Video Game Pioneer Speaks Out

GreyGusMan writes "Ralph Baer was playing video games before many of us were born. CNN has an interview with the man who helped invent video games back in 1966, talking about how the idea came about - and getting his thoughts on what the industry has become. He doesn't like videogame violence, but he scoffs when asked if he thinks it's tied to real world violence." When the person talking not only created the Magnavox Odyssey, but also devised the tragically addictive 'repeat the sequence' handheld Simon (no relation), you'd better listen up.

Re:Ralph Baehr is a visionary genius

[NanoGator]

"even he realizes that Games.Slashdot.org is dying "

Yeah, just like Apple, BSD, and Stephen King.

25 Years of Simon

[Copperhead]

Well, I missed the 25th anniversary of Simon 3 months ago, but here's a link [playsimon.com] to the press release.

Oh, and first post.

Patent Pending

[Kelerain]

So does he have a patent yet? I want my daily dose of bitching damnit!

How old is this?

[ehushagen]

With a quote like this:

"3D games were tried once - and failed because they weren't properly executed, but now that the processing power's there, who knows?," he said.

it almost makes you wonder if he was interviewed a long, long time ago...

Re:How old is this?

[sweetooth]

I got the impression he meant something else by 3d. Maybe more like VR games rather than 3d rendered games as most of us play all the time.

Probably referring to...

[Drantin]

...something like the Virtual Boy most likely...

Where does it say....

[NanoGator]

... that he doesn't like GTA3? I can't find any reference to that. Either the story submitter forgot to mention other interviews with this guy, or he drew a conclusion based on a comment he did make.

Oh well. If GTA3 is any indication, people (parents in particular) take video games way too seriously. If playing a game was all it took to make a kid do something stupid, then television advertising would be a much more succesful business than it is today.

Re:Where does it say....

[pyrrho]

television advertising looks way successful to me.

two, you are write, it doesn't cause violence, it's a symptom of the violence in the real world. That is, we don't have real violence because of violent video games, we have violent video games because of all the real violence in the world. Oh, and a lack of creativity.

Re:Where does it say....

[NanoGator]

" That is, we don't have real violence because of violent video games, we have violent video games because of all the real violence in the world. Oh, and a lack of creativity. "

Um well yeah imagine how much fun a game of Command and Conquer where you win by guiding UN Weapons Inspectors around the bad guy base.

Re:Where does it say....

[Slowping]

Um well yeah imagine how much fun a game of Command and Conquer where you win by guiding UN Weapons Inspectors around the bad guy base.

Actually, if the AI is done right, it might be an interesting covert/political/puzzle type game.

Re:Where does it say....

[pyrrho]

you could play in the same world as the command and conquer players... if you lose and area... it's used for C&C. C&C session finishes, you move back in.

Why only in US?

[GuyMannDude]

He doesn't like Grand Theft Auto, but he scoffs when asked if he thinks video game violence is tied to real world violence.

One thing I've never understood is how the "videogames cause violence", "TV causes violence", "movies cause violence", etc crowd can explain that somehow all these things -- which are available to the entire world -- only seem to cause violence here in the US? Does anyone know what their answer is?

GMD

Re:Why only in US?

[Slowping]

So true...

And it's amazing these same people aren't more vocal about the war on Iraq the US just underwent. If anything, that more than any video-game teaches that problems are solved by violence.

Now I'm not saying Saddam wasn't a bad guy or that the Iraqi people didn't suffer.

But let's call it for what it is. One month in and no signs of WMD. Problem solved? well, I guess you could say that. But what's the lesson learned? It's okay to solve things by violence.

Just like it was okay for those boys at Columbine to solve their problem of being bullied by using violence.

Re:Why only in US?

[Scarblac]

One thing I've never understood is how the "videogames cause violence", "TV causes violence", "movies cause violence", etc crowd can explain that somehow all these things -- which are available to the entire world -- only seem to cause violence here in the US? Does anyone know what their answer is?

Not enough sex on TV in the US :-)

Re:Why only in US?

[Anonymous Coward]

Because lots of countries outside the US have more stringent laws as to what is allowed. In Germany, for example, children can't get the most violent games at all.

Also, foreign TV programme is a lot less violent, especially news and stuff like that, and violent movies have higher age ratings (you need to be older to be allowed to see them).

Re:Why only in US?

[xutopia]

according to Charlston Heston the violence is because you guys have too many people from other countries in the US. :) LOL

Game Content

[daigu]

"Still, I wish there was a little more content in some of this stuff."

Legitimate point. Although, Wired had an interesting article [wired.com] that has me hoping that the Enter the Matrix [enterthematrixgame.com] game might start a trend to change that.

Uh oh...

[Lazyhound]

From the article:

"When you get to be over 80, your coordination goes to hell and a half."

Quick, guys! Get all your gaming in while you're still in the prime of your life!

Pong

[GeorgeH]

I was watching a documentary on TLC (I think, Tivo removes the connection shows have with channels) on the history of video games called Gamerz, and Ralph came up. Apparently Nolan Bushnell stole the idea for Pong from Baer when he was demonstrating what would become the Odessey. I had never heard of this before, but there was a lawsuit involved and Ralph got some money, but none of the fame.

There's more info at http://www.designboom.com/eng/education/pong.html [designboom.com]

"He doesn't like videogame violence"

[xagon7]

At least I ain't the ONLY person that doesn't think bashing innocint people with a baseball bat and stealing their car is "fun". It may not cause violence, but this glorification of the "bad guy" is pretty fucked up.