Atari co-founder Ted Dabney has died at age 80

Ted Dabney, the Atari co-founder who helped create Pong, has handed away.

Ted Dabney had been a non-public determine since he left Atari, however his affect on gaming historical past was immense. Dabney is remembered as a co-founder of Atari, a co-creator of Pong, and a pioneer of your entire arcade video games trade.

Historian Leonard Herman, who chronicled Dabney’s function at Atari with Edge journal, introduced his passing over the weekend. “I just learned that my good friend, Ted Dabney, the co-founder of Atari, passed away at the age of 81.” Herman wrote on Facebook. “RIP dear friend. Your legacy will live on a long time!”

Dabney was born in San Francisco in 1937, and gained an curiosity in electronics throughout his highschool research. After serving for 3 years within the United States Marine Corps, he tried to pursue a profession within the discipline. During this time he met Nolan Bushnell, and the pair fashioned the partnership that ultimately turned Atari, Inc.

Dabney and Bushnell’s first recreation was Computer Space, an motion title impressed by Spacewar!. While Computer Space wasn’t particularly profitable, it did lay the framework for Atari to develop Pong – of which the coin slot was designed by Dabney himself. Pong went on to turn out to be a smash hit that gave video video games mainstream recognition.

Dabney and Bushnell ultimately had a falling out that prompted Dabney to depart Atari, and your entire trade shortly thereafter. He managed a grocery retailer alongside his spouse Carolyn, earlier than transferring to Washington in 2006. Dabney was identified with esophageal most cancers in 2017, and opted towards remedy upon studying he had roughly eight months to dwell. He died at age 80.

Friends, colleagues, and admirers poured onto social medial to pay their respects, included these examples catalogued by Eurogamer. And it’s no shock, contemplating that online game historical past as we bear in mind it might not have existed with out his efforts.

Godspeed, Dabney. Godspeed.

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