The game itself
The box
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The game itself |
The box |
Dr. Nim was a 1960s-era computer game. This special-purpose, fully mechanical, non-electric, plastic computer played the game of Nim against a human opponent; it could also play against itself.
As the box says, Dr. Nim is "fascinating in action." The game starts with 15 marbles at the top and the moveable white widgets set in certain positions. By pressing the lever at the lower right, you eject one marble which rolls down to the bottom, changing the widgets' positions as it goes. After taking one, two, or three marbles (your choice), it's Dr. Nim's turn. All by itself, using only the force of gravity and the marbles' momentum, Dr. Nim also takes one, two, or three marbles. The game continues in this way until one player takes the last marble and wins the game.
Words cannot convey how cool it is to see and hear the marbles rolling and clacking as Dr. Nim takes its turn. Someday I may make and post a video of the game in action. Stop by the MACD for a live demonstration!
| The Alan Kaminsky Museum of Antique Computing Devices | Museum Page |
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