10 People Who Changed The Video Game Industry Forever

One of the two men who vie for the title of “Father of Video Games” along with Nolan Bushnell, the late Ralph Baer sowed the seeds of genesis for the industry, and without him, video games may never have existed.

Baer started his journey working at Loral, initially tasked with making “the best television set in the world”, and was the first person to conceive the idea of playing a game on a television screen. In 1972, he created the world’s first home video game console (the Magnavox Odyssey), and is also credited with creating the light gun peripheral for home use.

While he did clash with fellow ground-breaker Bushnell, Baer's work was revolutionary back in the 1950’s and 60’s, and his ingenuity in the field of electronics lead to innovations in video game hardware and provided inspiration for future designers and developers.

In any field, it’s imperative to acknowledge those who were first. Those who were brave enough to persevere with their work and lay the foundations of something entirely unheard of at the time, and Baer’s contributions to video games, entertainment, and society should never be forgotten.