GameCube Europe have posted part one of a feature which takes a look at The History of Gaming. This first part concentrates on the Birth of Gaming:

    1972 saw the first home videogame system grace American stores, courtesy of one Ralph Baer. A graduate of Chicago`s American Television Institute of Technology, Baer worked at Loral, an electronics communication company, where his first thoughts on an interactive television device formulate. Later at contractor Sanders Associates he gives the idea more thought and outlines his idea for an interactive videogame device for home televisions. Work begins on the system in 1966, aided by two fellow employees, Bob Tremblay and Bob Solomon. By the end of the year they have a simple electronic version of tag to show for their work, and work is done on a multi-game unit the following year. Named the Home TV Game, it is given full support by the company. After an initial electronic 'catch' game, many different games are made through 1968, and the first videogame patent is filed by Baer. Ultimately, however, their games system is dropped by Sanders, and the team look elsewhere at other TV companies.