Home Gaming RIP, video game console pioneer Ralph Baer

RIP, video game console pioneer Ralph Baer

1 min read
6

Shine on you crazy diamond

See that fancy piece of Japanese/ American hardware in front of you? You can thank deplorable factory sweatshops for producing it. And you can also thank Ralph Baer for pioneering the idea of home entertainment. Unfortunately, that might be difficult, as the dear Mr Baer has passed on.

Although at 92, that’s one hell of an innings. Baer is the man responsible for the very first video games console, the Brown Box. It looked like this:

SONY DSC

Wood that gives me wood. Baer was also responsible for the Magnavox Odyssey, a console big enough to be considered a lethal weapon during blunt force trauma murder investigations. From there, Baer also pioneered the creation of the light gun peripheral, had a hand in creating Pong and ended up with over 150 patents registered in his name.

Meanwhile, I’ve yet to open this jar of Bovril. I don’t think words can accurately sum up how important Baer was to our industry. He laid the foundation for video games, that other visionaries worked and improved on. He was essentially, The Beatles of gaming. Minus Yoko Ono. While words may not suffice, words and video most certainly will. Here’s a lovely PBS documentary on the legend:

Rest in peace, video game daddy-o.

Last Updated: December 8, 2014

6 Comments

  1. Sad news but 92 ain’t bad.

    I hope I am still playing at that age! Hey by then we could have 10 fps at 1080p so even I could keep up with twitch games!

    Reply

  2. RinceThis

    December 8, 2014 at 15:05

    I thought that there was a bit of a dispute over who invented the first game? That he worked with someone? Still, pioneer big time.

    Reply

  3. Norm (@e3zype3zy)

    December 8, 2014 at 15:06

    92… New high score!
    R.I.P.

    Reply

  4. Anon A Mouse

    December 8, 2014 at 16:00

    That brown box looks a lot like the atari 2600 me thinks.

    May he rest in peace, made a huge difference in my life and I’m sure a lot of others as well.

    As a side note: Only four comments, shame on you gaming community.

    Reply

  5. Rags

    December 8, 2014 at 16:14

    Good innings sir. Well played.

    Reply

  6. Brady miaau

    December 8, 2014 at 17:02

    Ok, I would like to be like that guy one day. Good outlook on life.

    I am sure his family and friends miss him. A good example to us all, I believe.

    Reply

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