With the goal of documenting a milestone of the electronic games history and once again out of sheer joy in experimenting and spirit of research T42 (pronounced "Tea for two") has been created, the only existing 100% analog and fully playable reconstruction of Tennis for Two by William Higinbotham from 1958. This replica, completed May 2011 as part of the project MEGA - Museum of Electronic Games & Art, is closest to the original. Not only that it resurrects long forgotten technology, it also preserves the its charismatic relevance for both computer and video game history.

Interaction

Tennis for Two is a multi-player game. In this tennis simulation two players can move a light dot from one side to the other while changing the angle of the ball and its flight path. The red button lets you hit the ball, when it passes the net, your opponent is allowed to hit and return.

Graphics and Sounds

Video screen is a 5" analog oscilloscope. Ball, net and court are displayed in a side-view. The movement of the ball is a graph within a two-dimensional coordinate system, where the X-axis represents time and Y-axis represents voltage. Change of voltage is displayed through a trail of light.

Five relay sections produce the charismatic sounds of T42, prettifying the events serve, return, net ball and player change.

Rules

  • Service: Start of the game. The ball must be played to the opponent's side.
  • Return: The opponent hits and returns the ball.
  • Smash: Ball played at a high speed and low angle.
  • Volley: Ball is returned before touching the ground.
  • Net: The ball is caught by the net. The opponent scores.
  • Winner: The opponent does not return the ball. Player scores.
  • Ace: Service cannot be returned by the opponent. Player scores.

Game logic and Gameplay


Original diagram of Tennis for Two game logic (1958)

Serve A player starts the game. By turning the rotary knob the player changes charge of two capacitors (one for X-axis and one for Y-axis). Service is realized by switching several relais and starts discharging the capacitors as a simulation of gravity and air resistance. Serving player gets interlocked and player change happens.

Net If the ball does not pass the net at minimum height, the X-axis of the ball movement gets inverted and the ball bounces off the net and back towards the player. The Y-axis is not affected. After the ball has reached the end of court the game restarts.

Restart Relais cause the change of play direction. The ball is positioned on the winner's side until he hits.

Bounce When the ball touches the ground a relay changes direction of the Y-axis and the ball bounces off and up. It loses energy and thus height (Y-axis) on each bounce.

End of court If the opponent does not play the ball, the game stops and restarts. The ball gets repositioned on the player's side.

Net pass If the ball passes the net, relais release the interlock of the opponent and allow him to play.

Return please see "Serve".

Long-term Preservation and Access


Before the first T42 kits are available from MEGA, you can enjoy this
(unified) APP for iPhone, iPad and iPod - in store now!