A rare two-player unit of Computer Space, widely considered the first commercially distributed arcade game, has been put up for auction by David Perry, founder of Shiny Entertainment. The game, created in 1971 by Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney, who would later found Atari, is a significant artifact in video game history.
Computer Space was an adaptation of the earlier 1962 computer game Spacewar!, placing players in control of rocket ships engaged in combat with UFOs. While coin-operated games were common, Computer Space was among the first to demonstrate the capabilities of early, large-scale computers to a wider audience. However, it did not achieve widespread commercial success, unlike the later hit Pong, which fundamentally altered the public's interaction with arcade machines. Consequently, few units of Computer Space remain in existence, with some appearing as background elements in films such as Soylent Green.
The specific model being auctioned is a two-player variant from 1973, which Perry describes as even rarer than the single-player version. He noted that a more common single-player unit previously sold for $69,000. Perry is selling the distinctive, sparkling green machine due to a lack of space at his home.
According to the auction listing, this particular Computer Space unit is in working condition and is described as "practically unobtainable." Games of this vintage are seldom found outside of museum collections. As of the current bidding, the top offer is around $10,000, though auctioneers anticipate the final price will exceed double that amount. This auction comes at a time when video games are increasingly recognized as valuable collectibles, leading to a market with significant speculative interest. Critics have noted a growing scrutiny of high-profile retro game sales, particularly when compared to the demand for genuinely historical pieces of gaming technology.