# The forgotten first-person shooters of the 1970s

> Two 1970s games created the first-person shooter genre with vector graphics.
- Title: The forgotten first-person shooters of the 1970s | Shortify
- Summary: Two 1970s games created the first-person shooter genre with vector graphics. Maze War and Spasim used vector graphics to create 3D space without pixels.
- Keywords: maze war, spasim, vector graphics, nasa, university of illinois, plato, imlac pd-1, first-person shooter, 1970s, arcade games, computer graphics, science
- Source: The Conversation — https://theconversation.com/what-was-the-original-first-person-shooter-two-largely-forgotten-computer-games-from-the-1970s-ushered-in-the-genre-290696
- Author: Mark J. P. Wolf
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: maze war, spasim, vector graphics, nasa, university of illinois, plato, imlac pd-1, first-person shooter, 1970s, arcade games, computer graphics, science
## What is a first-person shooter?
First-person shooters let players experience games through their character's eyes, using weapons to attack enemies in a 3D space.
## Maze War: NASA's 1973 game
Developed at a NASA research center in 1973, Maze War was the first first-person shooter game using vector graphics.
## Spasim: University of Illinois game
Spasim, short for space simulator, debuted at the University of Illinois in 1974 using vector graphics.
## Vector graphics explained
Vector graphics draw lines between points on the screen, creating 3D depth with vanishing points that make flat surfaces appear to stretch into the distance.
## How players moved
In Maze War, players moved in straight lines with 90-degree turns, while Spasim used jumping movements with short lag times between positions.
## Multiplayer action
Both games had multiplayer modes where players could shoot each other online, changing how shooting games were played at fairs and carnivals.
## Why they matter
Maze War and Spasim introduced the first-person perspective and vector graphics that paved the way for modern first-person shooters.
## Key takeaway

Maze War and Spasim used vector graphics to create 3D space without pixels.