The man who essentially founded the basis of the game industry, Ralph Baer, considered to be “The Father of Video Games”, has passed away at the age of 92.
Described as a pioneer of video games, Baer developed the very first games consoles during the 1960s, as well as patenting several prototypes (reportedly over 150 of them), including one originally known as the Brown Box. Eventually, he licensed and sold this Brown Box as 1972’s Magnavox Odyssey, the world’s first video game console, which today’s games industry then sprouted from.
Living his life as an engineer and an inventor, Baer also developed various other inventions, such as the light gun console peripheral (this first of its kind) and the interactive memory game “Simon”. He also received the National Medal of Technology from President George W. Bush back in 2004, as well as an induction into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.
That’s not all, though; Baer also received the 2008 Game Developers Choice Pioneer Award: ” Thank you very much, ” he was recorded to have said at the time. ” I appreciate the honor, and I’m still cranking out stuff. Goodbye. ”
You can watch Baer receive his Game Developers Choice Pioneer Award, as well as trying out the Brown Box back in 1969, via the embedded videos below. This author’s thoughts goes out to his memory and those affected by his passing.
[ Source(s): Gamasutra / Wikipedia ]
[ Via: Kotaku ]