Space Race
Working to preserve the gaming experience for arcade enthusiasts
Never one to shy away from a challenge, Rich has been 3D printing again, creating a full-size 3D printed replica of the very rare Space Race arcade cabinet.
The game Space Race was originally released in July 1973 by Atari. It was the first ever arcade game of the racing genre and the first with an objective to cross the screen while avoiding obstacles. The game comprises of two players who must navigate a path through the asteroids to reach the top of the screen first.
Like the earlier Computer Space game, the original cabinet was made from fibreglass, featuring an asymmetrical design that looks like it could have been split away from a passing asteroid and crashed into earth. It’s reported that only 50 were made from fibreglass before switching to a cheaper wooden design. Very few or the original 50 cabinets remain, making it one of the rarest most sought after and collectable arcades.
One such owner is Ed Fries, the former vice president of Games Publishing at Microsoft. Ed provided a 3D scan of the original cabinet to Richard, our resident 3d printing expert. Using this scan Richard was able to create a full virtual model of the cabinet.
He then printed out in 120 small sections, using tongue and groove edges and glue to fix the pieces together. The base of the arcade cabinet was made from waterproof MDF which is screwed into the bottom layer, and the access door was made from plywood.
The joins were then reinforced with fibreglass tape, filler and grab adhesive. A further filler and sealant layer was added and then sanded down to a smooth finish. Internally Richard created a frame to hold the CRT monitor and electronics. After the cabinet had been sanded and smoothed Richard was able to add the final resin and glitter layer to create the iconic look of Space Race. Finally, Dan from Retrofied created replica art work decals, along with a unique serial number sticker, and Richard created 3D printed controls to match the original.
We do not have the original PCB game board for the cabinet, as it is so rare, so the MiSTer Multi System, designed by Heber, has been installed to emulate the game. Space Race has already become a firm favourite with visitors to the Arcade Archive, alongside the earlier Computer Space arcade made by Richard.
Watch the two videos on this massive project here: