If you played it, tell us about Computer Space

[mezrabad]

Pretty much everyone here knows that Computer Space was the first Video Arcade game. We know it's roots in Spacewar! We know about Bushnell's daughter's bedroom being used to design the thing. No one here hasn't seen, at the very least, a PICTURE of one of the cabinets.

Can anyone who has played it describe whether or not it is a decent game? How responsive were/are the controls? Was it fun in 1971? Is it still fun today? Was the sound any good? Was it hard or easy?

I'm certain that there had to be someone, who, in 1971, played Computer Space and became an instant hard core videogamer. Is that person around here?

My only experience with it was the beautiful green, 2 player cabinet at Philly Classic 3. My arms were full of a 3 month old baby and my 4 year old son couldn't see the screen very well. I can't count myself as having played it, neither back in the day, nor very recently.

If there is anyone who actually played the game 33 years ago? I'm sure we'd love to hear about it. I'd even like to hear from anyone who's played Computer Space at an expo. Please share your playing experience for those of us who haven't had the honor.

[Cauterize]

i wish i was alive at the time to play this.. i was at the young age of MINUS 15, bein born 15 years later in 1986

[Cauterize]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MakeTrack=true

why not buy the actual game itself!!!

[NE146]

I had never seen a Computer Space and up until the internet I thought most people were talking about Cinematronics Space War (which I do remember) But I guess back in the early 70's I doubt there were much Computer Space units distributed to the Marianas islands.... :P

[mezrabad]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6124224496&fromMakeTra ck=true

why not buy the actual game itself!!!

, the guy is selling them so he can save up to buy a helicopter! Why do I get the feeling that no matter how much money someone makes, there are always more expensive toys to buy?

[ubersaurus]

I played it at CGE...I actually like the game. It's brutally hard, since you can't manuever worth a damn, and the UFO's love to turn on a dime to get around your shots. Still, I almost beat them a couple times, and it was a blast to play. Never tried the 2 player model though, I expect that should be fun as well.

[mezrabad]

Thanks, Uber! That's exactly the kind of information I'm looking for!

Anyone else? Anyone? Bueller?

[MarioAllStar2600]

Was the game ever publiccly released? How many were made, I had it marked as more of a prototype. Like they tested it out and it never lifted off the grounf.

[Daniel Thomas]

It was released, but wasn't successful because the only ones who 'got it' were the nerds at MIT. I know there were CS machines with buttons, and with joysticks.

I once saw a CS with joysticks, of which very, very few were ever made. Why it was sitting in a Duluth warehouse is beyond me, but it's got to be worth a lot of money by now. I've never seen the thing in action, but the cabinet is nice. Kinda has that Jetson's look to it.

[Steven J. Lumas]

When we got tired of the game we pulled out the insides and used the cabinet to host puppet shows. We named the puppet show "Computer Space". People would come far and wide to see "the great computer space puppet show". How I miss those days, and those great, great puppets.

[WiseSalesman]

i wish i was alive at the time to play this.. i was at the young age of MINUS 15, bein born 15 years later in 1986

Heh.....I was -12.

[tom]

Don't forget, Computer Space can be seen played in the film 'Soylent Green', and also later in Jaws (not playing), in a row of arcade cabinets (along the Atari Jaws (Shark??) coin-up)

[mezrabad]

When we got tired of the game we pulled out the insides and used the cabinet to host puppet shows. We named the puppet show "Computer Space". People would come far and wide to see "the great computer space puppet show". How I miss those days, and those great, great puppets.

. Your post reminded me of "'PUPPET SHOW' and spinal tap" for some reason.

I saw a picture recently of a Computer Space cabinet that had been gutted and converted into a Pac-man machine. Sure, Pac-man is probably a better game, (as I'm sure your puppet shows must've have also been very entertaining, heh.) but jeeeeze!