This children’s article, Game on! A kids’ guide to the first video game ever made, has been written for native English speakers and learners of English as a second or foreign language. It can help children build vocabulary, learn about early video game history, and discover what games looked like before screens had colour! Written by Mark Pulley, a teacher and writer who creates fun and informative news articles for English learners.
Image credit – “Tennis For Two” by HeatSync Labs, CC BY-SA 2.0
What was the world’s first video game?
You might think the first video game was something like Pong or Pac-Man. But long before home consoles and colourful arcades, there was a game called Tennis for Two, and it’s probably the very first video game ever made!
It didn’t have fancy graphics, and it wasn’t played on a TV or phone. The screen didn’t even have colour!
Made for fun in a science lab
Tennis for Two was created in 1958 by an American physicist called William Higinbotham. He worked at a big science laboratory in New York, where scientists built equipment to study atoms and energy. The lab sometimes held public events to show people what science could do.
William thought most of the machines on display were boring. So, he built something fun: a game that visitors could actually play!
How did it work?
Tennis for Two was played on an old-fashioned screen called an oscilloscope, which was normally used for measuring waves and signals. On the screen, you saw a side view of a tennis court, with a small glowing dot representing the ball.
Two players used metal controllers with buttons and dials to hit the ball over a net. The ball would bounce, curve through the air, or hit the ground, just like real tennis!
People loved it. Crowds formed around the machine to take turns playing. Many had never seen anything like it before.
So why isn’t it more famous?
Because William never tried to sell it or protect the idea. After the public event, the machine was taken apart and forgotten. It wasn’t until the 1970s that video games like Pong and Space Invaders really took off.
Today, many people still debate what the “first video game” really was. Some say it was a game called OXO in 1952, but most experts think Tennis for Two should win because it was the first made just for fun and played on a screen.
Article vocabulary list
- Physicist – A scientist who studies how matter and energy work.
- Oscilloscope – A type of screen used in science labs to show waves or signals.
- Debate – When people have different opinions and discuss them.
- Equipment – Tools or machines used for a specific job.
- Recreated – Made again, usually as a copy of something older.
- Protect (an idea) – To stop others from copying your invention or creation.
- Public event – An activity where people are invited to watch or join in.
- Crowds – Large groups of people gathered in one place.
Comprehension questions
Just click the plus (+) to see the answer
1. What was the name of one of the first video games ever made?
A) Pong
B) Space Invaders
C) Tennis for Two
Answer: C) Tennis for Two
2. Who created Tennis for Two?
A) Steve Jobs
B) William Higinbotham
C) Charles Babbage
Answer: B) William Higinbotham
3. Where was Tennis for Two shown to the public?
A) In a school gym
B) In a science laboratory
C) In an arcade
Answer: B) In a science laboratory
4. What kind of screen did the game use?
A) A TV screen
B) A computer monitor
C) An oscilloscope
Answer: C) An oscilloscope
5. What shape is the tennis ball in the game?
A) A small glowing dot
B) A green square
C) A red star
Answer: A) A small glowing dot
Mark is a writer and EFL teacher from England with eight years’ experience. He’s passionate about travel, sport (especially football), animals, nature, and history, and enjoys helping children explore the world through language and learning.
