Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Syzygy-Computer Space

This is topic Syzygy-Computer Space in forum Film-Yak at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Paul Trimboli (Member # 1509) on 07-08-2004, 08:13 AM:

I am sure plenty of you will know what Computer Space is? Well for those who don't its the world first arcade game. Is there anyone else out there who wants to help turn the schematics into a PCB artwork to build working replicas?? Its a very fun game but did not do well, people found it to hard to play and so the pong story begins!

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 07-08-2004, 09:24 AM:

I think I saw a version of it running when I visited the Kodak Research Labs for my first job interview in 1970, running on a mainframe. (They were playing it during lunchtime of course. [Wink]

)

Posted by Aaron Sisemore (Member # 145) on 07-08-2004, 09:15 PM:

quote: Paul Trimboli
its the world first arcade game.

To clarify: it is the world's first arcade (coin-op) video game. There have been 'arcade' games around for a good long time before CS came on the scene. [Smile]

Ah, yes, good ol' Computer Space!

I remember the Sears store in the mall had one of these and I used to play it all the time back in 1971-72...

As far as making the clone PCBs:

If I am not mistaken the patent for this game had reverted back to Nolan Bushnell shortly before he sold Atari to Warners (Bushnell licensed the patent for CS to Nutting Associates, the company that actually manufactured and distributed Computer Space), and one would assume that the CS patent went with the sale, thus either WMS/Midway Games or Infogrames (the current owners of the two halves of what was once Atari, Inc.) would likely be holding the patents today.

I also wonder why it never got emulated in software as most of the other classic video games have been...

quote: John Pytlak
I think I saw a version of it running when I visited the Kodak Research Labs for my first job interview in 1970, running on a mainframe.

John, that was probably 'Spacewar' which I believe still holds the claim to the very first graphical computer game and required about a mainframe's worth of hardware to pull it off. [Smile]

-Aaron

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 07-08-2004, 09:43 PM:

quote: Aaron Sisemore
John, that was probably 'Spacewar' which I believe still holds the claim to the very first graphical computer game and required about a mainframe's worth of hardware to pull it off.

You're probably correct. I remember being facinated that the objects seemed to follow rules of Newtonian motion as they whipped around planets and such.

Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 07-08-2004, 10:25 PM:

What on Earth is Syzygy? Other than a word with no real vowels.

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 07-09-2004, 02:09 AM:

quote: Aaron Sisemore sez:
I remember the Sears store in the mall had one of these and I used to play it all the time back in 1971-72...

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
[av=s]
People were alive back then? [Smile]

Posted by Aaron Sisemore (Member # 145) on 07-09-2004, 02:10 AM:

quote: Tim Reed
What on Earth is Syzygy? Other than a word with no real vowels.

According to Nolan Bushnell, 'Syzygy' refers to the point when the sun, earth, and moon are in total eclipse.

The reason Bushnell changed the name of the company to 'Atari' (named for a move in the Japanese game of 'Go') was because another company had already registered the name Syzygy...

-Aaron

Posted by Dennis Benjamin (Member # 1137) on 07-09-2004, 03:08 AM:

'Syzygy'

I once drove past a road with the very same name. I believe it was somewhere in the Nevada desert. The name actually makes sense - now that I know it is a real word. I will have to tell my friends that were with me. They were so fascinated by the name they took a picture of the street sign.

Posted by Paul Trimboli (Member # 1509) on 07-09-2004, 09:16 AM:

Well I guess I could contact the atari history people and they would know the answer or could ask Nolan as they keep in regular contact. The schematics I have are very complicated, is there a reason some gates are shown as the gates symbols while others are the ICs with the pin numbers? It would be great to build the boards and see how the game looked!

Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 07-09-2004, 10:32 AM:

A pdf version of the Computer Space instruction manual and schematics are HERE .

Waaay too complex to build... need a PC version. [Razz]

>>> Phil

Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 07-09-2004, 04:39 PM:

quote: Aaron Sisemore
'Syzygy' refers to the point when the sun, earth, and moon are in total eclipse.

Thanks, Aaron. So, how do you pronounce this word? Looks like an exclamation in a comic book, when someone sneezes!
[Big Grin]

Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 07-09-2004, 05:36 PM:

"Syzygy" could be the sound of shit hitting a circular saw.

Incidentally "Schlitz" is the sound of shit hitting a fan.

Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 07-09-2004, 06:02 PM:

Syzygy is pronounced "Sizz-a-Jee".

As was mentioned, Syzygy does refer to when the sun, earth, and moon are in total eclipse. Many people believe, and there is plenty of statistical evidence, that suggests because of the increased gravitational pull by this arrangement, that the ocean tides are much higher and many earthquakes occur during this alignment.

I think the "Syzygy Rd" exit is on either US-40 or US-10 in Arizona. Passed it many times. [Big Grin]

>>> Phil

Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 07-10-2004, 10:50 PM:

Thank you, Mr. Moderator, for those English, science, and geography lessons.
[Wink]

Posted by Jeremy Fuentes (Member # 2135) on 07-10-2004, 10:56 PM:

Yes, thank you Phil! I never thought I could appreciate such useless information until it came from you. Thanks bud! [evil]

Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 07-11-2004, 12:37 AM:

Hey ya smart-asses! That's why they call me "Mr. Wizard"! HA!

>>> Phil

Posted by John Walsh (Member # 168) on 07-11-2004, 06:26 PM:

I took a quick look at the schematics ... I'm not sure if you could get some of those parts. I worked at a company 10 years ago that still used regular 74xx series logic; they were having a hard time then. When we found some, we had to send them out to a place that cleans the tarnished IC legs; otherwise, the solder won't take.

"... is there a reason some gates are shown as the gates symbols while others are the ICs with the pin numbers?"

The reason for that is to make the schematic a little easier to read. IC's with separate gates (exp: 7400s) can be shown individually, (the 5v and GND are implied) while single purpose ICs (74150s) can't be separated.

To make this, it would have to be a 'labor of love' because there are several serious hurtles to overcome. The parts are mostly no longer avaiable, and the equilvent parts have different specs; that is, they will act differently.

Posted by Paul Trimboli (Member # 1509) on 07-14-2004, 07:29 AM:

It would definatly be a labour of love, wish I had more time but I have my projector as my current project. I am pretty sure 74xx series of logic chips are readly avalible, will check my RS components cat. Pong uses all standard logic chips, would be easier to build as well but Computer Space would be something great to work on, and IF somehow a case could be built to house it in that looks just like the real thing even better!

Posted by Jesse Skeen (Member # 586) on 07-14-2004, 01:07 PM:

Some sexy chick plays this game very excitedly in "Solyent Green".

Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 07-14-2004, 01:37 PM:

Jesse, I couldn't tell what game she was playing...there was this big ol' LOGO on the screen! [Wink]

>>> Phil