Baer often stated that it was never his goal to pioneer a multibillion-dollar industry. Originally, in 1951, his goal was to convert his concept from an idea in his head to physical reality. The company he was working for in 1951 dismissed his original idea as folly, but 15 years later, a subsequent employer considered his idea to be feasible, allowing Baer to construct the first prototype in 1966. Baer's original idea ultimately became the first TV gaming console, released in 1972, the Magnavox Odyssey.