Very rare working preproduction prototype of the classic Atari, Inc. shoot 'em up arcade video game Missile Command, deriving from the personal collection of Atari hardware designer David Sherman, who has signed on the inside of the cabinet in black felt tip, “Sherman’s Missile Command.” Missile Command was one of the iconic arcade games from the Golden Age of Atari and is now deemed widely as a landmark achievement in the video game industry. A distinct departure from the ‘overhead, sprite’ style of video games popular at that time, Missile Command was Atari's first color frame buffer game, allowing arbitrary display graphics limited only by processor speed. More significantly, the game ‘captured and bottled’ the angst and dread of the Cold War, which daily threatened the minds of everyday citizens who believed that a nuclear war with the Soviet Union was imminent. The game was featured in popular science fiction movies such as War Games and Terminator 2 as ironic foils for the plots.
The cabinet, which measures 30.25″ x 65″ x 25.25″, and the printed circuit board (PCB) have been together since 1980, with minimal PCB and power supply parts replaced to keep the game running; the PCB was one of the ‘first articles’ signed off on for full production. An interior Electrohome label is marked: 19″ COL GAM MNT, Product No. 38-G07904-00, Serial No. 9-254941, August 11, 1980. The video display quality is very crisp. As befits its origin as a lab cabinet, the side graphics, which are typically seen on a production unit, are not present. The game is accompanied by its original ‘Drawing Package Supplement,’ which consists of operator schematics and service documents.
The consignor notes that the game is in full working order; however, given its 40-year age, the controls will likely require minor lubrication to regain original 'gameplay feel.' Due to the machine’s origins as a fully functional in-house Atari prototype, both RR Auction and the consignor encourage interested parties to have some knowledge of vintage arcade repair and/or maintenance.
Note: Winning bidder is responsible for cost of shipping arcade from origin to destination. Please call RR Auction for more details.
From the Collection of David Sherman
