Atari invented and released Pong, the first commercially successful video game, in 1972.
Atari co-founder Nolan Bushnell assigned engineer Allan Alcorn to build Pong as a training exercise. Bushnell had recently seen the Magnavox Odyssey and its tennis-style game, while Pong also drew on earlier electronic-game ideas. Alcorn’s prototype simplified the concept into two paddles, a moving ball, scoring, and distinctive sound effects.
In August 1972, Atari placed the prototype at Andy Capp’s Tavern in Sunnyvale, California. The machine became so popular that its coin box overflowed with quarters, initially making it appear to be malfunctioning. Atari then manufactured and shipped its first commercial Pong unit in November 1972.
Pong was not the first commercially sold video game: Atari’s predecessor Syzygy Engineering had helped release Computer Space in 1971. Pong’s distinction was its extraordinary commercial success and accessibility. It helped establish the arcade market, inspired many imitators, and later became a successful home product through Sears in 1975. Magnavox nevertheless remained important because its Odyssey tennis game preceded Pong and contributed to later patent disputes.