PDP-1 computer © Computer History Museum / Barbican Art Galleries
This section explores the early history of arcade games.
In 1962, Steve Russell a researcher at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) designed a game called Space War, on the DEC PDP-1 computer. It was the first game to be developed on a computer with a monitor, and will be included in the display with the original paper tape code of the game (the first piece of game software?).
A range of rare vintage arcade games will be shown, such as the first manufactured arcade game Computer Space (1971) and Pong (1972) both developed by Nolan Bushnell, founder of Atari.
Other major playable games from this period – such as Space Invaders (1978), Asteroids (1979) and Pac-Man (1980) – will also be included and playable in upright arcade machines, tables, and projection format, along with rare ephemera such as original publicity materials and early merchandise.
Playable games
- 1942
- Amidar
- Asteroids
- Bag Man
- Berzerk
- BurgerTime
- Centerpede
- Dig Dug
- Donkey Kong
- Donkey Kong Jr
- Frogger
- Galaga
- Galaxian
- Lady Bug
- Metal Slug X
- Missile Command
- Ms. Pac-Man
- Moon Cresta
- Moon Patrol
- Mr. Do
- Pac-Man
- Pengo
- Phoenix
- Pong
- Puckman
- Puyo Puyo 2
- Qix
- Samurai Shodown 2
- Space Invaders
- Space Invaders Part II
- Space Panic
- Space War
- Space Wars
- Viewpoint
- Virtua Fighter
- Windjammers
- Xevious
