Computer Space: Difference between revisions
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|title = Computer Space | |title = Computer Space | ||
|image = ComputerSpaceFlyerFront.jpg | |image = ComputerSpaceFlyerFront.jpg | ||
|developer = | |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 == | == Previews == | ||
{{GalleryStart}} | |||
ComputerSpace1971MOA.jpeg| | {{GalleryCard | ||
1971-10-30 Cash Box pg 56 02 04.png| | |file=ComputerSpace1971MOA.jpeg | ||
1971-11-06 Cash Box pg 56 01 03.png| | |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 == | == Announcement == | ||
=== United States === | |||
1971-12-04 Cash Box pg 45 02.png| | |||
ComputerSpaceItalyRelease01.jpg| | {{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 == | == Advertisement == | ||
=== | === Ads === | ||
1971-11-27 Cash Box pg 54 04.png| | {{GalleryStart}} | ||
{{GalleryCard | |||
1972-07-01 Cash Box pg Part III 50 02.png| | |file=1971-11-27 Cash Box pg 54 04.png | ||
1972-08-19 Cash Box pg 41 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 === | ||
| Line 38: | Line 95: | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
== Production == | == Photos == | ||
=== Production === | |||
{{GalleryStart}} | |||
ComputerSpaceProductionLine.jpg| | {{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}} | |||
== Articles == | == Articles == | ||
1972-01-29 Cash Box pg 62 01 04.png| | {{GalleryStart}} | ||
1972-02-12 Cash Box pg 42 02.png| | {{GalleryCard | ||
1972-05 Vending Times (Computer Space Article).png| | |file=1972-01-29 Cash Box pg 62 01 04.png | ||
1972-11-04 Cash Box pg 55 08.png| | |title=Cash Box | ||
|date=January 29, 1971 | |||
|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}} | |||
== Game credits == | == Game credits == | ||
Revision as of 19:30, 13 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]
Cash Box
🇺🇸 November 6, 1971
🇺🇸 November 6, 1971
A report from the MOA show, speaking with Nolan Bushnell about the game's features.
Announcement[edit]
United States[edit]
Italy[edit]
Advertisement[edit]
Ads[edit]
Flyers[edit]
Front of Flyer #1. (1971?)
Back of Flyer #1. (1971?)
Photos[edit]
Production[edit]
Articles[edit]
Cash Box
🇺🇸 February 12, 1972
🇺🇸 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.
.png)
Game credits[edit]
- Game Designer, Hardware Designer
- Nolan Bushnell
- Hardware Designer, Sound Engineer
- Ted Dabney
- Technician
- Steve Bristow
Histories[edit]
- 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[edit]
- 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[edit]
- Video Invaders by Steve Bloom
- Atari Inc: Business is Fun by Curt Vendel and Marty Goldberg.
Other Information[edit]
- http://www.computerspacefan.com/SN9003large.htm — Information on the white variation of Computer Space, claimed to be one of the original four production units.
