Pong turns 50! – and is still released to this day from the age of 18

One of the most famous games in the world is celebrating its today 50th birthday! Developed by Atari – led by Allan Alcorn – has pong made its debut in 1972. A classic that many of you have probably played somewhere. Originally Pong was up slot machines playable in amusement arcades, which, by the way, were not computers at all. Pong was represented with a digital and analog circuit. More retro is not possible.

How does Pong work?

The game can probably be easiest with the sport table tennis be compared. Players must try to hit the ball to the opponent’s side with their racquets. If the ball flies past one player’s bat, the other participant gets a point. The control of the respective “paddles” is carried out only by top to bottom. However, Pong is not – as is often claimed – the first video game in history. The product developed in 1958 bears this title Tennis for Two by physicist William Higinbotham.

The age rating thing

A curious fact from Pong revolves around the age rating that the original has in Germany. The USK never tested the classic at the time, which is why it was “formal” only from 18 years is released. But this is only the original. In 1999 another version of Pong was released, which of course Without age restriction found its way into commerce. Pong is now available in a wide variety of forms.