Browsing through my newsfeed today I saw mention of Retro Ping Pong, and at first I wasn’t completely sure what it was. Pong is one of the first video games I played (perhaps THE first) thanks to an Ingersoll console, but I was playing the original – in emulated form – on the Atari 50 collection just last week.
Retro Ping Pong appears to be something new, and takes a new approach to the original title. So, I’ve taken a look at Retro Ping Pong, along with a few other revised, revisited, and reinvented versions of classic Pong.
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Retro Ping Pong
A game that is growing in popularity at the moment, Retro Ping Pong is a browser-based game that draws on the retro Pong game from Atari.
Providing a multiplayer experience and incorporating various gameplay tweaks (such as a breakout mode), Retro Ping Pong is currently one of the top online games in schools, colleges and (whisper it) workplaces. An evolution of Pong in many ways, this game features various power-ups and obstacles:
Secret Wall: A temporary wall blocks part of the court.
Fireball: The ball ignites and speeds up.
Multiball: Multiple balls are in play simultaneously.
Big Ball, Little Paddles: The ball is larger, paddles smaller.
Fog Zone: A fog bank obscures the ball’s path.
Gravity Well: Gravity is distorted in certain areas.
Bumper Ball: Bumpers deflect the ball’s trajectory.
Don’t Hit the Kitty: A cat is on the court, and hitting it incurs a penalty.
Blaster: Players can shoot each other with blasters.
The new modes make it increasingly competitive, but a classic mode is also available if you prefer more traditional game play.
Check out Retro Ping Pong in your browser now, and invite some friends over to play. The game is also available on the Apple App Store.
Retro Ping-pong game
A JavaScript version of the Pong retro game that runs in your browser, this offers a more authentic experience. Unlike Retro Pong Pong, this game is controlled by your mouse, rather than the keyboard.
This game also has the option to make tweaks as you play. Using the View Source code button, you can alter elements like the paddle thickness and length, and even the speed the computer moves its paddle. It’s a helpful insight into the parameters of a basic game like Pong.
Learn more and play the game on the Retro ping-pong project’s CodePen page.
Ping Pong Space – Retro Tennis
Prefer something a bit more spacey? With a look that isn’t a million miles from Space Invaders 95, Ping Pong Space – Retro Tennis has a two-player mode, 60 challenging levels, 9 colorful arenas, and laser power ups.
If the basic monochrome look of Pong leaves your eyes bleeding, this might be a smart alternative.
You can find Ping Ping Space – Retro Tennis on Steam.
qomp and qomp2
First released in 2021, qomp was presented as a “small game about freedom” which clearly draws on the original Pong for inspiration. However, it includes various enhancements, such as level bosses. A relatively short game, you can find qomp on Steam.
Meanwhile, qomp2 expands on the ideas of qomp, taking things “Beyond” the court. Having liked qomp so much, Atari came on board for qomp2, which sees the ball escape a “life stuck between two paddles.” This is essentially an arcade adventure game, and is also available on Steam.
Play original Pong on the Atari 50 collection
If you simply hanker the original Pong, it is available in the Atari 50 collection, where it is presented as the first playable title.
You can get the entire Atari 50 collection for Switch, PS4/5, and Xbox One/Series X on Amazon US and Amazon UK.
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Christian Cawley is a writer and editor who covers consumer electronics, IT, and entertainment media. He has written for publications such as Computer Weekly, Linux Format, MakeUseOf.com, and Tech Radar.
He also produces podcasts, has a cigar box guitar, and of course, loves retro gaming.
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