Perhaps most surprising is Baer's apparent disappointment with the path the gaming industry has traveled since his Odyssey hit store shelves in 1972. Whereas his mission was to create a family-oriented device, Baer voices reservations with the current industry outlook, saying games have "degenerated into a one player type thing." Baer's success extends beyond the Odyssey console, which he says ultimately sold around 350,000 units. He holds over 150 patents that have led to other recognizable products like the classic handheld game SIMON.

Baer's fascination with inventing things hasn't waned in the face of old age, although his reasons for keeping at it these days sadly impart a sense of loneliness. A rather heartbreaking section of the video reveals that his wife passed away in 2006 just days before President George W. Bush would present Baer with the National Medal of Technology. "All my friends, they're all gone. I've outlived them all," he says. "I need a challenge." Above all, though, Ralph Baer remains a man with a deep passion for what he does each day. "I still get a big charge out of making something work."