RIP Ralph Baer (Father Of Video Games)
RIP Ralph Baer: Father of the games console dies aged 92
Take a moment of silence before firing up your Xbox or PlayStation
Born in Germany in 1922, Baer and his family—who were Jewish—escaped the Nazis in 1938 and fled to America. Baer was a radio service technician before he was drafted into World War II in 1943, where he worked in military intelligence. After the war, Baer earned a degree in Television Engineering.
Young players today might not know Baer’s name or that of the Magnavox Odyssey, and modern games bear little resemblance to his Table Tennis, but his impact is still undeniable.
A renowned inventor, and holder of over 150 patents, Baer's most famous work was designing the machine that would become the Magnavox Odyssey, the world's very first home video games console. Every console and handheld that's come since, well, you can trace it all back to the Odyssey.
According to the Times, Baer was waiting for a friend at a bus terminal in New York City when an idea gripped him and he began scribbling on a note pad. The idea was a "game box" that would let people to play board, action, sports and other games on most television sets.
And gamer's please don't forget, that it's because of him, the games are here, let his soul rest in peace.
