Seems like the key here is that it was an extremely accessible game; perfect for an era when most people had ZERO experience with videogames or computers.
I think that's exactly it. The average person's first "computer" experience was with Pong! I recall playing (and watching people play) Pong against opponents of all ages. Games afterwards seemed to attract mostly kids, but Pong was played pretty heavily by adults (they wouldn't even let me play, those lowlife adult scum!). It was kind of like a sporting event where even the out-of-shape person could compete.
The first "home" games I recall were Atari "Pong" consoles that had several variations of the same theme (Squash, Tennis, Raquetball, etc.) The first gaming controller I ever used was a "paddle," ironic since they are unknown today. One of my friends had a "Pong" console, and I would spend the night at his house frequently just to play it (I suppose I liked his friendship a little too, but he had PONG!!!).
I suppose Pong might be fun if you had two players today, but it completely bores me now. But "Breakout" was apparently Pong's child, and I loved Breakout, and still occasionally play "Arkanoid" clones today!
Seems like the key here is that it was an extremely accessible game; perfect for an era when most people had ZERO experience with videogames or computers.
I think that's exactly it. The average person's first "computer" experience was with Pong! I recall playing (and watching people play) Pong against opponents of all ages. Games afterwards seemed to attract mostly kids, but Pong was played pretty heavily by adults (they wouldn't even let me play, those lowlife adult scum!). It was kind of like a sporting event where even the out-of-shape person could compete.
The first "home" games I recall were Atari "Pong" consoles that had several variations of the same theme (Squash, Tennis, Raquetball, etc.) The first gaming controller I ever used was a "paddle," ironic since they are unknown today. One of my friends had a "Pong" console, and I would spend the night at his house frequently just to play it (I suppose I liked his friendship a little too, but he had PONG!!!).
I suppose Pong might be fun if you had two players today, but it completely bores me now. But "Breakout" was apparently Pong's child, and I loved Breakout, and still occasionally play "Arkanoid" clones today!
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