Machine Guides

Game History

The mechanical Pong table originated as a Kickstarter project created by Gerardo Orioli, who collaborated with Daniel Perdomo at Uruguay-based Calinfer. The project was described as "a playable, real life, mechanical homage to one of the first video games, disguised into a multi-functional coffee table." The creators developed the concept as an homage to retro gaming, taking the digital experience of Pong and transforming it into a physical, mechanical form. The Kickstarter campaign was launched with a funding goal of $250,000 and ultimately became highly successful. 

Following the success of their initial prototypes, the team secured an investor, obtained an exclusive license with Atari, and built additional prototypes to perfect the design. They faced technical challenges in finding "the right balance between the forces that re-create the 2D movement and illusion of the game."  Despite these challenges, the mechanical Pong table represents a unique fusion of retro gaming nostalgia with physical craftsmanship, bringing the classic video game into three-dimensional reality.

How to Play

Objective

The main goal of Mechanical Pong is to score points by hitting a ball past your opponent's paddle using the mechanical controls on the table. You play against another person in a real-life, physical version of the classic Pong video game. The ultimate objective is to be the first player to reach the winning score or have the highest score when the game ends.

Controls

• Control Knob: Use the mechanical knob on your side of the table to move your paddle left and right
• Start Button: Used to begin a new game or launch a ball

Gameplay

1. Starting the Game: Press the Start Button to begin a new game. The ball will launch from the center of the table.

2. Paddle Movement: Rotate your control knob to move your paddle vertically along your side of the table to block the ball.

3. Ball Deflection: Hit the ball with your paddle to send it back toward your opponent's side of the table.

4. Scoring: Score points when your opponent fails to hit the ball and it passes their paddle.

5. Ball Speed: The ball maintains a consistent speed as it moves back and forth between paddles.

6. Rally Mechanics: Continue hitting the ball back and forth until one player misses, resulting in a point for the other player.

7. Two-Player Competition: Play against another person on the opposite side of the table, with each player controlling their own paddle.

8. Game Completion: The game ends when a player reaches the predetermined winning score or after a set time limit.

9. Score Display: View the current score on the mechanical or digital display incorporated into the table design.