The Pong clock

by Ryan Block { Nov 25th 2005 at 10:45AM }

Over a long enough period of time Pong might well be re-visioned into just about anything, but our new favorite to date is the Pong clock. It plays a random game of Pong that goes on for 24 hours at a time — right side wins every minute, left side wins every hour. We're scratching everything else off our list this year — this is the only thing we want.

P.S. Don't forget to check out the movie [MOV].

[Via MoCoLoCo]

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Nico @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM

I want this. It would look good in my kitchen.

<3 my bachelor life.

[Jesse] @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM

Awesome! But how exactly do you set it?

Buthidae @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM

My life shall not be complete until I own one of these.

ottawacub @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM

This looks cool, anyone know where you can buy one?

Ladderless @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM

So how do we buy one of these?

It would make a neat screen saver....

Goodman @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM

I could totally see getting this.

Pixelantes Anonymous @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM

I don't think you can buy these. The place putting this together appears to be some sort of a design company. Looks like the Pong clock is a one-off. A real shame. That thing could have mass market appeal, if priced appropriately.

JTB @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM

How long before someone makes a screensaver out of this?

Please?

Fungus @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM

Wow, the idea of using Pong as a screensaver is such an oxymoron.

strategery @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM

Mix it with PongMechanik and you're onto something.

T10 @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM

I MUST HAVE THIS.

PH @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM

If you could buy one, I would buy one. That thing is sweet!!!

Oracle @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM

The clock component would probably be more functional if the minutes/hours went past 21 ;)
Though I imagine (and hope) we'll be seeing more than pong for screen saver clocks. Combat, anyone?

Frederic @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM

Damn, this is the best old fashioned geeky stuff I've seen for a long time.
But I fear a lot of people won't be able to say what it's about.

Sam @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM

I want one.
Or if I can't have that, I want a Pong Clock screensaver released for XScreenSaver.

Sven @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM

Dudes, I am the World Champion of PONG! ;-) Believe me, I won the Championship in Berlin this year:
http://www.pongpong.de/

DDJ @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM

I REALLY want one of these clocks.

Jesse, perhaps you just need to plug it in at midnight.

rodents @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM

i'm semi-new to flash, but i know it can be done, give me a week and i'll have it

[Jesse] @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM

Humm... never thought of that idea DDJ. lol I could see the instructions for it now... To set The Pong Clock, unplug it, wait until midnight, pug it in again. Thank you for ordering The Pong Clock!

jadenguy @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM

maybe you just have to beat the computer to set it?

Daniel W. @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM

Is there any word on a screen saver, yet?

Mietrecht @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM

The clock is great !
Wish i could buy this awsome thing. I talked to the guys and i might have a version on http://www.motorhomesamerica.com soon. Price might be fairly high though.....

Cailean Babcock @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM

It would be a good idea to host the movie on your own site, rather than linking directly to the file stored on someone else's site. Basically, you're stealing their bandwidth and giving nothing back. Very bad form, especially since Joystiq is an ad-driven site.

Dan Choi @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM

I wonder how both sides win at the change of each hour....

Bigpicnic @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM

Yes! Joystiq, you must promise to post if someone manages to make the screensaver.

Sander @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM

Hello people,

first of all thnx for the link and the great comments! Really like the response so far to this thing, that started out merely as a joke for our office interior.
Anyway a few quick answers on the Pong clock.

About the screensaver option:
This is already made and I will put it online soon, so people can download it, to customize their pc's etc...

Setting for the current version is very easy, since for this current prototype it's not neccesary. it runs of the internal clock of the motherboard.

Production version: it's on the way, we were working on it already as an offside project, now we simply need to speed things up, by the looks of it :-).
It will work of one single chip and one lcd screen. You will set it just like your 'normal alarm clock' with 4 push buttons
We're thinking on incorporporating a alarm function in it is well to make you awake in the morning with the famous pong sound :-)

Sander

happy gilmore @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM

i thought a screen saver was designed to protect your screen from burn-in. you guys are laaaaaammmeee!!!

Get and LCD @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM

Happy Gilmore...
Get a LCD screen dude, only noobs own monitors that still burn-in.

Rosenstern @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM

Sander, be sure to keep us alert of how it's coming! I will definitely buy one once there's a way to!

Jeffrey Fourmile @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM

There already is a pretty cool Pong screensaver for Xbox Media Center. Also google 'pong screensaver' turns up some Windows versions (some look a bit dodgy tho). I think I'd buy this clock if it were reasonably priced.

Oracle @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM

#28, you're absolutely correct. Only n00bs run their PCs off of plasma displays.

jadenguy @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM

heh, those lame pl45ma n00bs. 4500s as we call them.

lunabomber @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM

I thought this was really cool, and I couldn't wait for the official screen saver release, so I wrote up a barebones Windows screensaver to use in the meantime: http://www.daveluna.com/blog/archives/20051128_872_5900_9070282757.html

Sander Mulder @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM

Unabomber,

Nice screensaver.
But i would appreciate an credit line in your Pong Clock screensaver. For instance a text line reading: orginal idea by Buro Vormkrijgers.nl

I understand i can not keep people [like you] from beating us to it. After all the idea is quite simple. And I do not want to make a big fuss out of it either, since it's only the internet. And in a way, yes, i'm flattered by your copy.
However.... I would still appreciate the gesture...

Thank you in advance,

Sander Mulder
Buro Vormkrijgers