RIP Ralph Baer

[TechBoyJK]

http://www.theverge.com/2014/12/7/7349715/ralph-baer-father-of-video-games-dies-at-92

The man largely credited as "the father of video games" has died at age 92, according to a report from Gamasutra. Ralph Baer, a German immigrant and inventor, created the very first home video game console in the late ‘60s. It was simply called the "Brown Box," and it later came to be known as the Magnavox Odyssey in 1972 after he licensed out the design.

The device set the footprint for home consoles to this date: a computer in a box that was manipulated with controllers and connected to a television. He also developed a "light gun" controller that was bundled with a shooting game. It is widely believed to be the first-ever video game peripheral. Later, he designed the Simon pattern-matching electronic toy that's still available today.

Baer was awarded the National Medal of Technology from President George W. Bush in 2006, and he received the Pioneer Award during the Game Developers' Choice Awards in 2008.

 

[CrystalBay]

I had one of these Odysseys , it was a Pong clone. RIP Ralph B !

 

[Blanky]

Funny thing is I bet most people have no idea who he is (I will admit I didn't), and yet video games are so prolific now, one of the greatest and most influential forms of entertainment ever. But then, do you know who invented movies or made the first wax recording? All important guys even if we don't recall their names.

Anybody know what Ralph's thoughts were on where videogames have come? I can't imagine 50 years ago people even believed what we have now could ever have existed.

 

[AdamantC]

Truly a shame. He's someone you don't tend to hear about much in the video game industry. 🙁

 

[Omar F1]

Yea, it's a shame when we know about some great people only after their death.
RIP Ralph.

 

[AdamantC]

Yea, it's a shame when we know about some great people only after their death.

Even then that's not a guarantee. Just take Nikola Tesla for example.

 

[manimal]

that man had a direct impact in my childhood

So many good times and I got a simon for my kids last year.

 

[Omar F1]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Omar F1 View Post
Yea, it's a shame when we know about some great people only after their death.
Even then that's not a guarantee. Just take Nikola Tesla for example.

Honestly, I just knew about Tesla this year only, after 30 years of life.

 

[Stringjam]

Even then that's not a guarantee. Just take Nikola Tesla for example.

And yet, everybody knows about Edison. 🙄