# Level 0: The History of Video Games Before 1981 - Pong to Pac-Man

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/surely-you-can-t-be-serious-podcast-494776/level-0-the-history-of-video-games-before-1981-pong-to-pac-man
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/surely-you-can-t-be-serious-podcast-494776/level-0-the-history-of-video-games-before-1981-pong-to-pac-man.md
Podcast: [Surely You Can't Be Serious Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/surely-you-can-t-be-serious-podcast-494776)
Published: 2026-01-13T06:05:07+00:00
Episode link: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/level-0-the-history-of-video-games-before-1981-pong-to-pac-man--69406705
Audio file: https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/69406705/stream.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/surely-you-can-t-be-serious-podcast-494776/episodes/level-0-the-history-of-video-games-before-1981-pong-to-pac-man
Duration seconds: 1312

## Resource

Why was 1981 the greatest year in arcade gaming history? Before Jason and Dee dive into Donkey Kong, Ms. Pac-Man, Galaga, Frogger, and Defender, discover the revolutionary games that paved the way. From Pong's simplicity to Space Invaders' invasion and the "Puck Man" controversy, this prequel episode explores the arcade legends that changed gaming forever. Grab your quarters—the high score challenge starts here!

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## Transcript

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