The first video game ever created is generally considered to be "Tennis for Two" (1958) or "Spacewar!" (1962), depending on how we define a video game.
But letโs break it down in a short blog-style answer:
๐ฎ What Is the First Video Game Ever Made?
When people ask what the first game is, they might mean the first video game, the first commercial console game, or the first arcade game. Here's a look at the pioneers of gaming:
1. Tennis for Two (1958) โ The Experimental Beginning
Created by physicist William Higinbotham, Tennis for Two was played on an oscilloscope at Brookhaven National Laboratory. It simulated a side-view tennis match with a simple knob and button interface.
๐งช Not commercially released, but often credited as the first interactive video game.
2. Spacewar! (1962) โ First Digital Computer Game
Developed at MIT by Steve Russell, Spacewar! was a two-player spaceship combat game that ran on the PDP-1 mainframe computer. It was influential in early computer game development and inspired future developers.
3. Pong (1972) โ The First Arcade Hit
Developed by Atari (Nolan Bushnell & Al Alcorn), Pong was the first commercially successful arcade game, simulating table tennis with two paddles and a bouncing ball.
๐น๏ธ Pong Wiki
4. Magnavox Odyssey (1972) โ First Home Console Game
This console came with built-in games like Table Tennis, which many mistake for Pong. It predates Pong and was the first home video game console.
๐ก Conclusion
If you're talking about:
-
Experimental origin: Tennis for Two (1958)
-
First digital computer game: Spacewar! (1962)
-
First commercial arcade game: Pong (1972)
-
First home console game: Magnavox Odyssey (1972)
Each holds an important place in gaming history!