Ralph H. Baer, "The Father of Video Gaming," passed away peacefully at 92 in his New Hampshire home on December 6.

The news of his passing quickly spread online after video game historian Leonard Herman posted Baer's death on Facebook. Herman is a close friend of Baer.

Baer, dubbed the "Thomas Edison of the Home TV Game" in 1980 by Popular Mechanics magazine, developed the first home video game system called Odyssey. The video game system patent was filed in August 1970. The system was later released under Maganvox in 1972.

Like Us on Facebook

Baer and his family fled Nazi Germany and arrived in New York in 1938 to begin again. During his teens, Baer worked at a small leather factory where he saw a magazine ad called "Make Big Money in Radio" that sparked his interest. He received lessons via mail through this ad and he later worked repairing radio and television sets.

During World War II, Baer was drafted and assigned to military intelligence. After the war, Baer finished his Bachelor of Science degree in Television Engineering from the American Television Institute of Technology in 1949. He then began a career in the electronics industry.

Baer's first major contribution to the video game industry was the first home light gun game, which was an add-on to the Shooting Gallery in Odyssey, along with the Simon handheld memory skill game still sold today.

Baer has been honored for his achievements in the gaming industry and received awards, including the National Medal of Technology from President George W. Bush in 2006.

According to Herman's post in Facebook, Baer was a generous, fantastic and equally brilliant individual whom anyone could spend hours with him and forget being in the company of someone of his stature. Baer's youthful enthusiasm made him a success and he spent much time working on various projects in his lifetime.

TagsFather of Video Gaming, Ralph H. Baer Dies at 92, ralph baer, Father of Video Gaming, odyssey game system, simon game, ralph baer dies passes away 92 father of video games