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.
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.
Players: 2
Cab operator can adjust the slide switch on an Atari Pong PCB to set winning score to either be 11 points or 15 points.
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 (Wednesday), 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.
(1977) Video Olympics [Model CX2621] (1996) Arcade Classics [Model MK-1715]
(1996) "Arcade Classics [Model 1715-50]" (2001) Atari Anniversary Edition Redux [Model SLUS-01427] (2002) Atari Anniversary Edition Redux [Model SLES-03808] (2001) Atari Anniversary Edition [Model T-15130N] (2004) Atari Retro (2004) Atari Anthology [Model 26084] (2004) Atari Anthology
(2005) Atari Anthology [Model B7X-00001] (2004) Atari Anthology [Model SLUS-21076] (feb.18, 2005) Atari Anthology [Model SLES-53061] (oct.18, 2016) Atari Flashback Classics Vol.1 (nov.1, 2016) Atari Flashback Classics Vol.1 (1996) Arcade Classics
(mar.11, 2005) Retro Atari Classics [Model NTR-ATAE-UKV] (mar.11, 2005) Retro Atari Classics [Model NTR-ATAE-EUR] (mar.16, 2005) Retro Atari Classics [Model NTR-ATAE-USA] (june.30, 2005) Atarimix Happy 10 Games [Model NTR-ATAJ-JPN]
(nov.2007) Retro Atari Classics [Model NTR-ATAE-AUS] (nov.2, 2010) Atari Greatest Hits Vol.1 [Model NTR-BR6E-USA] (feb.24, 2011) Atari Greatest Hits Vol.1 [Model NTR-BR6P-EUR] (aug.21, 2005) "3 Games in One! Yars' Revenge - Asteroids - Pong [Model AGB-B64E-USA]" (sept.23, 2005) "3 Games in One! Yars' Revenge - Asteroids - Pong [Model AGB-B64P]" (dec.19, 2007) Atari Classics Evolved [Model ULUS-10325] (mar.7, 2008) "Atari Classics Evolved" (1987) "Ponk" (1999) Atari Arcade Hits 1 (jul.13, 1999) Atari Arcade Hits 1 (jul.9, 2001) Atari Anniversary Edition (dec.14, 2001) Atari Anniversary Edition (jan.1, 2003) Atari Retro (nov.11, 2003) Atari - 80 Classic Games in One! [Model 25069J] (june.10, 2005) "Atari - 80 Classic Games in One! [Replay]" (june.17, 2005) "Atari Arcade Hits 1 [Replay]" (mar.24, 2016) "Atari Vault [Model 400020]" Magnavox (1972) Odyssey [Model ITL 200] Universal Research (1973) Video Action [Model VA-I] Videomaster (1974) "Home T.V. Game [Model VM577]" Executive Games (1975) Television Tennis [Model 035] First Dimension (1975) Video Sports [Model FD-3000W] Magnavox (1975) Odyssey 100 Magnavox (1975) Odyssey 200 Sears (1975) Tele-Games Pong [Model 25796] Universal Research (1975) Video Action [Model VA-II] Videomaster (1975) "Olympic Home T.V. Game [Model VM3-D]" Videomaster (1975) "Rally Home T.V. Game [Model VM4]" Allied's (1976) Name of the Game [Model A-100] Allied's (1976) Name of the Game II [Model A-300]
Canadian Tire (1976) Video Sports [Model 84-6072] Coleco (1976) Telstar [Model 6040] Coleco (1976) Telstar Classic [Model 6045] Atari (1976) Pong [Model C-100] Binatone (1976) TV Gaming Unit [Model 01-4990]
Pizon Bros. (1976) Visiomatic 101 Pizon Bros. (1976) Visiomat 11 Entex (1976) Gameroom Tele-Pong First Dimension (1976) Video Sports [Model 76] First Dimension (1976) Video Sports [Model 76C] GHP (1976) Wonder Wizard - Television Sports Games [Model 7702] Lloyds (1976) TV-Sports 801 Magnavox (1976) Odyssey 300 Magnavox (1976) Odyssey 400 Magnavox (1976) Odyssey 500 MECCA (1976) TV Game [Model EP 460]
Mestron (1976) Fernseh Spiel [Model TVG 2006] Montgomery-Ward (1976) Telstar Video World of Sports National Semiconductor (1976) Adversary Occitane (1976) OC4 Occitane (1976) Occitel Packel Instrument (1976) TV Sport Prinztronic Tournament Colour Programmable 2000 (1976) Radio Shack (1976) Electronic TV Scoreboard [Model 60-3061] MSC (1976) Ricochet [Model MT1A] Ridgewood (1976) GAMATIC 7600 Dyn (1976) Paddle IV Sears (1976) Tele-Games Super Pong [Model 99736] Sears (1976) Tele-Games Super Pong IV [Model 99737] Sears (1976) Tele-Games Hockey-Pong [Model 99721] 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. 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 (1976) Video Action [Model VA-III] Universal Research (1976) Video Action Indy 500 [Model S-100] : contains 3 games. Universum TV Multi-Spiel (1976) : contains 6 or 4 games. Venture Electronics Video Sports (1976) : contains 4, 5, or 8 games. Videomaster Superscore (1976) : contains 6 games. Windsor TV Game (1976) : contains 4 games. Academy Video Game (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 (1977) : contains 4 or 6 games. Atari (1977) Ultra Pong [Model C-402S] : 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 (1977) : contains 4 games. Binatone TV-Master MK 6 (1977) : contains 6 games. Binatone TV Master MK IV (1977) : contains 4 games. Binatone TV-TRON (1977) : contains 4 games. Bingo TVG 203 (1977) : contains 4 games. Bingo Video Game (1977) : contains 4 games. Blaupunkt TV-Action (1977) : contains 4 games. Boots Audio (1977) : contains 4 games. Coleco (1977) Telstar Ranger [Model 6046] : contains 6 games. Coleco (1977) Telstar Alpha [Model 6030] : contains 4 games. Coleco (1977) Telstar Colormatic [Model 6130] : contains 4 games. Coleco (1977) Telstar Regent [Model 6036] : 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 (1977) : contains 6 games. Creatronic Bi.Bip 4 (1977) : contains 4 games. Creatronic Bi.Bip 8 (1977) : contains 8 games. Dayya Marume 2000 (1977) : contains 8 games. DDR TV-Spiele (1977) : contains 6 games. Decca Sports TV Game (1977) : contains 6 games. Derby Master (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 (1977) "Match of the Day 2000" : contains 4 games. Gulliver Triple Challenge (1977) : contains 3 games. Hanimex Jeu-Tele Electronique (1977) : contains 4 games. Hanimex TV Scoreboard (1977) : contains 8 games. Hit-Go (1977) : contains 6 games. Hometronics Telecourt (1977) : contains 4 games. Honeybell Video Sports color (1977) : contains 4 games. Intel Super-Telesport (1977) : contains 4 games. Intel TV Sport (1977) : contains 4 or 6 games. Interton Club Exclusiv 2000 (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 (1977) : contains 6 games. ITT / Ideal Color Tele-Match Cassette (1977) : contains 4 games. Korting Tele-Multi-Play (1977) : contains 4 games. K-Mart S Four Thousand (1977) : contains 4 games. K-Mart S Eight Thousand (1977) : contains 8 games. Magnavox (1977) Odyssey 2000 : contains 3 games. Magnavox (1977) Odyssey 3000 : contains 4 games. Magnavox (1977) Odyssey 4000 : contains 8 games. Markint 4a (1977) : contains 4 games. Markint 6 (1977) : contains 6 games. Markint Tele-Sports (1977) : contains 4 games. Markint TV Sports (1977) : contains 4 games. Match Spectrum 6 (1977) : contains 3 games. MBO Tele-Ball V (1977) : contains 6 games. Nintendo (1977) Color TV-Game 6 [Model CTG-6S] : contains 6 games. Nintendo (1977) Color TV-Game 6 [Model CTG-6V] : contains 6 games. Sharp (1977) Color TV-Game [Model XG-106V] : contains 6 games. Novex Colour Video Sports Game (1977) : contains 3 games. Société occitane d'électronique (1977) "Match Robot" : contains 4 games. OPL Optim Sport (1977) : contains 4 games. Palladium Tele-Match 4000 (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 (1977) : contains 6 games. Poppy Tele-Spiel (1977) : contains 4 games. Prinztronic Tournament II Deluxe (1977) : contains 6 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 (1977) : contains 4 games. Santron Home T.V. Game (1977) : contains 6 games. Sanwa Tele-Spiel (1977) : contains 4 games. Sears (1977) Tele-Games Hockey-Tennis II [Model 99733] : contains 4 games. Sears (1977) Tele-Games Hockey-Tennis III [Model 99734] : contains 4 games. Sears (1977) Tele-Games Super Pong IV [Model 99789] : contains 10 (5x2) games. Sears (1977) Tele-Games Pong Sports II [Model 99707] : contains 16 games. Sears (1977) Tele-Games Pong Sports IV [Model 99708] : contains 32 games. SEB Telescore (1977) : contains 4 or 6 games. Sennheiser TV Game (1977) : contains 6 games. Sheen Video Sport (1977) : contains 4 games. Sheen Colour Video Sport (1977) : contains 6 games. Sonesta Hide-Away TV Game (1977) : contains 6 games. Sportel (1977) : contains 3 games. Sportron (1977) : contains 4 or 6 games Starex (1977) : contains 4 games. Superlectron Fernsehspiel (1977) : contains 4 games. Syrelec Videosport 2 (1977) : contains 4 games. Thomson Jeu Video (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 (1977) : contains 6 games. Tempest Video Game (1977) : contains 6 games. Unimex Mark V-C (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 (1977) : contains 4 or 10 games. Universum Tele-Sports (1977) : contains 4 games. Univox (1977) : contains 4 games. Video 4000-EX (1977) : contains 4 games. Video Stellar (1977) : contains 5 games. Videomaster Colourscore (1977) : contains 3 games. Videomaster Colourshot (1977) : contains 3 games. Videomaster Visionscore (1977) : contains 3 games. Videomaster Strika 2 (1977) : contains 4 games. Windtronics Video Game (1977) : contains 4 games. Binatone TV-Master MK 8 (1978) : contains 8 games. Binatone TV-Master MK 10 (1978) : contains 10 games. Binatone Colour TV Game 4 Plus 2 (1978) : contains 6 games. Coleco Telstar Colortron (1978) : contains 4 games. Coleco Telstar Marksman (1978) : contains 6 games. Granada (1978) Colorsport VIII [Model CS 1818] Grunding Tele-Spiel 1 (1978) Harvard Mini Color TV Game (1978) : contains 4 games. Intercord TV Games (1978) : contains 4 games. ITT / Ideal Color Tele-Match Cassette 2 (1978) : contains 8 games. Klervox Jeu TV (1978) : contains 6 games. Match Color (1978) : contains 10 games. MBO Tele-Ball VIII (1978) : contains 8 games. Olympos Electronic Gamatic 7706 (1978) : contains 6 games. Société occitane d'électronique "OC 5000" : contains 6 games. Philips Odyssey 2100 (1978) : contains 23 games. Poppy Tv-Game Fernseh Spiel (1978) : contains 4 games. Prinztronic Tournament Mini (1978) : contains 4 games. Prinztronic Videosport (1978) : contains 6 games. RIL Robot (1978) : contains 6 games. Saft-Leclanch TV 8 Sports (1978) : contains 8 games. Sands Color TV Game (1978) : contains 6 games. Scomark 4 Sports Tele (1978) : contains 4 games. Sinoca T.V. Game (1978) : contains 4 games. TV 18 Spannende Videospiele (1978) : contains 18 games. Grandstand Sports Centre (1979) : contains 10 games. Hanimex Electronic TV Game (1979) : contains 4 games. ITT / Ideal Tele-Match Cassette (1979) : contains 10 games. Videomaster Colourscore 2 (1979) : contains 6 games. TV-Games (197?) [Model KTC-7700] Univox Tele-Sports 6 (1981) : contains 6 games. Audiosonic Color TV Game (1982) : contains 4 games. Poppy Color Video Game (1982) : contains 6 games. Rollet Robot (1982) : contains 6 games. Bentley Compu-Vision (1983) : contains 4 games. DMS Tele-Action (1983) : contains 4 games. Ingersoll mini TV Game (1983) : contains 4 games. Mobile phone (2003) : Motorola T720 Atari 10 in 1 TV Game (2002) by Jakk's Pacific Atari Paddle TV Game (2004) by Jakk's Pacific Atari Flashback 2 (2005) Nokia N-Gage (2006) "Atari Masterpieces Volume 2" Atari Flashback 2+ (feb.22, 2010)
