Pong = Humanitie's Greatest Achievement?

[Crunka]

http://www.gamefaqs.com/coinop/arcade/review/R13587.html

Review by Mr Flunchy
"A mirror in which the horrible face of humanity is reflected."

Pong - the original game. This can be credited with the birth of the games industry as we know it. However, beneath its smooth white lines lies mess of complex psychological issues, and possibly, the meaning of life itself.

Story

I already know what you’re thinking, ‘Pong + Story = eh?’ and you’re right. At first glance Pong may seem just a basic tennis game, but there is so much more to it than this. There are two bats, which are controlled by players, a ball, and a net. These ingredients add up to a thrilling paradox.

In traditional Western themes, the public is forced to emphasise with the hero battling against a much larger foe. For example a lone man vs. a corporation. Not so in Pong. The player here is forced, by the games very design to take on the role of the oppressor, or ‘bat’ and to forcibly control the path of the ball. The ball represents the traditional ‘Hollywood’ protagonist. By subtly reversing these roles, the players are indoctrinated into a role that is trying to set up an almost totalitarian control of the game board, and to completely dominate their opponents.

The game can also be seen to show man’s desire to break free. The balls bouncing to and fro can be seen as the human spirit trying to escape from the pre-set confines of it’s world. And when it does break free (symbolically through human error) it is simply placed in exactly the same situation for eternity.

This games ultimate message is that, no matter what mankind might do, they are constantly trapped by their own doings.

10/10

Gameplay
The way this game is played is simply divine. Two players, be they friends, lovers or relations are pitched against each other. The only way that this game can be played is against an opponent, therefore forcing the player into a cycle of conflict.

Ironically for such a violence inducing game, Pong can be played with one hand. This brings to mind various films in which ‘macho men’ posture against each other and brag about being able to ‘beat their opponent with one hand tied behind their back’. However, the first such machine of this type was placed in a bar, the one-handed design facilitates the consumption of alcohol, and this also leads to a cycle of despair and ultimately death.

You bounce the ball backwards and forwards, backwards and forwards. The only way for the game to end is the capacity for human error. This seems to me to be an allegory for the Cold War. The creator of this game, visionary Nolan, grew up during this time of unease. Nuclear war was just one slip of a finger away, and so, in this game, disaster is just one step away.

10/10

Graphics
This game looks superb. The style brings to mind the works of Marcel Duchamp, Ulrich Ruckriem and Donald Judd. The sharp contours educate the eye and at the same time torture it. These paradoxical effects only serve to heighten the sense of cultural ennui experienced when playing this game.

Ironically the ball is square. This shows that visionary Nolan was trying to appeal to the outcasts in society. Indeed it is often said that they feel like a square peg being forced into a round hole. Here they can emphasise with the ball, bounced around by society and not of it’s correct shape.

The monochromatic colour of this game gives it a sombre look. Visionary Nolan is obviously trying to addict players by giving them the illusion that they are ridding the world of darkness. The player can control three things, the ball, and the two bats, as they move them they uncover the light, however, as soon as they try to move the three variables for their own ends their sphere of light decreases. This damning condemnation of Western culture is indicative of visionary Nolan’s rampant Communist ideals.
10/10

Sound
The sound in this game also runs along minimalist lines, there are two sounds. Beep and boop. While sounding like a small selection of sounds, he game uses them very effectively. The constant repetition of ‘Beep’ is offset by the occasional introduction of ‘Boop’

The overall effect created runs along a surreal parallel with the beat of an artificial respirator. As the ball escapes, the noise ends..... the patient is dead.

The sound in this game accurately portrays the games nihilistic view of humanities fate, to die wallowing in it’s own produce, and under it’s own control

10/10

Flunchy’s final thought
This game accurately models mankind’s propensity to destroy itself. By showing humanity a mirror in which it’s ghastly reflection can be shone back at it, we are both horrified and attracted at the same time.

Or it could just be a case of “Hit ball for high score” – either way...

[Untelligent]

Pong was not the original video game. It was the second.

Also, HALO was better.

[Vice Man]

I love that review, although it's clear that the author's interpretation of the game's symbolism is swayed by his own Socialist ideologies.

Pong was not the original video game. It was the second.

What videogame is older than Pong?

[Untelligent]

Can't remember. Lemme look around.

[Electric Mango]

I'm the fucking Pong champion.  

[Untelligent]

According to wikipedia, there were actually quite a few before Pong.


Spacewar!, 1961.
EDIT: according to the wiki link, there were even more predecessors: OXO, 1952; Tennis for Two, 1958. There was also a patent in the late 40's describing a missile simulation on a cathode-ray tube.

The first coin-operated video game, Galaxy Game. 1971

The first commericially sold video game, Computer Space. 1971, two months after Galaxy Game.

The first video game console, Magnavox Odyssey, released in May 1972, 6 months after Galaxy Game.


And finally, Pong, the first video game to "achieve widespread popularity" (and probably the first video game to bring about a patent infringement lawsuit). The arcade game was released in late November 1972, a good 20 years after someone figured out how to play tic-tac-toe on a computer. The home console was released in 1975.

[Flask]

UNITELLIGENT, YOU FOOL.

[Delta1212]

Tennis for Two in 1958, was the first working videogame. Ironically, it was created as a novelty for an open house at a laboratory out of some equipment. Essentially, it was a ridiculously crude version of Pong.

[KingRanter]

Fuck pong, Polybius is where it's at!

[Adolf Von Sippycup]

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