The First Arcade Game Was Not Pong

Long before the mainstream success of Pong, the first commercial video game hit arcades in 1971. Called Computer Space, it challenged players to battle flying saucers using a futuristic fiberglass cabinet.

Created by the duo who would later found Atari, this game was actually inspired by a university research project from 1962. It was technically advanced for its time because it featured a simulated starfield and physical hardware controls. Although it was too difficult for the average bar patron to master, it proved that video games could be a profitable business. This bold experiment paved the way for the entire arcade industry that dominated the 1980s.