Hoops fans everywhere were treated to some electronic arcade competition for the first time in 1978, the year that Atari released Basketball. Certainly primitive by today’s standards, it nonetheless gave a beloved sport its rightful place in game rooms around the country, as two somewhat-human-looking figures battled it out on the screen in a little game of one-on-on.

Like most sport games, Basketball gave you the option of pitting yourself against a human opponent, or if none happened to be nearby, a computer adversary. Rather than use a clumsy joystick, Atari opted for the same trackball popular in their football game, which allowed for a much wider range of movement across a court that was more than a little shy of regulation. Players used the trackball to move, while a single button handled all of the other responsibilities such as shooting and stealing. Perhaps it wasn’t the most realistic game play imaginable, but it certainly was fun. And to make up for the lack of technology, Atari did their best to add a few elements that enhanced the experience. Games began with a few bars of the Harlem Globetrotters theme, “Sweet Georgia Brown” at the tip-off. And a successful shot at the basket was met with a rousing ovation from the crowd. Well, an audio representation of an ovation at least. Visually, the crowd didn’t get too riled up as they were represented by an image painted on the plastic screen overlay.

Still, it was 1979. Gamers took what they could get with few complaints. The opportunity for a little one-on-one game of hoops was hard to turn down, even in this primitive setting, and especially when it meant a chance to show up your opponent on the virtual court.