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
|wikipedia = https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/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}}


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


=== United States ===


== Ads ==
{{GalleryStart}}
<gallery>
{{GalleryCard
ComputerSpaceAd01.jpg|Cash Box ad (1972)
|file=1971-12-04 Cash Box pg 45 02.png
</gallery>
|title=Cash Box
|date=December 4, 1971
|country=US
|description=Announcement of the availability of ''Computer Space''.
}}
{{GalleryEnd}}


== Production ==
=== Italy ===


<gallery>
{{GalleryStart}}
ComputerSpaceProductionLine.jpg|Photo of Computer Space on the production line. (1972)
{{GalleryCard
</gallery>
|file=ComputerSpaceItalyRelease01.jpg
|title=Automat
|date=1971
|country=US
|description=''Computer Space'' announcement in Italian coin-op magazine Automat.
}}
{{GalleryEnd}}


== Release ==
== Advertisement ==
<gallery>
ComputerSpaceItalyRelease01.jpg|Announcement of Computer Space in the Italian publication Automat. (1971)
</gallery>


== Previews ==
=== 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 ad for ''Computer Space''.
}}
{{GalleryCard
|file=1972-08-19 Cash Box pg 41 04.png
|title=Cash Box
|date=August 19, 1972
|country=US
|description=Illustrated in-page advertisement for ''Computer Space'' representing the gameplay.
}}
{{GalleryEnd}}
 
=== Flyers ===
 
{{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}}
 
== Photos ==
 
=== Production ===
 
{{GalleryStart}}
{{GalleryCard
|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}}
 
=== On Location ===
 
{{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'' by Alex Smith. 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.
* [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
{{Book
* ''Atari Inc: Business is Fun'' by Curt Vendel and Marty Goldberg.
|title=Video Invaders
|author=Steve Bloom
|description=A history of video games from its '50s roots to its immense popularity in the late '70s and early '80s, written by journalist Steve Bloom (with illustrations by Howard Cruse and Dan Steffan) and published by Arco Publishing in 1982.
|isbn=978-0668055208
|cover_filename=
}}
{{Book
|title=Zap!: The Rise and Fall of Atari
|author=Scott Cohen
|description=What happened to Atari? How did Atari start? Who founded Atari? Was the Atari 2600 the first home console? Who decided the Atari home version of Pac-Man was good enough to release?
 
These questions and many more are answered in ''ZAP! The Rise and Fall of Atari''. Scott Cohen's exhaustive research has culminated into a thorough and enjoyable history of Atari, but the very foundations of the video game industry. His interviews with such notables as Nolan Bushnell and Ralph Baer provide an insider's look at the workings of a videogame company.
 
 
Roll through the pages to discover the origins of PONG, the effects of the Intellivision and Colecovision on Atari's dominance, and the results of the strenuous relationship between Warner and Atari.
 
Discover the answers to your questions about the company that provided video game entertainment to America in the 1970's and 1980's.
|isbn=978-0070115439
|cover_filename=
}}
{{Book
|title=Atari Inc.: Business is Fun
|author=Marty Goldberg, Curt Vendel
|description=An amazing 800 pages (including nearly 300 pages of rare, never before seen photos, memos and court documents), this book details Atari's genesis from an idea between an engineer and a visionary in 1969 to a nearly $2 billion dollar juggernaut, and ending with a $538 million death spiral during 1984. A testament to the people that worked at this beloved company, the book is full of their personal stories and insights.
|isbn=978-0985597405
|cover_filename=Atari Inc Business is Fun (Cover).jpg
}}
 
== 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 08:18, 25 October 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

Cash Box
🇺🇸 October 30, 1971

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

  Download File
Cash Box
🇺🇸 October 30, 1971

Blurb about Computer Space at the MOA.

  Download File
Cash Box
🇺🇸 November 6, 1971

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

  Download File

Announcement

United States

Cash Box
🇺🇸 December 4, 1971

Announcement of the availability of Computer Space.

  Download File

Italy

Automat
🇺🇸 1971

Computer Space announcement in Italian coin-op magazine Automat.

  Download File

Ads

Cash Box
🇺🇸 November 27, 1971

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

  Download File
Cash Box
🇺🇸 July 1, 1972

Revised in-page ad for Computer Space.

  Download File
Cash Box
🇺🇸 August 19, 1972

Illustrated in-page advertisement for Computer Space representing the gameplay.

  Download File

Flyers

Flyer
🇺🇸 c. 1971
  Download PDF
Flyer
🇺🇸 c. 1971
  Download PDF

Photos

Production

Cash Box
🇺🇸 February 12, 1972

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

  Download File

On Location

Plain Dealer
🇺🇸 June 17, 1973

Comedian Tony Bodanza poses with Computer Space.

  Download File
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

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
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
Vending Times
🇺🇸 May 1972

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

  Download File
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

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

Histories

Interviews

Books

[[File:|160px]]
Video Invaders
Steve Bloom

A history of video games from its '50s roots to its immense popularity in the late '70s and early '80s, written by journalist Steve Bloom (with illustrations by Howard Cruse and Dan Steffan) and published by Arco Publishing in 1982.

ISBN 978-0668055208

[[File:|160px]]
Zap!: The Rise and Fall of Atari
Scott Cohen

What happened to Atari? How did Atari start? Who founded Atari? Was the Atari 2600 the first home console? Who decided the Atari home version of Pac-Man was good enough to release? These questions and many more are answered in ZAP! The Rise and Fall of Atari. Scott Cohen's exhaustive research has culminated into a thorough and enjoyable history of Atari, but the very foundations of the video game industry. His interviews with such notables as Nolan Bushnell and Ralph Baer provide an insider's look at the workings of a videogame company. Roll through the pages to discover the origins of PONG, the effects of the Intellivision and Colecovision on Atari's dominance, and the results of the strenuous relationship between Warner and Atari. Discover the answers to your questions about the company that provided video game entertainment to America in the 1970's and 1980's.

ISBN 978-0070115439

Atari Inc.: Business is Fun
Marty Goldberg, Curt Vendel

An amazing 800 pages (including nearly 300 pages of rare, never before seen photos, memos and court documents), this book details Atari's genesis from an idea between an engineer and a visionary in 1969 to a nearly $2 billion dollar juggernaut, and ending with a $538 million death spiral during 1984. A testament to the people that worked at this beloved company, the book is full of their personal stories and insights.

ISBN 978-0985597405

Other Information

Retrieved from "http://morguefile.wiki/wiki/index.php?title=Computer_Space&oldid=5867"