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Mechanical Pong
RotJ writes "Some crafty Germans have created an electromechanical conversion of the game Pong: "Pongmechanik is an absolutely physical game. The game is realized electromechanically, and essentially consists of four elements:
A relay computer, the mechanical movement with collision detection, the display and the acoustic components." Talk about analog retro chic."
saccade.com adds "This amazing device faithfully
re-creates the classic original video game with pulleys, wires,
motors and a (pre-chip, pre-transistor, pre-tube) relay based
computer. They were partly inspired by Konrad
Zuse, who created some of the first electromechanical and
electronic computers."
If they make a non-computer-based version of Carnival, it might look like what it is supposed to replace IRL :)
Trolling using another account since 2005.
It could also be called 'air hockey', requiring no computer and providing a true tactile experience to the players.
My brother had an RCA color television with built-in PONG on it. You pushed a mechanical button to activate the PONG game and hooked up the controller(s) to go to town. What will they think of next?
Amazing how such a stupidly simple game could be so captivating to a primitive audience. Are we smarter these days or just more jaded?
slashdot: A failed experiment.
Here I am, using my Atari like a sucker! Hey, I can't wait for the complete first season of Smurfs on DVD, then HeMan...
"We are the consumer whores, selling ourselves to purchase this generations technology, and attempting to revisit the electronic devices that raised us during childhood while our parents were selling themselves for their generations technology, and an inexpensive babysitter. Through nostalgic mediums we discover our true mother and father; television and video games."
-JW Malkin
Wasting A&M's bandwidth was one of my favourite pastimes too when I was an undergrad there. Of course, nowadays you can't get away with half the things we did 8 years ago.
--
Big Jason '99
I'm captivated by this mechanical device as much as I was with my first pong system.
Pong was the first time I can remember moving something displayed on my television around the screen with a control knob. Magically, other objects could interact with my bar on the screen in a manner that was intuitive and predictable. New experiences are often facinating/captivating to the audience. I don't see how the audience can be called primitive for having a natural response to a new experience.
because then it's PING PONG
;)
sheesh
Error 407 - No creative sig found
An implementation of the Epic Pinball Enigma table would be enough for me.
Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.
The game is interesting and fun, but the video has to be one of the best geek-umentaries I have ever seen. There should be an award for this.
5 points off, however, for the bit of misogyny with poor Almut misrepresenting the function of a relay.