Ask anyone what they think is the oldest video game in the world and the answer may vary from “Pong” to “Computer Space.” But did you know, the oldest video game, “Tennis for Two,” was only available to play for less than a week? It was during the late 1950s. American physicist William Higinbotham was inspired to develop an interactive display to entertain the public during the Brookhaven National Laboratory’s annual public exhibition. Within a few hours, he designed a game that simulated a game of tennis viewed from the side of the court. Together with technician Rovert V. Dvorak, the two built the game over several weeks. The game consisted of an oscilloscope and two aluminium controllers attached to the computer. These controllers were much simpler compared to the current controllers we have today, only consisting of a button and knob to control. “Tennis for Two,” also known as “Computer Tennis,” was an instant hit among the public crowd during the three-day exhibition, with many students making up the core fanbase. But after the exhibition ended, the display was dismantled and the game remained largely forgotten. Despite the game not being publicly available today, many video game enthusiasts still remember “Tennis for Two” and honor Higinbotham as the “Grandfather of Video Games” for inspiring others within the industry. What was the earliest video game you’ve ever played? #ThinkYouKnow #VideoGames #TennisforTwo #WilliamHiginbotham #Physics #pong #computerspace #retrogames #games #brookhavennationallaboratory #VideoGamesWeek