Console Debate #7: Pong

[Dr. Morbis | 2,088]

I own a Computer Space Ball arcade machine, one of the oldest commercially available video games in existence, and it plays.......         Pong.  Honestly, I can't even remember the last time I turned the machine on, but man, I do love owning the damn thing.

At this point in history though, Pong is historically significant and nothing more.

[DefaultGen | 5,401]

I’ve had fun with Pong with friends. I put a 5. I dunno. It’s Pong. What do you rate white bread?

[Br81zad | 629]

It's historically significant, but not worth playing. 

[Webhead123 | 675]

25 minutes ago, DefaultGen said:

What do you rate white bread?

A meatball sandwich out of 10? 

[Strange | 1,700]

I like collecting them because I’m a maniac who likes hardware but as has been said many times in this thread, it’s Pong. It’s not bad. It’s not particularly thrilling. It’s Pong. I gave it the same rating I’d give plain water. A solid 5.

[Reed Rothchild | 9,520]

1 hour ago, DefaultGen said:

I’ve had fun with Pong with friends. I put a 5. I dunno. It’s Pong. What do you rate white bread?

What do you rate the variety pack of 1000 breads? 

[Katchii | 8]

1 hour ago, DefaultGen said:

I’ve had fun with Pong with friends. I put a 5. I dunno. It’s Pong. What do you rate white bread?

Is the bread sliced??? If so then Pong is the next best thing since...

[YOURTURN | 1,256]

My rating: 5/10.

Pro: This game is better than "Ping", which turns out to be more sound than sight. And it is less glitchy than Cyberpunk 2077, which I have no chance of playing right now.

Con: This game does not offer online purchases, has no online features, and is not part of the "Chattanooga Choo-Choo Collection". It lacks both character design and story development. And the music is not something I would listen to while driving.

My conclusion: I found myself liking Pong more than I liked Ping. But the rest? Let's go LARPing instead.

Edited December 23, 2020 by FenrirZero

[ThePhleo | 2,184]

I’d honestly rather clean the attic during the summer than play Pong longer than a few minutes.

The only way I can enjoy pong is by showing my kids where gaming “started” and it would have to be either a fleeting moment “Dad what’s this game?” Or a dedicated trip to a game museum.

[Webhead123 | 675]

5 hours ago, ThePhleo said:

The only way I can enjoy pong is by showing my kids where gaming “started” and it would have to be either a fleeting moment “Dad what’s this game?” Or a dedicated trip to a game museum.

The National Video Game Museum in Dallas has a giant-sized Pong console near the entrance that is actually playable. It's quite an experience...although it is still just Pong.

[T-Pac | 7,537]

Personally, I've never played a dedicated Pong unit (although I'd love to), but it's probably worth noting that they weren't all created equal. I saw in a John Hancock video that Nintendo's TV Game 6 only had one speed for the on-screen paddles no matter how fast you moved the dial on the system. 

-CasualCart

[Tulpa | 3,492]

I still insist it's a pretty good drunk party game. There's a reason it made its debut in a bar.

[Dr. Morbis | 2,088]

3 hours ago, Tulpa said:

I still insist it's a pretty good drunk party game. There's a reason it made its debut in a bar.

It's also more fun than flipping a coin for resolving a disagreement:  "I want to go to Burger King!"  "No way! McD's or bust!"  One game of Pong later.... "Okay, looks like we're going to Burger King."

[Sumer | 221]

4 hours ago, Tulpa said:

I still insist it's a pretty good drunk party game. There's a reason it made its debut in a bar.

Exactly!  It will always be more of a bar game (ala Golden Tee, Capcom Bowling) then a proper "arcade" game, much less a "fun home" game.