Summary
- Release Year: 1958
- Genres: Arcade, Sport
- Platforms: Donner Model 30
- Developers: William Higinbotham
- Publishers: William Higinbotham
Tennis for Two (1981): The World’s First Video Game
Tennis for Two, created in 1958 by William Higinbotham, is widely recognized as the world’s first video game. This groundbreaking title laid the foundation for the multi-billion dollar video game industry that we know today.
Development
Tennis for Two was developed at the Brookhaven National Laboratory on Long Island, New York. Higinbotham, a physicist, created the game as a way to entertain visitors to the laboratory’s annual open house.
The game was played on an oscilloscope, which was a common piece of laboratory equipment at the time. Higinbotham used an analog computer to generate the game’s graphics and physics.
The game was very simple by today’s standards. It featured two paddles that could be moved up and down to hit a ball back and forth. The ball bounced off the top and bottom of the screen, and the players had to time their shots to hit it before it bounced off the side.
Gameplay
Tennis for Two was a two-player game. Each player controlled one of the paddles. The goal of the game was to hit the ball past the other player and score a point.
The game was played on a single screen, with the paddles on the left and right sides of the screen. The ball moved back and forth between the paddles, and the players had to time their shots to hit it.
The game was very challenging, but it was also very addictive. Visitors to the Brookhaven National Laboratory would often spend hours playing Tennis for Two.
Impact
Tennis for Two had a profound impact on the development of video games. It was the first game to use an analog computer to generate graphics and physics, and it was the first game to be played on an oscilloscope.
Tennis for Two also inspired other early video games, such as Spacewar! (1962) and Pong (1972). These games helped to popularize video games and laid the foundation for the video game industry that we know today.
Legacy
Tennis for Two is still considered to be one of the most important video games ever made. It is a testament to the ingenuity and creativity of its creator, William Higinbotham.
Tennis for Two is now on display at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. It is a reminder of the humble beginnings of the video game industry and the impact that one person can have on the world.
Conclusion
Tennis for Two is a groundbreaking video game that deserves its place in history as the world’s first video game. It is a simple game, but it is also a very addictive and challenging game. Tennis for Two is a reminder of the early days of the video game industry and the impact that one person can have on the world.
Review Score
8/10
Art
Cover Art
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