Computer Space: Difference between revisions

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{{Infobox
{{InfoboxGame
  |title  = Computer Space
  |title  = Computer Space
  |image  = ComputerSpaceFlyerFront.jpg
  |image  = ComputerSpaceFlyerFront.jpg
  |developer = Nolan Bushnell, Ted Dabney
  |developer = [[Syzygy Engineering]]
  |publisher = Nutting Associates
  |publisher = [[Nutting Associates]]
  |date = November 1971
  |date = November 1971
  |mobygames = https://www.mobygames.com/game/arcade/computer-space
  |mobygames = https://www.mobygames.com/game/arcade/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 ==
 
{{GalleryStart}}
{{GalleryCard
|file=ComputerSpace1971MOA.jpeg
|title=Cash Box
|date=October 30, 1971
|country=US
|description=Photograph of the Nutting Associates booth at the 1971 MOA, showcasing ''Computer Space''.
}}
{{GalleryCard
|file=1971-10-30 Cash Box pg 56 02 04.png
|title=Cash Box
|date=October 30, 1971
|country=US
|description=Blurb about ''Computer Space'' at the MOA.
}}
{{GalleryCard
|file=1971-11-06 Cash Box pg 56 01 03.png
|title=Cash Box
|date=November 6, 1971
|country=US
|description=A report from the MOA show, speaking with [[Nolan Bushnell]] about the game's features.
}}
{{GalleryEnd}}
 
== Announcement ==
 
=== United States ===
 
{{GalleryStart}}
{{GalleryCard
|file=1971-12-04 Cash Box pg 45 02.png
|title=Cash Box
|date=December 4, 1971
|country=US
|description=Announcement of the availability of ''Computer Space''.
}}
{{GalleryEnd}}
 
=== Italy ===
 
{{GalleryStart}}
{{GalleryCard
|file=ComputerSpaceItalyRelease01.jpg
|title=Automat
|date=1971
|country=US
|description=''Computer Space'' announcement in Italian coin-op magazine Automat.
}}
{{GalleryEnd}}
 
== Advertisement ==
 
=== Ads ===
 
{{GalleryStart}}
{{GalleryCard
|file=1971-11-27 Cash Box pg 54 04.png
|title=Cash Box
|date=November 27, 1971
|country=US
|description=First in-page advertisement for ''Computer Space'', announcing availability.
}}
{{GalleryCard
|file=1972-07-01 Cash Box pg Part III 50 02.png
|title=Cash Box
|date=July 1, 1972
|country=US
|description=Revised in-page for ''Computer Space''.
}}
}}
{{GalleryCard
|file=1972-08-19 Cash Box pg 41 04.png
|title=Cash Box
|date=August 19, 1972
|country=US
|description=Small, illustrated advertisement for ''Computer Space'' representing the gameplay.
}}
{{GalleryEnd}}


== Flyers ==
=== Flyers ===
<gallery>
ComputerSpaceFlyerFront.jpg|Front of Flyer #1. (1971?)
ComputerSpaceFlyer01Back.jpg|Back of Flyer #1. (1971?)
</gallery>


{{GalleryStart}}
{{GalleryCard
|file=Computer Space (1971) Flyer 01.pdf
|title=Flyer
|date=c. 1971
|country=US
}}
{{GalleryCard
|file=Computer Space (1971) Flyer 02.pdf
|title=Flyer
|date=c. 1971
|country=US
}}
{{GalleryEnd}}


== Ads ==
== Photos ==
<gallery>
ComputerSpaceAd01.jpg|Cash Box ad (1972)
</gallery>


== Production ==
=== Production ===


<gallery>
{{GalleryStart}}
ComputerSpaceProductionLine.jpg|Photo of Computer Space on the production line. (1972)
{{GalleryCard
</gallery>
|file=ComputerSpaceProductionLine.jpg
|title=Cash Box
|date=February 12, 1972
|country=US
|description=Production of ''Computer Space'' at the Nutting Associates plant in Mountain View, California.
}}
{{GalleryEnd}}


== Release ==
=== On Location ===
<gallery>
ComputerSpaceItalyRelease01.jpg|Announcement of
</gallery>


== Previews ==
{{GalleryStart}}
{{GalleryCard
|file=1973-06-17 Plain Dealer pg 6-E 02.jpg
|title=Plain Dealer
|date=June 17, 1973
|country=US
|description=Comedian Tony Bodanza poses with ''Computer Space''.
}}
{{GalleryCard
|file=ST-20003783-0018.jpg
|title=Families, couples, and friends enjoy indoor roller skating
|date=April 30, 1975
|country=US
|description=A boy in rollerskates plays ''Computer Space'' in a mall arcade.
}}
{{GalleryEnd}}
 
== Articles ==
 
{{GalleryStart}}
{{GalleryCard
|file=1972-01-29 Cash Box pg 62 01 04.png
|title=Cash Box
|date=January 29, 1972
|country=US
|description=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.
}}
{{GalleryCard
|file=1972-02-12 Cash Box pg 42 02.png
|title=Cash Box
|date=February 12, 1972
|country=US
|description=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.
}}
{{GalleryCard
|file=1972-05 Vending Times (Computer Space Article).png
|title=Vending Times
|date=May 1972
|country=US
|description=Descriptive article highlighting the features of ''Computer Space'' with quotes by David Ralston.
}}
{{GalleryCard
|file=1972-11-04 Cash Box pg 55 08.png
|title=Cash Box
|date=November 4, 1972
|country=US
|description=Bill Nutting gives an award to coin-op distributor Bob Portale of Portale Automatic Sales for exemplary sales of ''Computer Space'' for the company.
}}
{{GalleryEnd}}


<gallery>
== Game credits ==
ComputerSpace1971MOA.jpeg|Cash Box (October 30th, 1971)
</gallery>


== Photos On Location ==
{{Credits begin}}
<gallery>
{{Credits line|Game Designer, Hardware Designer = Nolan Bushnell}}
</gallery>
{{Credits line|Hardware Designer, Sound Engineer = Ted Dabney}}
{{Credits line|Technician = Steve Bristow}}
{{Credits end}}


== Histories ==
== Histories ==


*https://www.technologizer.com/2011/12/11/computer-space-and-the-dawn-of-the-arcade-video-game/ ''Computer Space and the Dawn of the Arcade Video Game'' by Benj Edwards.
* [https://www.technologizer.com/2011/12/11/computer-space-and-the-dawn-of-the-arcade-video-game/ ''Computer Space and the Dawn of the Arcade Video Game''] by Benj Edwards.
* https://gamehistory.org/first-arcade-game-advertisement-computer-space/ — ''Pixels in Print (Part 1): Advertising Computer Space'' by Kate Willaert covering the advertising context of the original game.
* [https://gamehistory.org/first-arcade-game-advertisement-computer-space/ ''Pixels in Print (Part 1): Advertising Computer Space''] by Kate Willaert covering the advertising context of the original game.
* https://videogamehistorian.wordpress.com/2021/04/07/nolan-versus-ted-part-i/ - ''Nolan Versus Ted: Part 1'' A historiological discussion of the work done on Computer Space by the two partners.
* [https://videogamehistorian.wordpress.com/2021/04/07/nolan-versus-ted-part-i/ ''Nolan Versus Ted: Part 1''] by Alex Smith. A historiological discussion of the work done on Computer Space by the two partners.
* [https://videogamehistorian.wordpress.com/2021/05/12/worldly-wednesdays-a-timeline-of-computer-space/ ''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 ==
== 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_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).
* 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 ==
== Books ==


* ''Video Invaders'' by Steve Bloom
* ''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.
[[Category:Game]]

Latest revision as of 00:47, 23 February 2025

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[edit]

ComputerSpace1971MOA.jpeg
Cash Box
🇺🇸 October 30, 1971

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

  Download File
1971-10-30 Cash Box pg 56 02 04.png
Cash Box
🇺🇸 October 30, 1971

Blurb about Computer Space at the MOA.

  Download File
1971-11-06 Cash Box pg 56 01 03.png
Cash Box
🇺🇸 November 6, 1971

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

  Download File

Announcement[edit]

United States[edit]

1971-12-04 Cash Box pg 45 02.png
Cash Box
🇺🇸 December 4, 1971

Announcement of the availability of Computer Space.

  Download File

Italy[edit]

ComputerSpaceItalyRelease01.jpg
Automat
🇺🇸 1971

Computer Space announcement in Italian coin-op magazine Automat.

  Download File

[edit]

Ads[edit]

1971-11-27 Cash Box pg 54 04.png
Cash Box
🇺🇸 November 27, 1971

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

  Download File
1972-07-01 Cash Box pg Part III 50 02.png
Cash Box
🇺🇸 July 1, 1972

Revised in-page for Computer Space.

  Download File
1972-08-19 Cash Box pg 41 04.png
Cash Box
🇺🇸 August 19, 1972

Small, illustrated advertisement for Computer Space representing the gameplay.

  Download File

Flyers[edit]

Computer Space (1971) Flyer 01.pdf
Flyer
🇺🇸 c. 1971
  Download PDF
Computer Space (1971) Flyer 02.pdf
Flyer
🇺🇸 c. 1971
  Download PDF

Photos[edit]

Production[edit]

ComputerSpaceProductionLine.jpg
Cash Box
🇺🇸 February 12, 1972

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

  Download File

On Location[edit]

1973-06-17 Plain Dealer pg 6-E 02.jpg
Plain Dealer
🇺🇸 June 17, 1973

Comedian Tony Bodanza poses with Computer Space.

  Download File
ST-20003783-0018.jpg
Families, couples, and friends enjoy indoor roller skating
🇺🇸 April 30, 1975

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

  Download File

Articles[edit]

1972-01-29 Cash Box pg 62 01 04.png
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.

  Download File
1972-02-12 Cash Box pg 42 02.png
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.

  Download File
1972-05 Vending Times (Computer Space Article).png
Vending Times
🇺🇸 May 1972

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

  Download File
1972-11-04 Cash Box pg 55 08.png
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.

  Download File

Game credits[edit]

Game Designer, Hardware Designer
Nolan Bushnell
Hardware Designer, Sound Engineer
Ted Dabney
Technician
Steve Bristow

Histories[edit]

Interviews[edit]

Books[edit]

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

Other Information[edit]

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