(2) Playing electronic games. Games can be played by an individual with a specialized game machine (video game console) or a computer and gaming software. Many games are designed for multiple players, who can interact and compete with each other using a computer over a LAN or the Internet. That also includes traditional card games; for example, four people, each in different locations around the world, can play bridge together over the Internet.
Odyssey Was the First
Considered to be the inventor of the first video game, Ralph Baer's idea in the early 1950s of adding games to the TV sets he was building at Loral was rejected. Fifteen years later, he designed several prototypes on his own. Magnavox licensed his technology and introduced it as the Odyssey game machine in 1972, which used plastic overlays on the TV screen for a dozen games including ping-pong. Later, Nolan Bushnell had a similar version created for arcades, and "Pong" quickly became the premier product of his company, which he had renamed Atari. See video game console, gamer, Atari, advergame and pwn.
![]() | Reproduced with permission from Computer Desktop Encyclopedia. Copyright (c) 1981-2009 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved. |
Additional Resources
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