Video Game Pioneer Speaks Out

GreyGusMan writes "Ralph Baer was playing video games before many of us were born. CNN has an interview with the man who helped invent video games back in 1966, talking about how the idea came about - and getting his thoughts on what the industry has become. He doesn't like videogame violence, but he scoffs when asked if he thinks it's tied to real world violence." When the person talking not only created the Magnavox Odyssey, but also devised the tragically addictive 'repeat the sequence' handheld Simon (no relation), you'd better listen up.

Comments

Re:Why only in US?

[Slowping]

So true...

And it's amazing these same people aren't more vocal about the war on Iraq the US just underwent. If anything, that more than any video-game teaches that problems are solved by violence.

Now I'm not saying Saddam wasn't a bad guy or that the Iraqi people didn't suffer.

But let's call it for what it is. One month in and no signs of WMD. Problem solved? well, I guess you could say that. But what's the lesson learned? It's okay to solve things by violence.

Just like it was okay for those boys at Columbine to solve their problem of being bullied by using violence.

Re:How old is this?

[sweetooth]

I got the impression he meant something else by 3d. Maybe more like VR games rather than 3d rendered games as most of us play all the time.