Video Hit Small Player Technology Classic Pong Released

Pong is one of the "classic" (traditional; one of the first of something and still admired) video games. Released in 1972, it was based on a tennis game. Pong doesn't have any "fancy" (elaborate, with a lot of detail) modern "graphics" (electronic images). The "screen" (the rectangular, flat piece that shows electronic images) "displays" (shows) two simple "paddles" (a flat piece of wood or plastic used to hit balls back and forth in a game). A small "icon" (computer image) representing a ball "bounces" (jumps off of) between the paddles, which can be moved with the "keyboard" (the set of buttons used to enter information into a computer). The players earn points each time the other player is not able to hit the ball back.

Pac Man, released in 1980, requires moving a small icon through a "maze" (a design with many paths to reach a destination) to eat other small icons to earn points while avoiding being eaten by "ghosts" (spirits). Pac Man was very popular and has "grossed" (earned from sales) more money than any other video game.

Frogger is another classic game with simple graphics, "albeit" (but; although) more elaborate than the graphics in Pong. In Frogger, which was created in 1981, the player needs to move the icon of a frog to its home at the top of the screen. The frog must cross a busy street without getting hit by cars, and cross a river by jumping onto moving "logs" (fallen trees) without falling into the water. The player "progresses" (moves forward) through levels of increasing difficulty as the cars and logs begin to move more quickly.

These classics have been updated many times, and modern versions can be found online and in video "arcades" (buildings with many machines for playing video games).