Podcast
Questions and Answers
What did Bushnell major in at the University of Utah?
What did Bushnell major in at the University of Utah?
What was the name of the game that Bushnell created himself?
What was the name of the game that Bushnell created himself?
What did Bushnell turn his daughter's bedroom into?
What did Bushnell turn his daughter's bedroom into?
Who did Bushnell partner with to start his own company?
Who did Bushnell partner with to start his own company?
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What was the original name for Bushnell's company?
What was the original name for Bushnell's company?
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What was the name of the convention where Bushnell demonstrated Computer Space?
What was the name of the convention where Bushnell demonstrated Computer Space?
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Who founded Nutting Associates?
Who founded Nutting Associates?
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Why was Computer Space not well-received by music operators?
Why was Computer Space not well-received by music operators?
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How many Computer Space machines did Nutting Associates make?
How many Computer Space machines did Nutting Associates make?
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Was Computer Space successful?
Was Computer Space successful?
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Study Notes
- Bushnell worked in a pinball and electromechanical game arcade and honed his understanding of the game business.
- He majored in engineering and philosophy and discovered the computer lab at the University of Utah.
- Bushnell learned to program in FORTRAN and Gotran and played Steve Russell's game Spacewar.
- He created his own game called Fox and Geese and worked with other students to write seven computer games.
- In 1969, Bushnell was hired by Ampex Corporation but eventually left to combine engineering and arcade games.
- He turned his daughter's bedroom into a workshop and created a coin-operated version of Spacewar called Computer Space.
- Bushnell designed a specialized device capable of only playing his game and found ways to save money.
- He partnered with Bill Nutting, founder of Nutting Associates, and they made 1,500 Computer Space machines.
- The game had complex gameplay and instructions, and Nutting used the Dutch Goose as a test site.
- Bushnell demonstrated the game to coin-op distributors at the 1971 Music Operators Association convention in Chicago.
- Computer Space was a game created by Nutting Associates.
- It was not well-received by music operators at a convention.
- The game was difficult for some to understand and had complex instructions.
- Nutting Associates had financial problems.
- Nolan Bushnell worked for Nutting Associates and learned from their mistakes.
- Bushnell formed a partnership with Ted Dabney and Larry Bryan to start his own company.
- The original name for the company, Syzygy, was already in use.
- The company was named Atari, after a term from the Japanese game Go.
- Nutting Associates did not sell all of the original 1,500 Computer Space machines.
- Computer Space was successful in some locations but not in others.
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Description
How much do you know about the pioneering days of the video game industry? Test your knowledge of Atari's founder, Nolan Bushnell, and his early creations with this quiz. From his humble beginnings working in an arcade to his partnership with Ted Dabney and the creation of Atari, explore the fascinating history of one of the most influential figures in gaming. See how much you really know about the origins of the industry that has become a global phenomenon.
