Spacewar
Spacewar is one of the earliest known digital computer games, developed in 1962 by a group of students and researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The game was created for the PDP-1 minicomputer, which was one of the first computers to be made commercially available.
Development
The development of Spacewar was spearheaded by Steve Russell, along with other members of the Tech Model Railroad Club at MIT. Here are some key points:
- The initial idea was conceived by Martin Graetz, who suggested a game based on E. E. Smith's Lensman series.
- Steve Russell programmed the game, utilizing the PDP-1's vector display for graphics.
- The game was designed to take advantage of the PDP-1's capabilities, including its real-time capabilities, which were unique at the time for a computer of its size.
Gameplay
Spacewar involves two spaceships, the "Needle" and the "Wedge," which are controlled by players using switches and buttons on the PDP-1's control panel. Here's how the game plays out:
- Players maneuver their ships to shoot at each other with torpedoes while avoiding collision with a central star which exerts a gravitational pull.
- The game featured realistic physics simulation for the time, including inertia, which made controlling the ships challenging.
- Additional features included hyperspace jumps, allowing players to escape dangerous situations, though with a risk of reappearing in a worse position or even inside a star or enemy ship.
Legacy
Spacewar had a significant impact on the evolution of video games:
- It inspired many other developers and became a model for future space-themed games.
- The game's source code was shared freely among computer hobbyists, contributing to the culture of open-source software before it was formally recognized.
- It was one of the first games to be played widely on university campuses and research labs, fostering the growth of the video game industry.
- In 1971, Nolan Bushnell, who was inspired by Spacewar, went on to create Computer Space, which is considered the first commercial video game.
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