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posted on:
7/12/2012 10:24:27 PM EST
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Where is PONG?
Nostalgia, retro video games, pong, pinball, takeways
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Retro video games – well I guess they are if you never played them when they were “new games”. Sort of like a Model T-Ford is considered a classic by me but to my grandfather it was reality.
To me retro video games bring back a time when technology was like a new born child. It was a time of wonderment, being able to move things around on the TV screen (no monitors back then). Out went the board games, the games we created outside to keep ourselves entertained, and in came these new fangled games that could be played on TV.
The first commercially successful video game was called PONG. Released in 1972, with a home version released in 1975, PONG ushered in the video game industry.
If you are under the age of 30 you probably can’t imagine how sitting in front of a TV screen (black and white in my day) and moving a “paddle” up and down (no left to right movement) to hit a “ball” could be entertaining. But it was. PONG was simple, and was essentially “table tennis on a screen”.
No “shoot ‘em ups” or strategy back then – simply hit the ball back!!!
Retro Video Games – The Top 10
So what are the Top 10 Retro Video Games?
1. Pac-Man – released in 1980
2. Space Invaders – released in 1978
3. Super Mario World – released in 1991
4. Asteroids – released in 1979
5. Mario Bros – released in 1983
6. The legend of Zelda – released in 1986
7. Sonic the Hedgehog – released in 1991
8. Tetris – released in 1984
9. Street Fighter II – released in 1991
10. Alex Kidd – released in 1986
Some of these may be known to “the younger generation”, some may not – if you want to see why these games made the list check out this link – Top 10 Retro Video Games digiknow.ninemsn.com.au/assetslideshow.aspx?assetid=125706
I have to admit that I think PONG should be there, but perhaps I am too nostalgic (or totally retro)? Or perhaps it was a case of being able to actually to understand what I was doing – I am a simple person!
Retro Video Games – Simplicity
The beauty of retro video games is their simplicity. They were easy to understand and relatively easy to play. And for us “oldies” the migration from PONG to the next generation of game play was part of “growing up”. The increasing complexity was like a stepping stone to the next level.
Believe it or not, it was normal back in the 70's and early 80's to go to the local coffee shop, takeway or milk bar, order drink and food, then sit down for an hour or 2 playing video games. Pop the coins in the slot and away you go.
To put it in perspective, my generation substituted retro video game parlours for the pinball parlours of our parents generation.
But the underlying principal of each was the same – simplicity. Regardless of the technological development, every great game has the same principles – easily understood, basic game moves and great entertainment.
I think it is time to bring back PONG and to start a campaign to make it the #1 retro video game – but perhaps I am just too nostalgic.
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 | | Nosatlgia - or remember when - technology has accelerated the process of the old days. |
| | | | | Thanks Philip - guess we are showing our age - we knew life before technology (heck handheld calculators were just making their way into mainstream).
Michael - you were blessed to see the dawn of some great games - and in colour!!! Thanks for the comments. |
| | |  | | LOL Great post - for me (now in my 30's) it was Mario, Zelda, and Street Fighter 2, among others! |
| | |  | | Pong was a great game. I still remember sitting infront of the TV playing it. Think of it, I was addictive to it. Brings back memories. Thanx Bruce. |
| | |  | | I Loved Pong!!! I still talk about it, not too many people seem to remember it. It was the most amazing thing to me, when I was a kid! Thanks for the walk down memory lane, Bruce :) ~ Centipede was my favorite, didn't make the list... |
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