1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die – Game #2 – Pong

Pong
Platform: Various
It doesn't get any more simpler than this.  It is literally virtual Ping Pong (oops...sorry.  Table tennis.).  
You have two paddles. One ball.  Battle to the death....or to a certain score.  That's it.  Simple in concept, good reflexes and strategy win this game.  
I've had many run ins with the deceptively simple game.  Notably, the first would be on a knock-off version similar to an Atari (but definitely not Atari):
Not the actual Pong console we had.
The version we had was pretty sweet.  You turned the dials to move the paddles, but you could have different variations.  Two paddles per side.  Soccer.  Squash mode.  Etc.  It was pretty advanced, and 10-year old me loved it.  Unfortunately, this console didn't last long.  In fact it ended with the console starting on fire and us having to throw it out in the snow one winter.  Rest in peace.
Of course, Pong made many other appearances in other video games.  Mario Party, for instance, has many mini games based on the concept of Pong.  Many bonus games in mainstream games have similar ideas as well.  Of course, there were the knockoffs as well.  Anyone remember Slime Volleyball?
Slime Volleyball - Time waster since 2000
Of course, as I've gotten older, one form of Pong has stood out more than others...
Beer Pong.
Yep.  Beer Pong.  Awesome (yet I'm still AWFUL at it...as noted by the terrible form below:)
Yep, not drunk at all.
Such a simple game in whatever form.  Video game.  Beer form.  Ping Pong/Table Tennis form.  Air hockey form.  Here's to you, Pong.  May you continue to help me get intoxicated due to my terrible aiming abilities.  Cheers!