This Man Invented the World's First Video Game Console

Tom discovers that in the gaming world, it takes a little practice to walk away with first place.
From: STORIES FROM THE VAULTS: Firsts
bit.ly/1la3Z5n

[@toothdakay]

R.I.P Ralph Baer Thank you for Inventing and Revolutionizing Video Gaming

[@luvmylittles]

he brought joy to my grandfather.

[@blazerblade192]

Mr . Multi-Personality I thought the ones revolutionizing video games are Japanese cause they've made Great Games and then they've contributed a lot in gaming history

[@luvmylittles]

@@Pyro725 4 years later and I cringe at my comment

[@max-dy3vs]

*home video gaming

[@张爱钦-q6y]

Rip.

[@92jwiener]

That's a treasure you'll never get rid of. The memory of playing the original video game, on the original console with the man who invented it all. Historical dream, never to be realized again.

[@PiroKUSS]

Not the original videogame, but the original HOME videogame.

[@robwernet9609]

Agreed.

[@SmithsonianChannel]

We were saddened to hear that Ralph Baer, the "father of video games”, passed away on Saturday. Mr. Baer visited the Smithsonian with us a few years back to show off a few of his game-changing inventions on Stories from the Vaults: bit.ly/1yyYh2E

[@marcorodriguez8792]

I almost cried

[@arionapollo1387]

he would be more of a prototype game inventor. Nolan really made it happen.

[@arionapollo1387]

If Nolan hadn't made it a worldwide phenomenon consoles would have been unknown

[@marcorodriguez8792]

It was really Ralph

[@johnnytest125]

R.I.P. Ralph Baer.

[@ashishr4768]

R.I.P. Ralph Baer. Without you the game industry would not have been existed. Thanks for inventing video games. You truly are a genius. The father and inventor of video games and creating a portal of business for playstation & xbox and other game consoles:)

[@hassanzzzx]

from this to GTA V respect.

[@ollysza2833]

Lol

[@dougreen8693]

+Hassan Fareed nigga

[@masyneshak7885]

man its insane how because of him we can relieve stress through video games

[@piececontrol5285]

Crysis 3

[@derfalke9178]

Witcher 3

[@aluminum8160]

DUDE THIS GUY IS THE FIRST TO MAKE VIDEO GAMES DUDE RESPECT IS WHAT WE GIVE HIM!!

[@romaantoine7590]

MREO

[@callmeishmael5742]

Not exactly, but one of the earliest

[@JasonSmith-vj1de]

@@callmeishmael5742 He was the first to make it where you can play them at home.

[@callmeishmael5742]

@@JasonSmith-vj1de yeah

[@HyPhuyenTheSwordPrince]

As a Jewish guy who is away from the Germany war of Nazis, he is a survivor from Call of Duty WWII’s real perspective.

[@hammerbrother]

92 years old and still kicking amazing, Mr. Baer!.

[@hammerbrother]

R.I.P. Mr. Baer, truly sad news on your passing!

[@HyPhuyenTheSwordPrince]

​@@hammerbrotherdid you know he is an early Jewish escapee before his own town was invaded by Nazis. He is someone who most good agnostic people who respect any religious people should respect. Like Curious George creator couples.

[@sgreen4865]

OMG. It's the Reverse Flash!

[@19-MCMXI-11]

Its Tom Cavanagh the actor who plays Harrison wells

[@thomashadji8822]

IKR

[@mustacemovieclips3271]

Ja or HR....

[@malrenyt5609]

Thawne

[@IceeColdGamer]

I was like hol up wtf is that him lol. Then i look in the comments

[@magicD53]

Thanks Ralph.. Metal Gear would never exist without you

[@johnnytest125]

Thumbs up for MG

[@usamasheikh4791]

+Johnny Test and also GTA :D

[@wolfgamer1759]

@@usamasheikh4791 someone would make something similar but still thx to him

[@douglasmurphy1113]

That guy is playing the original video game... with the inventor of video games. Nerds and geeks across the planet would murder for that opportunity

[@thomascotten212]

Douglas Murphy my grandpa created one in 1951. I'll try to upload a video soon about it. I play it all the time in his basement, and it still works fine. It's a tic tac toe machine he made in college, and it is documented in multiple magazines and newspapers, but nowhere on the internet could I find anything about it.

[@theorangeandblue5969]

Nintendo Nerds My dad programmed my Texas Instruments PC to play Battleship. Unfortunately, it took 30 minutes for the machine to calculate a hit or miss.

[@thomascotten212]

theorangeandblue wow! What year was that?

[@theorangeandblue5969]

Nintendo Nerds 1980 or 81. The TI used a cassette tape player as a drive but could use a TV as monitor in black and white, if I remember correctly.

[@fernlasdon5837]

GTA V better

[@rohitvapta6090]

The father of video games wow!!!!

[@schwalbe4779]

Behold the guy whom better than pew

[@fearlessdaughterKesha]

Priceless video

[@Jsjsusbsb]

@@fearlessdaughterKesha.

[@red_crownn]

He died at the age of 91...... I'm still crying

[@jack-roziartsy]

No the god

[@BFKAnthony817]

As a 29 year old retro gaming enthusiast, I thank you Smithsonian for sharing with me the grandfather of Video Gaming and his device. I read about him in an interview in Game informer about 2006-08 or so, very interesting story behind this.

[@dieselpatchesisthebiggay1253]

Your 35

[@lacuevadegolum9448]

Congratulations you are 35 now you double my age! Hope u still playing Videogames. Respect

[@BFKAnthony817]

@@lacuevadegolum9448 Your math is a bit off. That was almost 8 years ago. I just turned 37 about 3 months ago on December 30th hehe. Why would I stop playing games haha? Most people my age grew up with them and will continue playing them til we are no longer able to.

[@baljindersinghtheboss]

RIP Ralph Baer he died on my dads birthday too...

[@HoppingSnake290]

oof

[@HyPhuyenTheSwordPrince]

Noooooooo😢

[@Drakelx55]

I'm just going to say, I haven't envied someone this much in ages. He got to play the ORIGINAL Brown Box, WITH Ralph Baer. Incredible

[@danielespinoza8010]

RIP Ralph Baer. Without your ingenuity, It would not have been possible the revolution of Video Games, the first games I played in the early 80s were: invaders, pacman, zaxxon, frogger, buck rogers . thanks!

[@Spongybob77]

playing pong with the inventor of video games

[@zlyexe1736]

Cheap Cheap he'd whoop dat ass

[@Zzantzanter]

@EVA LIN he didn't create pong atari did

[@grussgott0768]

He's not the Inventor of Video Games, he is definitely the Inventor of Consoles, and somewhat of Pong and made it big, and we schould thank him, but he's technically seen not the Inventor of Video Games

[@sanazdarvish9435]

@@grussgott0768 he is inventor of video games and also he is father of video games so go and read about him

[@gcnelite5983]

2020: Can it run GTA V? 1972: Can it run Pong?

[@scarlet3470]

PC gamer: but can it run 4K 120fps

[@ringo1492]

Yes,I play Call of Duty:Black ops 3 on it

[@kingskylord6099]

Uh-huh I played Giant Black Screen of Death on there and it ran at 69K 420fps and a bunch of stolen MLG weed from Jamaica

[@tn0wl361]

480i. It runs at 60 frames of 240 interlaced lines a second. Ya, old TV's are WEIRD

[@staceyotta7597]

Scarlet I bet NOT!

[@arfansthename]

Me: Nope.

[@randomgamer-st1ie]

Guy from Smithsonian: This is the last time we'll ever turn this machine on. Mr. Baer: I hope not! The Smithsonian: the original shelf collectors

[@jxred6171]

We (gamers) wouldn’t have been able to stay up till 4 am playing games if it wasn’t for this man I give him my respect

[@MarlinM55]

Without Ralph Baer, there would be no Super Mario, sonic, pac man... Or even the consoles and video games of today. Without Ralph, there would be no Call of duty, Transformers games, ps1 to 4, assassin's creed,God of war, darksiders, infamous 1 to second son, dead space.... Ralph Baer made all the glorious things we enjoy in life as gamers possible......... And now he's gone.. Let us 'pause' and 'save' and thank the 'father of video games' for what he gave us.... Don't cry that he is gone, be happy that one day, you'll be in heaven with him, playing the classic like the first super Mario game, sonic adventure, pac man, duck hunt and many more...

[@Nipponing]

hulkboyjr I'm pretty sure that's just wrong... Someone would have made something similar somewhere else at some other time and we would still have a lot of what we have to day. But obviously he did something amazing and we should honor him and thank him for it. But don't be illogical.

[@Nipponing]

LI IL No.

[@Nipponing]

LI IL Cause God isn't real duh.

[@martianmale1915]

***** I came off a bit harsh, but I kinda know what you mean, but whatever.

[@drakerelu4381]

Well maybe someone else a week later gets the same idea

[@8ozz287]

The One True Gamer

[@rilukko]

Ralph Baer... you are the best person in history, thank you for inventing something very creative....thank you 😢.

[@goatanything]

God bless you Ralph, I wish you could have shared in the US patents for the amazing things you designed and built !!!

[@DocMaggie]

You know how cool someone sounds when they say they're a scientist? Well, imagine how cool it would be to meet someone who tells you that they're an inventor :D

[@thomascotten212]

My grandpa made a video game in 1951. It was a tic tac toe machine that he had made in college. He has some issues of an ieee magazine and some pictures of him in the newspaper. It currently resides in his basement, but I would love to put it in a museum. Nowhere on the internet could I find anything like it.

[@SkylineFreak888]

If only he could see how far gaming has come with the PlayStation 4 & 5, Xbox One and Series X|S, Nintendo Switch and PC. From a simple ping pong game to Grand Theft Auto, Need for Speed, Elden Ring, Tomb Raider, Battlefield, Dead Space, Ghost of Tsushima, Gears of War, Halo, Forza etc. Gaming truly has come A LONG way. Thank you Ralph Baer for giving us all something we would eventually come to love.

[@wel88_]

Respect to Wreck it Ralph, oh I mean Ralph Baer

[@lalrammuanpuiichozah9760]

Fun fact:dislikers are gamers parent

[@emipello]

so cool the first video game in the world and still work so awsome!!!!! ;DDD

[@andiershad6285]

This man ia a legend than anyone else

[@rydellyt3338]

From this to real life video game graphics ~R.I.P Ralph Baer~

[@sheheranshanaka5796]

THANK YOU MR.BAER THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING EVERY MAN DIES GOD BLESS YOU

[@Feca29ca]

RIP. thanks for given us video games

[@arionapollo1387]

He made a prototype. Nolan made it worldwide.

[@Feca29ca]

Arion Apollo Nolan Ramsey North????? or who do you mean

[@zlyexe1736]

Arion Apollo yeah but he still invited it

[@driftgmd]

We love him, parents hate him

[@kingroosevelt2096]

Respect and glorious to this man. Glad you made our video games. Rest peacefully my friend I see you in heaven one day.

[@iam.sourav.]

*_Thawne: Gideon make a copy of this game and play with me._* 😆😂

[@AxelGD999]

Tanks for giving me a good childhood that R.I.P the father of video games

[@alexanderbustamante4585]

I'm doing things today I only dreamed of as a kid. Thank you for this wonderful invention Ralph.

[@denismulic5746]

At least this game is better than cod

[@kingskylord6099]

Moonman ! The new Call of Duty game is now the entire Magnavox Odyssey with all the games except 1 as pre-order DLC

[@Jay-uf1ue]

Mad Planet wut?

[@KaiBear-dm3wf]

WTF HELL NO CALL OF DUTY IS THE BEST GAME OF ALL TIME BITCH

[@adveration155]

OMEGALUL

[@CosmicFox2007]

@@KaiBear-dm3wf am I being woooshed

[@TheBlitzy]

Thank you Ralph Baer for inventing video game ;~;

[@voodooopaque6357]

This guy is a Legend

[@Lef2005]

You have my respect sir.

[@Kyranio]

Rest in peace. This man was able to just grab millions, but he didn't. It's a shame there aren't many of these people... Well thank that man for inventing video games!

[@arionapollo1387]

prototype inventor. Without Nolan this wouldn't have been a worldwide phenomenon.

[@_thebigpig_5769]

Without him I wouldn’t be hyped for Super Smash bros ultimate.

[@xFitzMan91x]

Video games have been my favorite hobby ever since I was 8, of which the N64 as my first console. I'd like to say "Thank You" to Ralph Baer for finding the best kind of entertainment there is! :)

[@oO_toOomy_Oo]

I really want to travel back in time something before 1500 and tell the world how the huminty is evolving now and how we can play, contact and see each other instantly no matter how far we are... We are living in a golden age! We got to be thankful for that

[@thestelly6513]

You do realize they will burn you at the stake for witch craft so you better bring a gun too😉

[@shadow_wizard_money_gang5372]

@@thestelly6513 yep 😂

[@NewsDigital.]

0:52 one of my favorite actors Love you

[@emilyagrest6222]

oh god thx so much! You made my life light up! Father of video games! Respect

[@GranColombiaball]

RIP :( Thank you for inventing the Video Games

[@csxohiorailfan2473]

Thank You so Much Ralph Baer without you our lives would be lot more boring 😭

[@___________11121]

That guy probably had no idea what type of legacy he had just started

[@mynorsandoval1713]

When I grow up I'm going to work for Nintendo and I'm going to make a game called Lemmy's world

[@flip1sba]

Without Baer and Magnavox Odyssey, there wouldn't be Nintendo, Sega, Playstation, X-Box and all those video game consoles out there!

[@Eshlar]

Your comment is speculative, at best. The exploration of new ways to play games was universal. Computer games, for instance, were being made as early as the 1940s. Ralph Baer simply got to be recorded in history for the first machine of its type (tv gaming console), but game-centered machines were being planned, designed, and some even built all across the globe.

[@HackingAtLife]

Without Ralph Baer we wouldn't never have video games and consoles like Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo, And Other!

[@helmetguy6495]

SheerTheGamer no. Ping was created a long time before donkey kong

[@ThePoreproductions]

And no ESRB.

[@charlytv8674]

Because of You many are Addict to Gaming...!!! Thanks at all You made it hehe R.I.P Ralph Baer...!!!

[@ricksanchez3819]

If only Ralph knew what he was getting into. If I had a time machine I'd warn him about overwatche's slaty community and the millions of kids playing call of duty

[@dieselpatchesisthebiggay1253]

What’s wrong with call of duty

[@NotMrDiego]

Same

[@nessymoon1783]

My life would be nothing without this man

[@umbrellaman91]

R.I.P without you I wouldn't be able to have some of the friends I have many people wouldn't have jobs many people wouldn't have entertainment we are all thankful for what you did to evrey campaign, quest, mini game, story game and multiplayer game you will never be forgotten

[@gamefreak3590]

Without you we could never play call of duty or battlefield and all the other games so thank you

[@heatherlynsey3092]

“Your Ralph?!?” “Last time I checked” 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@NightOwlGames]

Billions of gamers loving their games, Only 5,000 likes for the guy who made this all happen. Thank you Sir.

[@screwthenet]

OUTSTANDING! That the console itself remains intact, but is also a testament to how ahead of things the brown box was ( and how behind all decades leading up to now have been without adopting said tech from the get go in the 50s). And ya got to play with the man himself whom gave the world gaming. SALUTE AND SALUTATIONS! R.i.P. Ralph Baer.

[@strangeroamer3219]

Why does he have to act like he didn't know Ralph was going to show up? Why can't they just be upfront? We get how amazing this invention is and appreciate the guy. They don't have to act so deceptive and obvious.

[@RubyRed64]

Its incredible that all those prototypes are in one place! Thanks for keeping gaming history alive!

[@shunuuu]

I LOVE you Tom!!!

[@gilbertdennis4872]

Thanks for giving me entertainment!

[@dawnstar6727]

Sings to Ralph Baer: “Without you, I feel broke, like I’m half of a whole. Without you I’ve got no game console. Without you I’d be torn, like a sail in a storm! Without you I’m just a sad gamer.”

[@johneygd]

57 years later it’s still very entertaining to watch such cool game console in action😁😁

[@Playeressence]

wow, awesome video. RIP Ralph Baer

[@JC-hh7wx]

R.I.P Nolan thank you for making gaming history✊🎮

[@AppHackrPr0]

well, now i know what my weekend project will be!

[@jsullivan8990]

Wow. Do You Even Remember This Comment?, Do You Have A Memory?

[@antoniole01]

rip ralph baer the giver of joy to everyone in the world. *tear

[@MrGoLdEnWaFfLeZ]

THANK YOU FOR ENVENTING THE FIRST GAME! [ without it there would be NO GAMES!] like this commet if you agree

[@apraham0]

RIP ENLISH And yeah i spelled that wrong on purpose

[@wolfgamer1759]

Someone could have made game actually if he didn't but yeah thanks to him

[@BOB-id1sl]

It was William Higinbotham

[@Reactivate100]

If he hadn’t invented it someone else would have.

[@ericklolol]

When this was created, thats what we called a modern video game

[@0YouCanCallMeAl0]

respect!

[@AngelitoChuchu]

HE STILL LIVES!?!?!

[@somerandomguy3225]

sadly he died in 2014 december

[@kingskylord6099]

RIP Ralph Baer 1922-2014

[@dx_ream9277]

This comment didn’t age well

[@tommyblueee9993]

@@dx_ream9277 😂

[@PinkyPromise2009]

Thank you for inventing video games

[@Articbear]

That’s so awesome. Big respects to Ralph.

[@aftabansari9723]

Without you there wolud be no playstation. thank you Ralph Bear!!

[@greenwoodhoran8868]

His reaction is preciousss

[@dariatomczak807]

this is where it all began :)

[@lzxxxbluexxxlz]

This man is a hero he gave us video games he gave us life

[@RemoWilliams1227]

In the old black and white of them playing in the beginning, when the ball curves around his paddle he tilts his head back with a look of incredulity. That action I have seen thousands of times over several generations now, any gamer knows that look and what was in his mind at that moment. Not sure if this is relevant to anything but just a thought.

[@deanalfonzo]

Without him, kids would have the most boring life ever, thank you Ralph

[@imSUPERcereal0]

Even this was a long leap forward from Tennis for Two.

[@Seaborn10892]

Rest in peace Legend 😔😔

[@rabbidlobo]

Wish Jerry Lawson could've been there too. He's often overlooked as the father of cartridges. I feel like this is a Bob Kane/Bill Finger fiasco.

[@zulfadhlijassni7029]

Ralph Baer... Respect!

[@phuah]

He's such a hero!!!!! Unlike the founder of exams which sucks

[@sandeepgupta7449]

Thank you for inviting video games

[@squidwardtentacles9787]

Ralph is a true hero

[@bowmanencore]

This lucky man! Interesting that I'm fairly certain the guy starts off giving Nolan credit for Pong, then immediately shows that Ralph came up with it. Haha. Happens a lot. I think Ralph's employer at the time (Magnavox) actually successfully sued Atari over Pong. No surprise. "Pong" isn't too far removed from "Ping Pong," I'm afraid. Should have tried Zong or Klong perhaps. ;) R.I.P., Sir Baer.

[@thelifeofmyles5802]

Pong to Mario Brothers, Mario Brothers to Sonic Adventure 2, Sonic Adventure 2 to Need for Speed Most Wanted, Need for Speed Most Wanted to Call of duty Black Ops 2, Black ops 2 to Sniper Elite 4. This man is the father of all video games FPS, Racing, Platformers, etc! Let's give this gentleman mass respect people, mass respect.

[@bojo_joel9361]

Tennis for 2 in 58 was technically the first video game

[@Noodles4you]

rip Ralph Baer he died on 6th december 2014

[@makotroid108]

I saw a comment not long saying Ralph was the Tesla to Nolan's Edison. And it's so true.

[@spencerl9897]

I got chills seeing Ralph Baer walk out

[@newbreedzorro204]

The man talking is reverse flash! And Harrison wells and my fav anti hero

[@jeanvandame4054]

God bless this man now every console has his formula name on it

[@morris89swe]

tank you Ralph for making video games possible