The Pong clock

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]

[Nico @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

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

<3 my bachelor life.

[[Jesse] @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

Awesome! But how exactly do you set it?

[Buthidae @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

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

[ottawacub @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

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

[Ladderless @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

So how do we buy one of these?

It would make a neat screen saver....

[Goodman @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

I could totally see getting this.

[Pixelantes Anonymous @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

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 19th 2005 12:55AM]

How long before someone makes a screensaver out of this?

Please?

[Fungus @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

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

[strategery @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

Mix it with PongMechanik and you're onto something.

[T10 @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

I MUST HAVE THIS.

[PH @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

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

[Oracle @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

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 19th 2005 12:55AM]

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 19th 2005 12:55AM]

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

[Sven @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

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

[DDJ @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

I REALLY want one of these clocks.

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

[rodents @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

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

[[Jesse] @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

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 19th 2005 12:55AM]

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

[Daniel W. @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

Is there any word on a screen saver, yet?

[Mietrecht @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

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 19th 2005 12:55AM]

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 19th 2005 12:55AM]

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

[Bigpicnic @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

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

[Sander @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

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 19th 2005 12:55AM]

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

[Get and LCD @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

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

[Rosenstern @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

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 19th 2005 12:55AM]

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 19th 2005 12:55AM]

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

[jadenguy @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

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

[lunabomber @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

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 19th 2005 12:55AM]

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

[lunabomber @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

Certainly -- I just updated the screensaver with credit to you. I'm looking forward to seeing the original screensaver soon. Great work!

[Sander Mulder @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

The 'official' screensaver is online for download at our site.--> www.burovormkrijgers.nl
Only for windows, sorry for that.

[skeib @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

There is also a flash version up at http://pong.skeib.com

Credit will be given in the flash-movie when I get to the source.

[Nico @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

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

<3 my bachelor life.

[[Jesse] @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

Awesome! But how exactly do you set it?

[Buthidae @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

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

[ottawacub @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

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

[Ladderless @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

So how do we buy one of these?

It would make a neat screen saver....

[Goodman @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

I could totally see getting this.

[Pixelantes Anonymous @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

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 19th 2005 12:55AM]

How long before someone makes a screensaver out of this?

Please?

[Fungus @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

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

[strategery @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

Mix it with PongMechanik and you're onto something.

[T10 @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

I MUST HAVE THIS.

[PH @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

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

[Oracle @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

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?