The VERY first video game console...

[Zeldafan114]

The very first video game console was an oscilloscope specially designed to simulate real life. The game for it was Tennis for Two (a pong-like game). This was made in 1958. It was based on analog. Not digital computing.
The game was created by William Higinbotham to cure the boredom of visitors to Brookhaven National Laboratory, in which Mr. Higinbotham worked. The game was only brought out twice, on "Visitor's Day" at the power plant. Tennis for Two was the predecessor of PONG, one of the most widely recognized video games as well as one of the first. Unlike PONG and similar early games, Tennis for Two shows a simplified tennis court from the side instead of a top-down perspective. The ball is affected by gravity and must be played over the net. The game was controlled by an analog computer and "consisted mostly of resistors, capacitors and relays, but where fast switching was needed – when the ball was in play – transistor switches were used". It is also widely considered to be the first computer game even though it was preceded by A.S. Douglas's OXO.

So, what do you think? Discuss it here!
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a9/Tennis_for_Two.jpg

[Libertyhill]

Do you know how it was controlled by the player? If you put that in the thread starter then I didn't understand it.

[huggygirl24]

Oh, what about the Atari?

The most recent game we have of that was made in 1936.

[Dracophile]

Do you know how it was controlled by the player? If you put that in the thread starter then I didn't understand it.

Analog means knobs, like a volume knob. You turn the knob and the paddle moves.

Oh, what about the Atari?

The most recent game we have of that was made in 1936.

The Atari 2600 was released in the 1970's. Check your facts. Atari wasn't even a company in the 1930's as Nolan Bushnell wasn't even born then. Atari began under the name Syzygy in 1970's. The "most recent" game for the Atari 2600 is from 2007. There are still companies producing original games for the platform. It's the longest running system in the history of gaming.

[Robo]

I thought the person who created Video Games was "Paul Bare".That's what they said on Tv.

[folly]

the first console (for the public) was the Odyssey by RALPH BAER released in 1972.

[Libertyhill]

the first console (for the public) was the Odyssey by RALPH BAER released in 1972.

It seems that you forget the arcade and single game consoles. Those were public. Also, this console (the tennis one) was seen by the public and played by the public twice, still public.

[Karma Blue]

Actually in 1936 there were no video games. the firt one was in like 1965 :!: