Games · 1960
Dawn of Interactive Mainframes and Electro-Mechanical Arcades
In 1960, interactive computing stepped forward with the arrival of display-equipped mainframes like the DEC PDP-1. Meanwhile, amusement parlors flourished with sophisticated electro-mechanical arcade machines and the earliest code-based sports simulations.
- 1960 | Hardware | Mainframe Computer
DEC PDP-1
Digital Equipment Corporation debuts the PDP-1, an interactive minicomputer with a CRT display that soon becomes the cradle of early hacker culture and digital gaming.
- January 1960 | IBM 1620 | Sports Sim
IBM 1620 Baseball
Programmed by John Burgeson, this pioneering text-based simulation is recognized as the world's very first computer sports game.
- 1960 | Arcade | Electro-Mechanical
Auto Test
Capitol Projector releases an innovative driving arcade simulator using film projection to test player reactions behind a physical steering wheel.
- 1960 | Arcade | Electro-Mechanical
Midway Whirly Bird
Midway introduces a novel electro-mechanical helicopter flight game where players manipulate controls to maneuver a physical model chopper.
- 1960 | Pinball | D. Gottlieb & Co.
Spot-A-Card Pinball
Gottlieb releases a classic card-themed pinball table featuring premier mechanical engineering that dominates amusement halls across North America.
- 1960 | Arcade | Pitch & Bat
Chicago Coin World Series
Chicago Coin launches a popular electro-mechanical baseball arcade machine featuring animated miniature runners and mechanical pitching mechanics.
- 1960 | Arcade | Pitch & Bat
Williams Official Baseball
Williams Electronics releases a staple pitch-and-bat electro-mechanical game featuring realistic cabinet artwork and physical score reels.
- 1960 | Arcade | Electro-Mechanical
Bally Skill Derby
Bally delivers an intricate electro-mechanical horse racing arcade game where players predict and watch mechanical horses sprint across a track.
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