Main > Main Forum
1st tracball game
tommyinajar:
I'm too old- I remember playing "Death Race" , I say X's & O's.
paigeoliver:
As far as I can tell Trackball controllers first hit the scene in 1978 with multiple games using them. Optical spinners, or steering wheels that were identical to them came MUCH earlier, earlier than microprocessor based games.
spriggy:
--- Quote from: tommyinajar on March 01, 2007, 10:43:06 pm ---I'm too old- I remember playing "Death Race" , I say X's & O's.
--- End quote ---
X's & O's may be your bunny!. As MAWS quotes....
Atari Football was first created in 1974 by Steve Bristow and originally called 'X's and O's'. It was shelved when Bristow started on "Tank", then resurrected three years later. This game was the first true video sports game and also the first Atari game to utilize a trackball controller.
So even though it wasn't released till the late 70's.. it was first created in '74... hence highly likely making it the first trackball designed game!! ???
u_rebelscum:
--- Quote from: spriggy on March 02, 2007, 08:41:43 am ---As MAWS quotes....
Atari Football was first created in 1974 by Steve Bristow and originally called 'X's and O's'. It was shelved when Bristow started on "Tank", then resurrected three years later. This game was the first true video sports game and also the first Atari game to utilize a trackball controller.
--- End quote ---
Mame considers Atari Football and X's & O's to be parent/clone. So I'd say both are correct. (Remember, "football" means something different to us americans; Atari Soccer is not a clone. ;) )
RayB:
Atari's Sprint series of games (black n white) used optical "spinners" (with steering wheels attached). I bet their driving games prior to those also did...
We have to remember that alot of technology used in amusement games were often invented and used outside of the amusement industry...