top of page

2/10

Ep 1

Ep 1

Gameplay = 1/10

Gameplay = 1/10

Nimrod

5/5/51

Analog Computer

Audio = 0/10

Audio = 0/10

Graphics = 1/10

Graphics = 1/10

Nimrod, an appropriate description of how I felt trying to learn this game at first, and also the name of the computer that ran the game. Similar to Bertie, this was a giant computer built to play a specific game showcased at a fair. Nimrod pitted the player against an AI in a game of Nim. It took me longer than I'd like to admit to learn Nim, but basically you set the amount of lights that are turned on in four rows of seven, then take turns with the AI extinguishing any number of lights in one row. The game continues until the last light is shut off. Whoever turns off the last light wins. After throwing myself at this a few times, I learned that there is an equation you can use to win every time. But to be honest, I was pretty much ready to take a break from Nim at that point.

nimrod.jpg

Overall, I thought the fact that a computer was able to run a mathematical game like this in 1951 was pretty impressive, but comparing it to today's standards I gave it a 2/10. I feel like the capabilities of Nimrod at the time make it very relevant to the history of video games, but I don't think its something a lot of people would jump in and play today. - Wes

bottom of page