Atari's original prototype for the video game system Home Pong sold for $270,910, according to Boston-based RR Auction. It's from the collection of Allan Alcorn, who created Pong, the first video arcade game to become popular in the 1970s.
The system mockup features two potentiometer paddle control knobs, a red 'start game' pushbutton, and a central metal grille for its built-in speaker. The general design cues seen here-from the three-part layout to the gently angled control panel surfaces-are reflected in the production models of 'Home Pong,' beginning with the Sears Tele-Games (1975) and subsequent Atari Pong Model C-100 (1976).
Accompanied by a letter of provenance signed by Alan Alcorn, the game's designer discussing the initial success of the Pong arcade game and Atari's efforts to create a commercial, consumer version of the game-which hinged upon the production of a small, affordable chip to replace the expensive hard-wired PCBs of the arcade version. As it turned out, the fabrication of a functional chip was "easy" – it was getting an injection-molded plastic case for the system that was the main challenge in putting Pong in homes across America.
"In 1975 Atari had managed to become dominant in the coin operated entertainment business and moved on to build video games for the home market. We had to get Pong running on a single chip of silicon so a product could be built at a price a consumer could afford. I had never designed a custom chip before but I had an engineer, Harold Lee, with me who did have the experience and we managed to get the chip to work. I mistakenly thought that designing the chip would be the hardest part of the project but to my surprise the plastic case wound up taking longer and costing more money than the chip. We eventually did get the plastic to finished but in order to demonstrate the product to potential customers like Sears we had to demo it with a handmade wooden mockup of what the finish case would look like. The wooden mockup was attached to a box that had the electronics in the base and did look and function pretty much like the finished Pong game.
There were two prototypes like this that we could take and show to potential customers; the first one had the wire wrap prototype for the chip in the base and was very heavy and delicate. It is now in the permanent collection of the Computer History Museum. This is the second prototype that was built and has finished Pong chip in a prototype circuit board in the base. At this point we had the chip but not the plastics."
With the impending release of Sonic 2 this weekend, one could argue that Sega's iconic mascot is more popular than ever. If you're even slightly familiar with Sonic and, more specifically, his fandom, you'd know that it was an arduous journey for the character to return to the center stage of pop culture. Sonic's anachronistic personality- eternally… READ THE REST
Remember when Mortal Kombat was considered the most violent game in existence? Those were such quaint times. Nowadays, video games are more graphic than ever, with enough gore to make Dahmer blush. Although the Mortal Kombat series might have lost its spot as the pinnacle of violence in the video game realm, it's still a… READ THE REST
I'll never be able to shake the excitement I experience whenever a new Street Fighter trailer drops. Whether they're announcing a new iteration of the franchise or a downloadable character, Street Fighter trailers are the video game equivalent of getting a postcard from a childhood pen pal. Street Fighter II was the first game that I ever owned. Consequently, I… READ THE REST
If you're looking for a new job, a raise, or are planning a total career pivot, you have to be prepared to compete against tons of people with nearly the exact same experience as you. So what sets you apart from everyone else? Aside from a great resume, a background in coding, a digital language… READ THE REST
There's nothing quite as unsettling as realizing that the device you spend most of your day using might be ten times dirtier than most toilet seats. And there are other reasons that people feel concerned with germs right now, such as finding out that their favorite hand sanitizer may not be as protective as they once thought. Your… READ THE REST
The past two years have brought us new hobbies we never thought we'd sink our teeth into. Some of us became bakers, others podcasters, and some people created truly innovative and useful technology for all ages. For those of us who decided to take a greener path, our recent ventures have become a bit leafy. If you've… READ THE REST
Read the rules you agree to by using this website in our Terms of Service.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Boing Boing uses cookies and analytics trackers, and is supported by advertising, merchandise sales and affiliate links. Read about what we do with the data we gather in our Privacy Policy.
Who will be eaten first? Our forum rules are detailed in the Community Guidelines.
Boing Boing is published under a Creative Commons license except where otherwise noted.