a simple television engineer emerging from the shock of the second world, Baer became overnight the good Wizard for thousands of children in the mid 80 's, and almost single-handedly created what we used to call the gaming industry. Revision Droider decided to perpetuate the memory of such an outstanding personality, and at the same time to pay tribute to one of the most ascetic of developers today.
It all began in 1938, when the family Baer fled from Nazi Germany to the United States — in just 2 months before the events of Kristallnacht. The first time the 16-year-old Baer worked in a factory, earning $ 12 a week on. This continued until one day at the bus stop, the young man had not seen the ad, and subsequently changed his life. On the poster, all wishing to be invited to study the nascent science-electronics.
Further-more. In 1940, at the age of 18 years, Baer, okončivaet National Institute for radio on a speciality "engineer", and after 3 years in the army is sent to the United States, which serves as the headquarters for Eisenhower. Here, as the Baer, he acquired the skills that have become a superb technician and an expert in firearms.
After the war, Baer received a Bachelor of Arts degree in American television Institute of technology majoring in television engineer ", and then to the desired position in the company Loral Electronics, where he participated in the creation of computer for the military. Here the young and ambitious engineer, falls in love with TV ears and comes up with a few ideas for the producers of "boxes".
Baer racing ahead of time. Working on defense industry, he conceived the concept of the Let's Play! — a genre that, after more than 50 years, "exploded" on YouTube, and that inspired the creators of the popular streaming platform Twitch. Then, in the distant year of 1952, Baer colleagues looked at it obliquely, shrugged their shoulders and have twisted finger near the temple.
In the early 60 's, Baer secretly began developing the first prototype game console. Engineer managed to convince the bosses of the company give a chance: the lifelong dream and 2 were allocated a measly $ 2500, 500 of which had to spend on stuff.
"I pitched the concept Odyssey secretly until we guided the Division of a large company to develop electronic devices for the army. To persuade the leadership to go to greet me was worth the huge effort. Thanks to the natural arrogance! ", he recalls in with" the escapist ".
A prototype of the long-awaited invention was patented in 1970, and became known as The Brown Box. In 1972, the project was acquired by Magnavox, which launched the legendary console Odyssey, which became the forefather of modern Sega, Nintendo, PlayStation and Xbox. In the world of consoles sold about 330 thousand pieces.
"After the invention of the Odyssey in my life have changed, the values of many variables. In the early seventies I possessed absolute financial and creative freedom. Money flowed a river of technology licensing, patent and royalty payments by the courts. Guide to Sanders Associates (the company where I worked) carefully monitored the flow of notes continued unabated. The Administration leaned on me and our lawyers and we have done all we needed: expanded collection of patents in the field of video games and interactive simulators and training programs. Then we even have opened several new business units and their facilities have created interactive system maintenance for the United States NAVY and a number of simulators for shooting. Then I tired and started my own business to develop electronic toys and technology licensing ".
Baer did not stop on achieved. And in 1972, invented the first in the world of lighting controller as a gun- Shooting Gallery. In 1978, the public was provided with developing game Simon, that was unreal popularity and sold to this day. During his career, engineer-inventor Ralph Baer got more than 150 patents.
In 2006, Baer was awarded the United States National Medal for achievements in the field of technology and innovation, and 4 years later, his name was entered in the National Inventors Hall of Fame, United States.
Ralph Baer for life changed several spheres of activity and has worked on many projects. It could not stop nor skeptical employers nor litigation for patents, nor pension. Baer was able to stop only death. He really loved his job and considered it his duty to bring the world of something new. His discoveries in the field of gaming industry changed the lives of hundreds of millions of people around the world.
"For young people the fifties — mezozoic era. For me, today. Until the seventies, engineers can freely change a specialization, and it was great. I developed medical equipment, transmitters, receivers, radios, televisions, audio equipment, all types of production systems for the enterprise, space and military system. And then just took and made a console, in between times. Today it is nonsense. One person can not make a console or even a game for her. Only mobile platforms provide talented individuals the opportunity to make a good game on their own. Satisfaction from this is not comparable with anything else. "