Andrea Contato is an Italian researcher and author who specializes in the history of video games. He has successfully rebuilt The Sumerian Game, one of the earliest computer games, which was originally developed in the 1960s. This game is a text-based strategy game focused on land and resource management, set in ancient Sumer around 3500 BC. It was initially designed by Mabel Addis and programmed by William McKay for educational purposes, using the IBM 7090 mainframe computer.
Andrea’s recreation of The Sumerian Game was made possible through his extensive research and the use of game printouts, as the original source code was lost. He has made this recreation available for free on Steam, allowing a new generation of players to experience a piece of video game history.
The first chapter of the upcoming book Video Games: The People, Games and Companies: Stage 2 from 1980 until 1984 is about Richard Garriott, #akalabeth the birth of #lordbritish and #Ultima
— Andrea Contato (@xender76) August 13, 2024
Subscribe to be notified on launch, next Septemberhttps://t.co/ekioKZY80E
In addition to the game, Andrea is also releasing a book detailing his research process and the steps he took to rebuild the game. This book will provide insights into the historical significance of The Sumerian Game and the challenges involved in its reconstruction. Andrea Contato is known for his work in documenting the history of video games, including his series “Video Games: People, Games, and Companies That Made Video Game History“.