When Pong got popular, parents everywhere criticized it for being a lazy person’s version of a sport. They worried that it would encourage kids to avoid physical activity in favor of virtual games. They were right. Now there’s a slightly more physical way to play ping-pong that still doesn’t involve actually setting up a table and keeping track of that little ball.

Virtual Pong (a name we find delightfully ridiculous) from Sharper Image involves waving around handheld devices similar to Wii remotes to “hit” a light that bounces around on the ceiling and walls.

The setup consists of a small base unit that sits on the table and projects “balls of light.” You use the “racquets” to bounce the light back and forth between opponents; there is also a solo setting that lets you play against the game console. Of course, you could do the same thing with almost any modern video gaming console and the right game, but for $60 Virtual Pong is cheaper than any of those and probably cheaper than just buying a real ping-pong table.

The post Practically Pong: Weird Analog Version of the Video Game first appeared on Gajitz.

What do you do when you’re waiting to cross the street? Most of us look around, get lost in thought or maybe strike up a conversation with an attractive fellow pedestrian. At one awesome traffic light in Germany, walkers can fill those seconds with a short game of Pong against someone waiting at the opposite corner.

A small touchscreen device on the traffic light pole counts down the time left before the light changes. At the same time, it lets you control a paddle that bounces a virtual ball across the screen. Keep the ball from hitting the “wall” on your side while trying to hit the “wall” on your opponent’s side to win.

We don’t speak German so we aren’t sure whether an explanation for the game is given in the short video. Perhaps it’s a safety measure to encourage pedestrians to wait at the corner rather than trying to dash across the street between cars. Or maybe it’s just there to add a bit of unexpected fun to pedestrians’ days.

The post Crosswalk Craziness: Traffic Light Comes With a Short Game first appeared on Gajitz.