Fascinating facts about Ralph
Baer inventor of
Magnavox Odyssey
in 1972. |
Ralph Baer |
AT A GLANCE:
Ralph Baer is best known for leading the development of the Brown Box, the first
home video game console. After being licensed to Magnavox and being renamed
Magnavox Odyssey, the console was released to the public in May, 1972.
He also invented an immensely popular electronic pattern-matching game
called Simon, that is still on the market. |
THE STORY
RELATED INFO
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Inventor: |
Ralph H. Baer |
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Criteria: |
First to
invent. First to patent. |
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Birth: |
March 8, 1922 in
Pirmasens, Germany |
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Currently
living in Manchester, New Hampshire |
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Nationality: |
German |
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Invention: |
Magnavox Odyssey
in 1972 |
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Function: |
noun / trademark
expired |
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Definition: |
A video
game system manufactured by Magnavox that consisted of a console,
game cartages and translucent plastic overlays to cover a TV screen. |
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Patent: |
3,728,480 (US) issued April 17, 1973 |
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Milestones:
1922 Ralph Baer born March 8, in
Pirmasens, Germany
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
1973 Patent # 3,728,480 (US) issued April 17, to Ralph Baer
1977 Howard Morrison and Ralph Baer file patent application for
microcomputer controlled game
1977 SIMON name registered Novenber 7. Reg. No. 1211692
1978 The game now named Simon is manufactured and distributed by
Milton Bradley
1980 Patent # 4,207,087 (US) issued June 10,
2004 Ralph Baer awarded The National Medal of Technology |
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The Story: |
TO
LEARN MORE
RELATED INFORMATION:
Invention of Magnavox Odyssey from The Great Idea Finder
Invention of SIMON game
from The Great Idea Finder
Nolan Bushnell Biography from The Great Idea Finder
William Higinbotham Biography
from The Great Idea Finder
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Designated
trademarks and brands are the property of their respective owners. |
| Reference
Sources in BOLD Type. |
This
page revised January 17, 2007. |
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