ball for high score.

SERIES

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 PS and Game Boy Color)

STAFF

Designed & Engineered by: Alan Alcorn, Nolan Bushnell

PORTS

CONSOLES:
Atari 2600
usa (oct.1977) "Video Olympics [Model CX2621]"

Sega Genesis/Mega Drive
usa (1996) "Arcade Classics [Model MK-1715]"
europe (1996) "Arcade Classics [Model 1715-50]"

Sony PlayStation
usa (2001) "Atari Anniversary Edition Redux [Model SLUS-01427]"
europe (mar.1, 2002) "Atari Anniversary Edition Redux [Model SLES-03808]"

Sega Dreamcast
usa (jul.2, 2001) "Atari Anniversary Edition [Model T-15130N]"

Tapwave Zodiac
usa (2004) "Atari Retro"

Microsoft XBOX
usa (nov.16, 2004) "Atari Anthology [Model 26084]"
europe (nov.26, 2004) "Atari Anthology"
japan (aug.4, 2005) "Atari Anthology [Model B7X-00001]"

Sony PS2
usa (nov.22, 2004) "Atari Anthology [Model SLUS-21076]"
europe (feb.18, 2005) "Atari Anthology [Model SLES-53061]"

Sony PlayStation 4
usa (oct.18, 2016) "Atari Flashback Classics Vol.1"

Microsoft XBOX One
usa europe (nov.1, 2016) "Atari Flashback Classics Vol.1"

HANDHELDS:
Sega Game Gear
usa (1996) "Arcade Classics"

Nintendo DS
uk (mar.11, 2005) "Retro Atari Classics [Model NTR-ATAE-UKV]"
europe (mar.11, 2005) "Retro Atari Classics [Model NTR-ATAE-EUR]"
usa (mar.16, 2005) "Retro Atari Classics [Model NTR-ATAE-USA]"
japan (june.30, 2005) "Atarimix Happy 10 Games [Model NTR-ATAJ-JPN]"
australia (nov.2007) "Retro Atari Classics [Model NTR-ATAE-AUS]"
usa (nov.2, 2010) "Atari Greatest Hits Vol.1 [Model NTR-BR6E-USA]"
europe (feb.24, 2011) "Atari Greatest Hits Vol.1 [Model NTR-BR6P-EUR]"

Nintendo Game Boy Advance
usa (aug.21, 2005) "3 Games in One! Yars' Revenge - Asteroids - Pong [Model AGB-B64E-USA]"
europe (sept.23, 2005) "3 Games in One! Yars' Revenge - Asteroids - Pong [Model AGB-B64P]"

Sony PSP
usa (dec.19, 2007) "Atari Classics Evolved [Model ULUS-10325]"
australia (mar.7, 2008) "Atari Classics Evolved"

COMPUTERS:
Tandy Color Computer 3
usa (1987) "Ponk"

PC [MS Windows, CD-ROM]
europe (1999) "Atari Arcade Hits 1"
usa (jul.13, 1999) "Atari Arcade Hits 1"
usa (jul.9, 2001) "Atari Anniversary Edition"
europe (dec.14, 2001) "Atari Anniversary Edition"
usa (jan.1, 2003) "Atari Retro"
usa (nov.11, 2003) "Atari - 80 Classic Games in One! [Model 25069J]"
europe (june.10, 2005) "Atari - 80 Classic Games in One! [Replay]"
europe (june.17, 2005) "Atari Arcade Hits 1 [Replay]"

STEAM
usa (mar.24, 2016) "Atari Vault [Model 400020]"

OTHERS:
usa Magnavox (1972) "Odyssey [Model ITL 200]"
usa Universal Research (1973) "Video Action [Model VA-I]"
uk Videomaster (1974) "Home T.V. Game [Model VM577]"
usa Executive Games (1975) "Television Tennis [Model 035]"
usa First Dimension (1975) "Video Sports [Model FD-3000W]"
usa Magnavox (1975) "Odyssey 100"
usa Magnavox (1975) "Odyssey 200"
usa Sears (1975) "Tele-Games Pong [Model 25796]"
usa Universal Research (1975) "Video Action [Model VA-II]"
uk Videomaster (1975) "Olympic Home T.V. Game [Model VM3-D]"
europe Videomaster (1975) "Rally Home T.V. Game [Model VM4]"
usa Allied's (1976) "Name of the Game [Model A-100]"
usa Allied's (1976) "Name of the Game II [Model A-300]"
canada Canadian Tire (1976) "Video Sports [Model 84-6072]"
usa Coleco (1976) "Telstar [Model 6040]"
usa Coleco (1976) "Telstar Classic [Model 6045]"
usa Atari (1976) "Pong [Model C-100]"
uk Binatone (1976) "TV Gaming Unit [Model 01-4990]"
france Pizon Bros. (1976) "Visiomatic 101"
france Pizon Bros. (1976) "Visiomat 11"
usa Entex (1976) "Gameroom Tele-Pong"
usa First Dimension (1976) "Video Sports [Model 76]"
usa First Dimension (1976) "Video Sports [Model 76C]"
usa GHP (1976) "Wonder Wizard - Television Sports Games [Model 7702]"
usa Lloyds (1976) "TV-Sports 801"
usa Magnavox (1976) "Odyssey 300"
usa Magnavox (1976) "Odyssey 400"
usa Magnavox (1976) "Odyssey 500"
usa MECCA (1976) "TV Game [Model EP 460]"
germany Mestron (1976) "Fernseh Spiel [Model TVG 2006]"
usa Montgomery-Ward (1976) "Telstar Video World of Sports"
usa National Semiconductor (1976) "Adversary"
france Occitane (1976) "OC4"
france Occitane (1976) "Occitel"
australia Packel Instrument (1976) "TV Sport"
uk Prinztronic Tournament Colour Programmable 2000 (1976)
usa Radio Shack (1976) "Electronic TV Scoreboard [Model 60-3061]"
usa MSC (1976) "Ricochet [Model MT1A]"
usa Ridgewood (1976) "GAMATIC 7600"
usa Dyn (1976) "Paddle IV"
usa Sears (1976) "Tele-Games Super Pong [Model 99736]"
usa Sears (1976) "Tele-Games Super Pong IV [Model 99737]"
usa Sears (1976) "Tele-Games Hockey-Pong [Model 99721]"
usa Sears Hockey-Tennis (1976) : contains 4 games.
europe Superlectron TV Challenger (1976) : contains 3 games.
usa Tele-Match Concert Hall IV (1976) : contains 4 games.
usa Tele-Match 4 (1976) : contains 4 games.
[NL] Television Gaming Unit (1976) : conrains 2 games.
usa Unisonic Sportsman - Tournament 101 (1976) : contains 4 games.
usa Unisonic Tournament 100 (1976) : contains 4 games.
usa Unisonic Tournament 150 (1976) : contains 6 games.
usa Unisonic Tournament 200 (1976) : contains 4 games.
usa Universal Research (1976) "Video Action [Model VA-III]"
usa Universal Research (1976) "Video Action Indy 500 [Model S-100]" : contains 3 games.
germany Universum TV Multi-Spiel (1976) : contains 6 or 4 games.
usa Venture Electronics Video Sports (1976) : contains 4, 5, or 8 games.
uk Videomaster Superscore (1976) : contains 6 games.
usa Windsor TV Game (1976) : contains 4 games.
uk Academy Video Game (1977) : contains 4 games.
usa APF Match (1977) : contains 4 games.
usa APF TV FUN (1977) : contains 4 games.
usa APF Sportsarama (1977) : contains 8 games.
france Asaflex Video Sports (1977) : contains 4 or 6 games.
usa Atari (1977) "Ultra Pong [Model C-402S]" : contains 16 or 32 games.
usa Atari Video Pinball (1977) : contains 7 games.
europe Audiosonic Home's TV Set (1977) : contains 4 games.
uk Binatone Colour TV Game (1977) : contains 4 games.
uk Binatone TV-Master MK 6 (1977) : contains 6 games.
uk Binatone TV Master MK IV (1977) : contains 4 games.
uk Binatone TV-TRON (1977) : contains 4 games.
france Bingo TVG 203 (1977) : contains 4 games.
france Bingo Video Game (1977) : contains 4 games.
germany Blaupunkt TV-Action (1977) : contains 4 games.
uk Boots Audio (1977) : conrains 4 games.
usa Coleco (1977) "Telstar Ranger [Model 6046]" : contains 6 games.
usa Coleco (1977) "Telstar Alpha [Model 6030]" : contains 4 games.
usa Coleco (1977) "Telstar Colormatic [Model 6130]" : contains 4 games.
usa Coleco (1977) "Telstar Regent [Model 6036]" : contains 4 games.
europe Commodore T.V. Game (1977) : contains 8 games.
usa Concept 2000 Spectrum 6 (1977) : contains 4 games.
usa Concept 2000 TV +4 (1977) : contains 4 games.
usa Conic Video Game (1977) : contains 4 games.
france Continental Edison (1977) : contains 6 games.
france Creatronic Bi.Bip 4 (1977) : contains 4 games.
france Creatronic Bi.Bip 8 (1977) : contains 8 games.
usa Dayya Marume 2000 (1977) : contains 8 games.
germany DDR TV-Spiele (1977) : contains 6 games.
uk Decca Sports TV Game (1977) : contains 6 games.
uk Derby Master (1977) : contains 3 games.
usa Digitek TV Game (1977) : contains 4 games.
usa E&P 4 Electronic TV Sport Games (1977) : contains 4 games.
usa Electrophonic Pro-Sports (1977) : contains 4 games.
usa Enterprex Color Home Video Game (1977) : contains 4 or 8 games.
uk Grandstand (1977) "Match of the Day 2000" : contains 4 games.
usa Gulliver Triple Challenge (1977) : contains 3 games.
france Hanimex Jeu-Tele Electronique (1977) : contains 4 games.
usa Hanimex TV Scoreboard (1977) : contains 8 games.
france Hit-Go (1977) : contains 6 games.
france Hometronics Telecourt (1977) : contains 4 games.
germany Honeybell Video Sports color (1977) : contains 4 games.
germany Intel Super-Telesport (1977) : contains 4 games.
germany Intel TV Sport (1977) : contains 4 or 6 games.
germany Interton Club Exclusiv 2000 (1977) : contains 6 games.
europe Interton Video 2400 (1977) : contains 5 games.
europe Interton Video 2501 (1977) : contains 3 games.
europe Interton Video 2800 (1977) : contains 4 games.
europe Interton Video 3000 (1977) : contains 6 games.
europe Interton Video 3001 (1977) : contains 6 games.
france ITMC 6 Jeux (1977) : contains 6 games.
uk ITT / Ideal Color Tele-Match Cassette (1977) : contains 4 games.
germany Korting Tele-Multi-Play (1977) : contains 4 games.
usa K-Mart S Four Thousand (1977) : contains 4 games.
usa K-Mart S Eight Thousand (1977) : contains 8 games.
usa Magnavox (1977) "Odyssey 2000" : contains 3 games.
usa Magnavox (1977) "Odyssey 3000" : contains 4 games.
usa Magnavox (1977) "Odyssey 4000" : contains 8 games.
france Markint 4a (1977) : contains 4 games.
france Markint 6 (1977) : contains 6 games.
france Markint Tele-Sports (1977) : contains 4 games.
france Markint TV Sports (1977) : contains 4 games.
germany Match Spectrum 6 (1977) : contains 3 games.
germany MBO Tele-Ball V (1977) : contains 6 games.
japan Nintendo (1977) "Color TV-Game 6 [Model CTG-6S]" : contains 6 games.
japan Nintendo (1977) "Color TV-Game 6 [Model CTG-6V]" : contains 6 games.
japan Sharp (1977) "Color TV-Game [Model XG-106V]" : contains 6 games.
europe Novex Colour Video Sports Game (1977) : contains 3 games.
france Société occitane d'électronique (1977) "Match Robot" : contains 4 games.
europe OPL Optim Sport (1977) : contains 4 games.
germany Palladium Tele-Match 4000 (1977) : contains 4 games.
europe Philips Odyssey 2001 (1977) : contains 3 games.
europe Philips Tele-Spiel Las Vegas (1977) : contains 4, 6 or 8 games.
france Pizon-Bross Visiomat 11 (1977) : contains 6 games.
germany Poppy Tele-Spiel (1977) : contains 4 games.
uk Prinztronic Tournament II Deluxe (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.
usa Ricochet Electronic Super Pro (1977) : contains 5 games.
usa Roberts Rally IV (1977) : contains 4 games.
usa Roberts Rally X (1977) : contains 8 games.
usa Roberts Sportrama 8 (1977) : contains 8 games.
france Samdo (1977) : contains 4 games.
usa Santron Home T.V. Game (1977) : contains 6 games.
germany Sanwa Tele-Spiel (1977) : contains 4 games.
usa Sears (1977) "Tele-Games Hockey-Tennis II [Model 99733]" : contains 4 games.
usa Sears (1977) "Tele-Games Hockey-Tennis III [Model 99734]" : contains 4 games.
usa Sears (1977) "Tele-Games Super Pong IV [Model 99789]" : contains 10 (5x2) games.
usa Sears (1977) "Tele-Games Pong Sports II [Model 99707]" : contains 16 games.
usa Sears (1977) "Tele-Games Pong Sports IV [Model 99708]" : contains 32 games.
france SEB Telescore (1977) : contains 4 or 6 games.
germany Sennheiser TV Game (1977) : contains 6 games.
europe Sheen Video Sport (1977) : contains 4 games.
europe Sheen Colour Video Sport (1977) : contains 6 games.
germany Sonesta Hide-Away TV Game (1977) : contains 6 games.
uk Sportel (1977) : contains 3 games.
france Sportron (1977) : contains 4 or 6 games
france Starex (1977) : contains 4 games.
germany Superlectron Fernsehspiel (1977) : contains 4 games.
usa Syrelec Videosport 2 (1977) : contains 4 games.
france Thomson Jeu Video (1977) : contains 5 games.
europe Tandy TV Scoreboard (1977) : contains 4 or 10 games.
usa TCR Video Sport (1977) : contains 4 games.
usa Tele-Match Television Computer Game (1977) : contains 5 games.
uk Teleng Colourstars (1977) : contains 6 games.
australia Tempest Video Game (1977) : contains 6 games.
germany Unimex Mark V-C (1977) : contains 6 games.
usa Unisonic Olympian 2600 (1977) : contains 10 games.
usa Unisonic Tournament 1000 (1977) : contains 4 games.
usa Unisonic Tournament 2000 (1977) : contains 6 games.
usa Unisonic Tournament 2501 (1977) : contains 6 games.
germany Universum Color Multi-Spiel (1977) : contains 4 or 10 games.
germany Universum Tele-Sports (1977) : contains 4 games.
france Univox (1977) : contains 4 games.
europe Video 4000-EX (1977) : contains 4 games.
france Video Stellar (1977) : contains 5 games.
europe Videomaster Colourscore (1977) : contains 3 games.
uk Videomaster Colourshot (1977) : contains 3 games.
uk Videomaster Visionscore (1977) : contains 3 games.
uk Videomaster Strika 2 (1977) : contains 4 games.
usa Windtronics Video Game (1977) : contains 4 games.
uk Binatone TV-Master MK 8 (1978) : contains 8 games.
uk Binatone TV-Master MK 10 (1978) : contains 10 games.
uk Binatone Colour TV Game 4 Plus 2 (1978) : contains 6 games.
uk Coleco Telstar Colortron (1978) : contains 4 games.
uk Coleco Telstar Marksman (1978) : contains 6 games.
usa Granada (1978) "Colorsport VIII [Model CS 1818]"
germany Grunding Tele-Spiel 1 (1978)
usa Harvard Mini Color TV Game (1978) : contains 4 games.
germany Intercord TV Games (1978) : contains 4 games.
europe ITT / Ideal Color Tele-Match Cassette 2 (1978) : contains 8 games.
france Klervox Jeu TV (1978) : contains 6 games.
germany Match Color (1978) : contains 10 games.
germany MBO Tele-Ball VIII (1978) : contains 8 games.
usa Olympos Electronic Gamatic 7706 (1978) : contains 6 games.
france Société occitane d'électronique "OC 5000" : by contains 6 games.
europe Philips Odyssey 2100 (1978) : contains 23 games.
[IT] Polistil Video Games (1978) : contains 4 games.
germany Poppy Tv-Game Fernseh Spiel (1978) : contains 4 games.
uk Prinztronic Tournament Mini (1978) : contains 4 games.
uk Prinztronic Videosport (1978) : contains 6 games.
france RIL Robot (1978) : contains 6 games.
france Saft-Leclanch TV 8 Sports (1978) : contains 8 games.
usa Sands Color TV Game (1978) : contains 6 games.
france Scomark 4 Sports Tele (1978) : contains 4 games.
usa Sinoca T.V. Game (1978) : contains 4 games.
germany TV 18 Spannende Videospiele (1978) : contains 18 games.
uk Grandstand Sports Centre (1979) : contains 10 games.
europe Hanimex Electronic TV Game (1979) : contains 4 games.
europe ITT / Ideal Tele-Match Cassette (1979) : contains 10 games.
uk Videomaster Colourscore 2 (1979) : contains 6 games.
japan TV-Games (197?) [Model KTC-7700]
Radofin Colour TV Game (1981) : contains 10 games.
france Univox Tele-Sports 6 (1981) : contains 6 games.
europe Audiosonic Color TV Game (1982) : contains 4 games.
germany Poppy Color Video Game (1982) : contains 6 games.
france Rollet Robot (1982) : contains 6 games.
uk Bentley Compu-Vision (1983) : contains 4 games.
usa DMS Tele-Action (1983) : contains 4 games.
uk Ingersoll mini TV Game (1983) : contains 4 games.
Arcade (1993) "Mortal Kombat II" : hidden game
usa Mobile phone (2003) : Motorola T720
usa Atari 10 in 1 TV Game (2002) by Jakk's Pacific
usa Atari Paddle TV Game (2004) by Jakk's Pacific
usa Atari Flashback 2 (2005)
usa Nokia N-Gage (2006) "Atari Masterpieces Volume 2"
Apple Store (2011) "Atari Greatest Hits"
Android Market (2011) "Atari Greatest Hits"
usa Atari Flashback 2+ (feb.22, 2010)

SOURCES

Game's manual.
Game's pictures.
Game's ROMs.
Game's screenshots.
See goodies section.