Andrea Contato, an Italian researcher and author with a deep interest in video game history, has successfully recreated The Sumerian Game, one of the earliest computer games ever developed.
Originally created for educational purposes in 1960s, this text-based strategy game was centred around land management and resource allocation in ancient Sumer. The game, which served as an educational tool about life in prehistoric times, utilized an IBM 7090 mainframe. With the original source code lost to time, Contato managed to rebuild it using available game printouts.
Key Facts & Achievements
- The Sumerian Game, developed by Mabel Addis and programmed by William McKay, is a significant piece of gaming history. Its recreation was made possible through extensive research by Andrea Contato.
- The recreated version can now be played for free on Steam.
What do you think are the most important aspects of preserving video game history?