🎮Galaxy Game: 1962 PDP-1 Classic Revived
The 1962 PDP-1 game that inspired Atari is back
TL;DR
Galaxy Game, the 1962 PDP-1 classic that inspired Atari's Computer Space, is being restored. The original PDP-11/20 hardware and HP 1300A display are getting a facelift to bring the game back to life at ICM.
Galaxy Game, the first computer game ever written, is making a comeback. Originally developed on a PDP-1 at MIT in 1962, the game was later installed at Stanford's Tresidder Union in 1971. Now, after years of dormancy, it's being restored to its former glory. The restoration aims to bring the original PDP-11/20 hardware and HP 1300A display back to life, with the goal of having the real game running again soon. This is a big deal for anyone interested in the history of computing and gaming, as it brings back a piece of tech history that inspired the likes of Atari.
Key Points
Galaxy Game was written on the PDP-1 at MIT in 1962, marking the birth of computer gaming.
The game was installed at Stanford's Tresidder Union in September 1971, running on a PDP-11/20 with 8K bytes of core.
Ted Panofsky designed the display interface, using an HP 1972 revision to allow one PDP-11 to drive multiple consoles.
The game ran until 1979 when the display processor gave out, but was revived in 1997 and is currently on display at ICM.
A restoration is underway to bring the real game back to life, led by Bill Pitts, Josh Dersch, and Robert Schmuck.
Why It Matters
If you're a retro tech enthusiast or a gaming history buff, this is a must-see. The restoration of Galaxy Game brings back a piece of computing history that inspired the likes of Atari. The original PDP-11/20 hardware and HP 1300A display are getting a facelift, with the goal of having the real game running again soon.
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