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Video Game Pioneer Speaks Out

Posted by simoniker on from the time-traveler-apparently-wave-of-future dept.

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.

5 of 24 comments (clear)

  1. 25 Years of Simon by Copperhead · · Score: 3, Informative
    Well, I missed the 25th anniversary of Simon 3 months ago, but here's a link to the press release.

    Oh, and first post.

    --
    Your reality is lies and balderdash and I'm delighted to say that I have no grasp of it whatsoever. - Baron Munchausen
  2. Patent Pending by Kelerain · · Score: 5, Funny

    So does he have a patent yet? I want my daily dose of bitching damnit!

  3. Re:Why only in US? by Slowping · · Score: 3, Interesting

    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.

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  4. Re:How old is this? by sweetooth · · Score: 3, Interesting

    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.

  5. Pong by GeorgeH · · Score: 3, Informative

    I was watching a documentary on TLC (I think, Tivo removes the connection shows have with channels) on the history of video games called Gamerz, and Ralph came up. Apparently Nolan Bushnell stole the idea for Pong from Baer when he was demonstrating what would become the Odessey. I had never heard of this before, but there was a lawsuit involved and Ralph got some money, but none of the fame.

    There's more info at http://www.designboom.com/eng/education/pong.html

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