Computer Space

Computer Space is a video game released by Nutting Associates in November 1971. It was created by the partnership Syzygy Engineering as single-player adaptation of the mainframe computer game Spacewar!. The game is widely acknowledged as the first commercial video game ever available on the market.

Previews

Cash Box
🇺🇸 October 30, 1971

Photograph of the Nutting Associates booth at the 1971 MOA, showcasing Computer Space.

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Cash Box
🇺🇸 October 30, 1971

Blurb about Computer Space at the MOA.

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Cash Box
🇺🇸 November 6, 1971

A report from the MOA show, speaking with Nolan Bushnell about the game's features.

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Announcement

United States

Cash Box
🇺🇸 December 4, 1971

Announcement of the availability of Computer Space.

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Italy

Automat
🇺🇸 1971

Computer Space announcement in Italian coin-op magazine Automat.

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Advertisement

Ads

Cash Box
🇺🇸 November 27, 1971

First in-page advertisement for Computer Space, announcing availability.

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Cash Box
🇺🇸 July 1, 1972

Revised in-page for Computer Space.

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Cash Box
🇺🇸 August 19, 1972

Small, illustrated advertisement for Computer Space representing the gameplay.

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Flyers

Flyer
🇺🇸 c. 1971

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Flyer
🇺🇸 c. 1971

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Photos

Production

Cash Box
🇺🇸 February 12, 1972

Production of Computer Space at the Nutting Associates plant in Mountain View, California.

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On Location

Plain Dealer
🇺🇸 June 17, 1973

Comedian Tony Bodanza poses with Computer Space.

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Families, couples, and friends enjoy indoor roller skating
🇺🇸 April 30, 1975

A boy in rollerskates plays Computer Space in a mall arcade.

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Articles

Cash Box
🇺🇸 January 29, 1972

Report on distributor acceptance of Computer Space on the West Coast. Bill Nutting advocates how the game opens non-traditional venues to coin-operated games.

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Cash Box
🇺🇸 February 12, 1972

A report on Nutting Associates focused on Computer Space. David Ralston provides commentary on the difference of the game from others currently on the market.

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Vending Times
🇺🇸 May 1972

Descriptive article highlighting the features of Computer Space with quotes by David Ralston.

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Cash Box
🇺🇸 November 4, 1972

Bill Nutting gives an award to coin-op distributor Bob Portale of Portale Automatic Sales for exemplary sales of Computer Space for the company.

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Game credits

Game Designer, Hardware Designer

Nolan Bushnell

Hardware Designer, Sound Engineer

Ted Dabney

Technician

Steve Bristow

Histories

• Computer Space and the Dawn of the Arcade Video Game by Benj Edwards.
• Pixels in Print (Part 1): Advertising Computer Space by Kate Willaert covering the advertising context of the original game.
• Nolan Versus Ted: Part 1 by Alex Smith. A historiological discussion of the work done on Computer Space by the two partners.
• Worldly Wednesdays: A Timeline of Computer Space by Alex Smith. An attempt to use existing documentation to sort out when parts of the game were conceived and built.

Interviews

• https://amhistory.si.edu/archives/AC1498_Transcript_NolanBushnell.pdf — Nolan Bushnell oral history conducted by Christopher Weaver, working with the Smithsonian Institution's Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation (November 17th, 2017).
• https://amhistory.si.edu/archives/AC1498_Transcript_TedDabney.pdf — Ted Dabney oral history conducted by Christopher Weaver, working with the Smithsonian Institution's Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation (March 15th, 2018).

Books

• Video Invaders by Steve Bloom
• Atari Inc: Business is Fun by Curt Vendel and Marty Goldberg.

Other Information

• http://www.computerspacefan.com/SN9003large.htm — Information on the white variation of Computer Space, claimed to be one of the original four production units.