Fascinating
facts about the invention
of the first video game by William
Higinbotham in 1958. |
VIDEO GAME |
AT A GLANCE:
As the Head of the
Instrumentation Division at Brookhaven National Laboratory, Willy Higinbotham, invented the world's
first video game to entertain visitors to the
Brookhaven National Laboratory. He is
said to have expressed regret that he would more likely be famous for
his invention of a game than for his work on nuclear non-proliferation |
THE
STORY
RELATED INFO |
|
Invention: |
Tennis for Two Video
Game in 1958 |
|
|
Function: |
noun / precursor to Pong |
|
Definition: |
Believed to be the
world's first computer video game. It was created on an oscilloscope
to entertain visitors during visitor days at the Brookhaven National
Laboratory. |
|
Patent: |
Never patented.
Developed while a government employee. |
|
|
Inventor: |
William Alfred
Higinbotham a.k.a. Willy Higinbotham |
|
|
Criteria: |
First to
invent. |
|
Birth: |
October 25, 1910 |
|
Death: |
November 10, 1994 |
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Nationality: |
American
|
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Milestones:
1958
William Higinbotham invents
a "Tennis" computer game-type at the Brookhaven National Labs
1968 Ralph Baer has a working prototype of the "Brown Box"
finished.
1971 Baer files patent application on March 22 for TV Gaming Apparatus
1972 Magnavox licensed the Brown Box and markets it under the name Magnavox Odyssey
1972 Nolan Bushnell invents Pong game for arcades
1974 Atari, Bushnell's company, introduces the home version of Pong
through Sears retail stores
1975 Nintendo's first venture in gaming was as the distributor of the
Magnavox Odyssey in Japan |
The Story: |
TO
LEARN MORE
RELATED INFORMATION:
William Higinbotham Biography from The Great Idea Finder
Invention of Magnavox Odyssey
from The Great Idea Finder
Invention of Pong
from The Great Idea Finder
Computing History from The Great Idea Finder
History of Toys and Games
from The Great Idea Finder
ON THE SCREEN:
Video Games: Behind the Fun
DVD / 1 Volume Set / 50 Minutes / History Channel / Less than $25.00
First there was Pong. Then came Asteroids, and Pac Man, and Nintendo. At
every stage of their development, Video games have pushed the limits of
computing power.
|
|
Designated
trademarks and brands are the property of their respective owners. |
| Reference
Sources in BOLD Type. |
This
page revised
January
16, 2007. |
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