Last month, the BBC reviewed their 1973 reporting on the the Magnavox Odyssey, the original gaming console from engineer Ralph Baer.

While it may seem rudimentary now, the technology – and the idea of bringing video gaming directly into people’s homes – was transformative. Its simplistic design and minimal graphics turned out to be a strength. Because it was easy to understand and play, it meant almost anyone could use it. Players were captivated by the novelty of being able to control a game on their own TVs.

50 years later, it was easy for the BBC to see and celebrate the Odyssey’s tremendous legacy:

The Odyssey’s physical controls introduced the idea of player handsets, while its TV screen overlays could be said to foreshadow the concept of augmented reality which would become prevalent in games like Pokémon Go.

Check out the full article here.