Spasim

Spasim, short for Space Simulation, is an early computer game notable for its 3D perspective and multiplayer capability. Developed in the mid-1970s for vector graphics terminals, it is widely cited as one of the first networked multiplayer computer games and among the earliest attempts at real-time 3D space combat simulation. The game renders wireframe representations of ships and space environments using perspective projection, presenting players with a first-person cockpit view.

In Spasim, multiple players share a common 3D arena. Each participant pilots a spacecraft, maneuvers through space, and engages opponents with projectiles. The software used simple networking to synchronize positions and actions across connected terminals, making it possible for players to encounter and combat one another in real time.

The implementation was designed for early vector graphics hardware such as the Imlac PDS-1 family and ran under time-sharing or batch environments available on laboratories and universities of the era. Although relatively small in scope compared with later titles, Spasim demonstrated core concepts of 3D rendering, multiplayer synchronization, and real-time interaction that would inform subsequent research and development in computer graphics and online gaming.

Legacy: Spasim is frequently cited in histories of video games and computer graphics as a milestone in both 3D visualization and multiplayer interaction on early hardware.