Difference between revisions of "Spacewar!"
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| − | '''Spacewar!''' is perhaps the earliest widespread [[video game]]. It was written at MIT for their then-new [[PDP-1]], using the [[vector graphics]] [[display]] on the machine. | + | '''Spacewar!''' is perhaps the earliest widespread [[video game]]. It was written at [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology|MIT]] for their then-new [[Digital Equipment Corporation|DEC]] [[PDP-1]] at [[Research Laboratory of Electronics|RLE]], using the [[Type 30 Visual CRT Display]] [[vector graphics]] [[display]] on the machine. |
| − | {{stub}} | + | It initially conceived by Stephen R. (Slug) Russell, J. Martin Graetz and Wayne Wiitanen, and written by a varying combination, over time, of Graetz and Russell along with Dan Edwards, Alan Kotok, Robert A. Saunders, Peter Samson and Steven Piner. |
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| + | A version was later made available for the [[IMLAC PDS-1]]; [[object code]] for several revisions of the IMLAC version seems to exist. | ||
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| + | {{semi-stub}} | ||
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| + | ==Further reading== | ||
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| + | * J. M. Graetz, [https://www.masswerk.at/spacewar/SpacewarOrigin.html ''The Origin of Spacewar''], ''Creative Computing'', Volume 7, Number 8, August, 1981 | ||
| + | * Joseph F. Goodavage, [https://www.kaleberg.com/spacewar/ Space War], ''Saga'', November 1972 | ||
| + | * Stewart Brand, [https://www.wheels.org/spacewar/stone/rolling_stone.html ''Spacewar: Fanatic Life and Symbolic Death Among the Computer Bums''], ''Rolling Stone'', 7 December 1972 - famous article | ||
| + | * Matthew Lasar, [https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2011/10/spacewar-the-first-2d-top-down-shooter-turns-50/ ''Spacewar!, the first 2D top-down shooter, turns 50''], ''Ars Technica'', Oct 25, 2011 | ||
| + | * Ryan P. Smith, [https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/how-first-popular-video-game-kicked-off-generations-virtual-adventure-180971020/ How the First Popular Video Game Kicked Off Generations of Virtual Adventure], ''Smithsonian Magazine'', December 13, 2018 | ||
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| + | ==External links== | ||
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| + | * [https://www.computerhistory.org/pdp-1/spacewar/ Spacewar!] - PDP-1/Spacewar! project at the [[Computer History Museum|CHM]] | ||
| + | ** [https://archive.computerhistory.org/resources/text/DEC/pdp-1/DEC.pdp_1.102664173.pdf spacewar 4.4] - source | ||
| + | ** [https://www.computerhistory.org/pdp-1/_media/pdf/DEC.pdp_1.102664469.pdf PDP-1 Computer and Space War] - brochure showing Spacewar! being used by DEC for marketing the PDP-1 | ||
| + | * [https://www.masswerk.at/spacewar/ Spacewar!] - a wealth of material | ||
| + | ** [https://www.masswerk.at/spacewar/inside/ Inside Spacewar!] - "A Software Archeological Approach to the First Video Game" | ||
| + | *** [https://www.masswerk.at/spacewar/inside/insidespacewar-minskytron-hyperspace.html Intermission: Digging up the Minskytron Hyperspace] | ||
| + | * [https://www.wheels.org/spacewar/index.html Spacewar] | ||
| + | * [http://www.ubanproductions.com/ImlacDocs/minispacewardoc.pdf Mini Space War 1.0 C3] | ||
| + | ** [http://www.ubanproductions.com/imlac_sw.html Imlac Software Library] | ||
[[Category: Games]] | [[Category: Games]] | ||
Revision as of 20:00, 10 June 2025
Spacewar! is perhaps the earliest widespread video game. It was written at MIT for their then-new DEC PDP-1 at RLE, using the Type 30 Visual CRT Display vector graphics display on the machine.
It initially conceived by Stephen R. (Slug) Russell, J. Martin Graetz and Wayne Wiitanen, and written by a varying combination, over time, of Graetz and Russell along with Dan Edwards, Alan Kotok, Robert A. Saunders, Peter Samson and Steven Piner.
A version was later made available for the IMLAC PDS-1; object code for several revisions of the IMLAC version seems to exist.
Further reading
- J. M. Graetz, The Origin of Spacewar, Creative Computing, Volume 7, Number 8, August, 1981
- Joseph F. Goodavage, Space War, Saga, November 1972
- Stewart Brand, Spacewar: Fanatic Life and Symbolic Death Among the Computer Bums, Rolling Stone, 7 December 1972 - famous article
- Matthew Lasar, Spacewar!, the first 2D top-down shooter, turns 50, Ars Technica, Oct 25, 2011
- Ryan P. Smith, How the First Popular Video Game Kicked Off Generations of Virtual Adventure, Smithsonian Magazine, December 13, 2018
External links
- Spacewar! - PDP-1/Spacewar! project at the CHM
- spacewar 4.4 - source
- PDP-1 Computer and Space War - brochure showing Spacewar! being used by DEC for marketing the PDP-1
- Spacewar! - a wealth of material
- Inside Spacewar! - "A Software Archeological Approach to the First Video Game"
- Spacewar
- Mini Space War 1.0 C3
