Your chance to play Pong on the side of a huge building

The Cira Centre will soon host a battle of the Pong paddles.

(Credit: Video screenshot by Amanda Kooser/CNET)

Frank Lee is a man with a dream. The co-founder and co-director of the Game Design Program at Drexel University has been staring longingly at the Cira Centre in Philadelphia, a massive building with a matrix of LED lights on the exterior. He imagined turning it into one of the world's biggest video games. Later this month, that bold dream will come true.

Lee's 4-year-long quest will culminate on April 19 and April 24 when he hands the controls of a giant Pong game over to Philly residents. Due to time constraints, fewer than 100 lucky gamers will get a chance to play. Certain student groups are already in line to participate, but other players will be selected via lottery.

The 29-story Cira Centre will become a 83,360-square-foot monitor. Players will be situated across the river from the building to get a good view of the action. The game will run thanks to a custom software program that will control the LED lights. Lee and his colleagues have already successfully tested the concept.

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