Pong

Pong is a tennis game with simple two-dimensional graphics. It is one of the earliest arcade video games and the first sports arcade video game. In Pong, a ping-pong match takes place, in which a player tries to defeat his opponent by scoring more points. It was originally produced by Atari Incorporated in 1972 and developed by Allan Alcorn as an exercise in programming skills. Although other arcade games were produced before Pong, it was the first to reach a large audience. Pong was the first commercially successful arcade video game machine, which along with the release of the world's first home console, Magnavox Odyssey, contributed to the birth of the video game industry. Soon, many companies began to copy Pong's gameplay for their own games, and thus Atari encouraged its employees to create even more innovative games. The company released several sequels that added original features to the well-known gameplay. In 1975, Atari released Pong exclusively in Sears stores as a home version. It was the commercial success Atari had hoped for and resulted in a number of copies sold. After its release, it was reissued for various platforms over the years. A number of television shows parodied Pong and it was often referenced in other video games as well. Pong has also been a part of many video game and cultural exhibitions.