Pong
Two paddles, one white dot and the beep that launched the arcade age.
Coming soon to UsuArcade
Votes to bring it to the arcade: 0
In the meantime, head into the arcade and play the cabinets that are already there
- Year
- 1972
- Manufacturer
- Atari
- Players
- 2 players at once
- Genres
- Vintage classics, Sports
- Decade
- '70s arcade games
Before space invaders, before Pac-Man, before kids lined up quarters on the edge of a cabinet, there was a black screen, two white lines and a little square bouncing between them. Pong is the game that proved a coin-op machine could be a hit, and that simple beep is still the most recognizable sound in video game history.
The whole idea fits in one sentence: each player twists a knob to move a paddle and keeps the ball in play. First to the winning score takes it. No lives, no levels, no bosses. Just you, the person next to you and the pressure of not missing the next shot.
History
Pong came out in 1972 from Atari, a brand-new company founded by Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney. Engineer Allan Alcorn built it as a warm-up project Bushnell handed him, and it turned out so well that it became Atari's first big product.
The most famous story goes that the first test unit was set up in a bar in Sunnyvale, California, and quit working after a few days. The reason? The coin box was so stuffed with quarters that it jammed. That was all the proof anyone needed, and clones started popping up everywhere almost overnight.
How to play
Each player controls a vertical paddle on their side of the screen. The ball bounces off the top and bottom walls, and you have to block it before it gets past you. Miss it and your opponent scores.
Where you hit matters: catch the ball on the edge of your paddle and it flies off at a steep angle, hit it dead center and it goes straight. Long rallies speed the ball up, so every volley gets more intense.
Fun facts
- It was Atari's first major hit and the game that kicked off the coin-op industry.
- A home version you plugged into your TV became a huge seller in the mid-70s and brought Pong into living rooms.
- That bounce sound became iconic: plenty of people recognize it without ever having played.
In the arcade
Pong isn't on the UsuArcade floor yet, but it's on our wish list. If you want it in the arcade, hit the Want to Play button on this page. The most-voted games get added first.
In the meantime, the arcade has plenty with the same head-to-head, quick-match energy: Arkanoid if you want to keep bouncing a ball off a paddle, Space Invaders and Asteroids for that golden-age vibe, and Side Pocket if you'd rather shoot some pool with friends.
Once Pong lands in the arcade, you'll be able to play it online two-player, each on your own phone or PC, in the same game.
FAQ
Can I play Pong on UsuArcade?
Not yet. It's on the wish list, and you can vote for it with the Want to Play button. Until it lands, try Arkanoid, Space Invaders or Asteroids in the arcade.
What year did Pong come out?
The Pong arcade machine was released by Atari in 1972.
How many players is Pong?
It's a two-player game where both people play at the same time, each controlling a paddle.
How do you play Pong?
Move your paddle up and down to return the ball. If it gets past you, your opponent scores. Hitting it with the edge of the paddle sends it off at a sharper angle.
