The year is 1972 - Five years before I was even born. Northern Ireland falls under the complete control of the British Government. In the US, Nixon begins his second term, declaring the first "War on Drugs", while withdrawing from another one in Vietnam. In Kenya, Dr. Richard Leakey makes the historic finding of a humanoid skull that is over two million years-old.
In other news, Atari releases an arcade game by the name of PONG. After one night in a bar, the unit is so full of money that change is literally spilling out the coin slot.
A new era begins...
Before PONG's incarnation, the public had never seen anything like it before. Imagine, for a moment, the reaction of someone who, for the first time, realizes that the on-screen action in front of them can be manipulated and controlled with the pressing of a few buttons. It seems commonplace to us, but to them it was revolutionary.
So let's all raise a glass to PONG, because even though most of us don't play the game on a daily basis, we are indebted to it eternally.
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