Computer Space

Computer SpaceBoasting a curved, futuristic fiberglass cabinet that truly looks like an alien art object, Nutting Associates’ arcade video game Computer Space hits an amusement market dominated by pinball machines and jukeboxes. Devised by Nolan Bushnell, Computer Space is a coin-operated homage to the mainframe game Spacewar, complete with complicated controls, and fails to sell well. Bushnell later has a revelation: arcade games will need to be easy to learn (but not easy to beat) in order to catch on. Read more Hear about it on the Sci-Fi 5 podcast

Gun Fight

Gun FightAmerican game manufacturer Midway releases the arcade game Gun Fight, the first-ever fully microprocessor controlled arcade videogame, based on Taito’s similar Western Gun game for the Japanese market. Developed by Nutting Associates, the game is a moderate success as a coin-operated arcade game, but in hindsight it is perhaps more significant as a technical milestone. Read more