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Computer Space

Computer Space - Japanese Title

MARQUEE PICTURE NEEDED FOR Computer Space - Click for details on how to contribute.

Name: Computer Space
Manufacturer: Nutting Associates
Year: 1971
Type: Videogame

Class: Wide Release
Genre: Space
Conversion Class: unique

Number of Simultaneous Players: 1
Maximum number of Players: 1
Gameplay: Single
Control Panel Layout: Single Player
Controls:

  • Buttons: Rotational (left, right)
  • Buttons: 2 [Fire MissileThrust]

Sound: Amplified Mono (one channel)

Cabinet Styles:

  • Upright/Standard
Computer Space

Photo contributed by: Greg McLemore


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Computer Space Control Panel Image
Computer Space PCB Image

Computer Space Description

Computer Space was produced by Nutting Associates in 1971.

Nutting Associates released 13 different machines in our database under this trade name, starting in 1968.

Other machines made by Nutting Associates during the time period Computer Space was produced include Paddle Derby, Computer Space Ball, Psychic, Missile Radar, Watergate Caper, Astro Computer, and Computer Quiz.

Computer Space - KLOV/IAM 5 Point User Score: 3.17 (4 votes)

 Personal Impressions Score: 3.21

     Overall 'Like': 3.00
     Fun (Social): 2.25
     Fun (Solo): 2.67
     Collector Desire: 4.75 
Technical Impressions Score: 3.13

     Gameplay: 3.00
     Graphics: 3.75
     Originality: 3.50
     Sound/Music: 2.25

Personal Impressions and Technical Impressions each account for half of the total score. Within the Personal Impressions category, "Like" carries a little more weight than the other factors.

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Cabinet Information

This game is housed in a fiberglass cabinet. Most of them had metal-flake paint jobs of varying colors. The one-player and two-player cabinets differ slightly. The one-players control panel is offset, and the cabinet molded along a sweep to accompany it. The player controls are all buttons. The twoplayer cabinet has a Chevron shaped control panel, a vague V shape to the lower front of it, and uses both joysticks and buttons for the player controls. Both machines have a single coinslot in the control panel. In April 2007, we were able to find and obtain the only white Computer Space machine ever made. It was a prototype taken to a tradeshow back in 1971 to demonstrate the first created coin-operated videogame, and is the oldest coin-operated videogame known to exist.

Cabinet Style Weights and Measures

Type
Upright/Standard

Game Introduction

The game takes place in outer space. The player controls a rocket ship. The enemies in the game are a pair of flying saucers.

Game Play

The rocket ship controlled by the player can be manuevered through space using rotational buttons and a thrust button. The fire button is used to make the rocket ship fire missiles.

When the two enemy flying saucers attack, they will fire missiles at the rocket ship. The player must have the rocket ship fire missiles at the flying saucers to destroy them.

The object of the game is for the player to have the rocket ship to destroy the flying saucers more times than the flying saucers can destroy the rocket ship, the player must also try to have the rocket ship outscore the flying saucers in order to get extended play in hyperspace. If the player attains hyperspace the playfield will turn from black to white and feature a vision of daylight in outer space. The game will end if the flying saucers outscore the player's rocket ship and time has expired.

Miscellaneous

WWW httpwww.emuunlim.comdoteatersplay1sta1.htm In the two-player version of this game, one player controls a rocket ship and the other player controls a flying saucer. Also, in that version, one player tries to outscore the other player.

VAPS Arcade/Coin-Op Computer Space Census

There are 9,067 members of the Video Arcade Preservation Society / Vintage Arcade Preservation Society, 7,459 whom participate in our arcade census project of games owned, wanted, or for sale. Census data currently includes 120,511 machines (5,358 unique titles).

Common - There are 44 known instances of this machine owned by Computer Space collectors who are active members. Of these, 42 of them are original dedicated machines, and one is a set of circuit boards which a collector could put into a generic case if desired.

For Sale - There are 5 active VAPS members with Computer Space machines for sale.

Wanted - Popular - There are 14 active VAPS members currently looking for Computer Space.

This game ranks a 24 on a scale out of 100 (100 = most often seen, 1=least common) in popularity based on census ownership records.

This game ranks a 38 on a scale out of 100 (100 = most often wanted, 1=least common) in popularity based on census want list records.

Rarity and Popularity independently are NOT necessarily indications of value. [More Information]

Trivia

This was the first arcade video game. Its creator, Nolan Bushnell, set forth the basic design that all dedicated arcade games would follow. A board or set of boards to run that particular game not a multipurpose computer, a display, controls, coin acceptor and separate power supply. The coinbox in this game was a paint-thinner can.

According to one estimate, 1500 of the twoplayer cabinets were released.

A yellow Computer Space cabinet can be seen in the 1975 movie, Jaws, during the arcade beach scene approximately 40 minutes from the beginning.

Computer Space also appears in the 1973 movie, Soylent Green, starring Charlton Heston. It appears briefly on screen being played by a woman while policeman Heston is visiting the apartments owner.

A yellow Computer Space game can be seen several times in the music video Brimful of Asha by the band Corner Shop.

Manuals

  1. Owner's Manual  36 Pages, 10.4 MB File.

Foto-Finder™ (books)

  1. The Encyclopedia of Arcade Video Games, Kurtz (ISBN 0764319256): Page: 5-7; Color photo;
  2. Arcade Fever, Sellers (ISBN 0762409371): Page: 14; Color photo; Price guide:

Video Clips


    John gets a Yellow Nutting Computer Space Arcade game! 1st arcade video game! Ed

    Computer Space Gameplay

See Recent Video Links Added to Other Records

Additional References
(logged in members often see more)

  1. The Arcade Flyer Archive (TAFA): Computer Space Flyer #1530    
  2. The Arcade Flyer Archive (TAFA): Computer Space Flyer #3241    

Contribute

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eBay Listings

Click to search eBay for Computer Space Videogame machines and related items.

Click to search eBay for machines and parts made by Nutting Associates.

Check out the IAM/KLOV report of the hottest coin-op machine auctions, powered by Ace.com.

*TODAY'S PICKS FOR:

Computer Space

1. Vtg Nutting COMPUTER SPACE Arcade Game 1970's Flyer & Newspaper Clipping photo

Auction ends in: 16 hours, 20 minutes

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$195.00
 
2. Space Invaders--Retro Arcade Computer USB Mouse & Mouse Pad Set (New in Package)

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$10.99
 
3. Space Invaders--Retro Arcade Computer USB Mouse & Mouse Pad Set (New in Package)

Auction ends in: 2 weeks, 1 day

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$4.99
 
4. Nutting Associates Computer Space - Promotional Postcard NOS 

Auction ends in: 4 days, 16 hours

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$199.00
 
5. Nutting Associates Computer Space Original NOS Uncirculated Flyer 

Auction ends in: 4 days, 16 hours

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$199.00
 
6. 1971 Computer Space Arcade Game Flyer - RARE

Auction ends in: 1 week, 21 hours

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$714.00
 
7. Space Invaders--Retro Arcade Computer Cufflinks Set (New in Package) Taito/50

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$3.99
 
8. Cinematronics Arcade AsteroidGame Space Wars BUTTON Panel Set Computer Board

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9. Cinematronics Arcade AsteroidGame Space Wars START BUTTON Unit Computer

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Computer Space - Cabinet Image

Computer Space - Cabinet Image

Computer Space - Cabinet Image

Computer Space - Cabinet Image

Computer Space - Cabinet Image








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