Sears Tele Games Pong (Also known as Atari Pong)
Developer: Atari
Year Released: 1975
Generation: 1st
An important part of Atari’s history is their entrance into the home market. The idea to take their arcade game Pong into people’s living rooms, inspired by the Magnavox Odessey was an obvious one.
By the time Pong was ready, sales of the Odyssey were slowing down and sellers were not interested in stocking the new systems. Rejected by toy stores, Atari pitched the game to the department store chain Sears Roebuck, the largest retailer in the US at the time.
Sears struck an exclusive deal with Atari. Tey agreeded to stock the game in it’s 900 stores and promote it heavily in the run up to Christmas 1975. In exchange, Atari rebranded the game as the Sears Tele-Games Pong and agreed not to release its own Atari branded version until the following year. 1500,000 consoles flew off the shelves that Christmas, as customers went crazy for the chance to play Pong in their own homes.