PONG is a video game by Atari, based on the sport of table tennis. "Pong" (lowercase) is the title of an entire genre of PONG derived arcade units, consoles and games based on the "ball" and "paddle" characteristic of game play. Though PONG is commonly thought to be the world's first video arcade game, Computer Space actually preceded it. The original PONG arcade unit was released by Atari on November 29, 1972.

It was certainly the first video game to win widespread popularity, in both its arcade and home console versions; in that sense, it acted as the linchpin for the initial boom of industry in each of those sectors.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pong