1971 saw the first public demonstrations of Computer Space that November, the first commercially released title. However in this period computer games were still primarily limited to organisations such as universities that had access to early mainframe computers.
Baseball and an unrelated Star Trek mainframe game are written by Don Daglow.[1]
Versions of the mainframe games Hammurabi and Lunar are converted into BASIC for the first time, and published via a newsletter.[2]
January - Licensing negotiations conclude at Magnavox and hardware development formally begins on the Skill O Vision, work that would eventually result in the Odyssey.
June - The first six prototype units at Magnavox are complete and undergo testing.[3]
In 1971 the concept of arcade video games was in its infancy. Prototypes were displayed which the public could pay a fee to use, but the cabinets themselves were not yet available for purchase.
