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Father of Video Games turning 60

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the looking-to-the-past dept.

Bill Kendrick writes "Nolan Bushnell, founder of Atari and the "father of video games" will be turning 60 next week, on February 5th. Along with Atari, which Bushnell began in 1972 (and left before the end of the decade), he also founded over 20 other companies, including Chuck E. Cheese Pizza Time Theater restaurants. He holds many patents relating to both video games and other industries. For more on The Bringer of Pong, check out some interviews from the San Jose Mercury, Metroactive and over at Good Deal Games, as well as his Wikipedia entry. Happy birthday, Nolan!"

5 of 189 comments (clear)

  1. Nolan Fathered Steve P Jobs! by linuxislandsucks · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The visonary Steve P Jobs got his visonary mandate from Nolan as a game designer at Atari..

    Nolan a worth while Moron to know..okay for tha tinside joke see some of his antics..very non mormon :)

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    Don't Tread on OpenSource
  2. Father of Video Games by rpillala · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Not that Nolan Bushnell doesn't deserve a happy birthday, but isn't Ralph Baer the father of video games?

    Maybe the father of video games at home.

    Ravi

    --
    When the axe came to the forest, the trees said, "Look out - the handle was once one of us."
  3. Re:Because of him by Hott+of+the+World · · Score: 1, Insightful

    I'm sorry maybe I can help you with some wit.

    Perhaps, stating: "So thats whos behind me flunking out of college, along with all those nightmares about table tennis and jumping on aligators to cross swamps!"

    Perhaps you may try to think of a better way to humor the slashdot crowd without insulting us so much.

    Perhaps I am wrong and will be modded as such.

    Sig Starts Now!

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  4. Re:Bah! by NetFu · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Uum, I think we already established the fact that your point is POINTLESS ... if you read the many posts above on this subject.

    Nolan Bushnell is the father of video games for the same reason that Ford is famous -- for bringing something of such magnitude to the masses. Bringing it to the masses, not INVENTING it (they're not the same; see the earlier posts if you don't agree).

    Also, I seriously doubt that, like so many other inventions, Ralph Baer was the ONLY one who thought of this idea or made a video game -- he's just one of the guys who got the recognition (and, to be honest, I never heard of the guy, so he doesn't get much recognition). Unless you actually think that only one person can be blessed with a revolutionary idea -- that would be ludicrous.

  5. Umm, not to sound critical but. . . by Fritzed · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I really don't mean this to be sarcastic at all, but if he's turning 60 next week, why am I reading this story today?

    I mean it seems logical to me that we talk about him turning 60 when he turns 60. I just don't know why this story made it in today when it wasn't a slow news day at all.

    -> Fritz

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    Spooooon!!!!!