Video Games | Ping-Pong | 2

American Innovations

Wondery

Steven Johnson, History, Kids & Family, Education For Kids, Science

4.6 • 4.1K Ratings

🗓️ 6 August 2020

⏱️ 41 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Nolan Bushnell's Computer Space was the world's first commercial video game, but it failed to win over the masses. Now Bushnell’s plotting his comeback … and his comeback has a name: Atari.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey, prime members, you can listen to American innovations, add free on Amazon music, download
0:06.0	the app today.
0:15.9	February 1967, Nashua, New Hampshire.
0:20.2	Inside the headquarters of Sanders' associates, technician Bill Harrison enters an elevator.
0:26.3	He runs a hand through his rockabilly hairdo and selects the sixth floor.
0:31.3	As the elevator climbs, he wonders why his boss summoned him.
0:35.2	He wouldn't say much on the phone.
0:36.8	But Sanders' associates is a defense contractor.
0:40.2	Top secret projects are every day around here.
0:43.2	Still, something in his boss's voice put Bill on edge.
0:47.9	Harrison steps onto the sixth floor.
0:50.4	Across the hall, a door opens abruptly and his boss, Ralph Baer, sticks his head out.
0:56.0	Bill!
0:57.0	In here.
0:58.0	Quick.
0:59.0	Baer is balding, but the hairy has left brushed flat across his scalp.
1:03.3	Behind his glasses, his eyes dart side to side.
1:07.2	Harrison hurries in and Baer shuts the door behind him.
1:10.6	Inside is a small, windowless office with a couple of desks.
1:14.2	On one is a 19-inch color TV, and next to it is a mess of circuit boards, wires, and components.
1:21.1	What I'm about to share with you can't leave this room.
1:24.1	Of course, of course.
	...

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