National Game Registry 1971: Computer Space

COMPUTER SPACE
original platform
arcade
developer/publisher
Syzygy/Nutting & Associates
key personnel
Nolan Bushnell

Inspired by the first video game, Spacewar!, Nolan Bushnell created Computer Space, the first video arcade game and the first commercially distributed video game of any sort. Unlike Spacewar! or most other early video games, Computer Space is played by a single person, taking control of a rocket charged with battling two flying saucers. These enemy ships move randomly around the screen and fire back at the rocket. Play time is limited and the objective is to have more points than the saucers at the when time expires. Computer Space was not a successful commercially but it does provide an interesting alternate verswion of Spacewar!.

Inducted into the National Game Registry on March 12th, 2009.

Return to the National Game Registry to view more inductees.

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