Buy the WarGames IMSAI 8080 and Possibly Impress Ally Sheedy

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Buy the WarGames IMSAI 8080 and Possibly Impress Ally Sheedy

Posted by samzenpus on Wednesday June 26, 2013 @11:58AM from the do-you-want-to-play-a-game? dept.

ilikenwf writes "Todd Fischer, the man behind this iconic prop from WarGames, the movie that spawned countless hackers, has come forward recently to announce its sale in the near future. Interestingly enough, the IMSAI 8080 still works, although the disk drive was damaged in shipping after the movie's conclusion, and was trashed."

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Anything to PROVE it's the one? by Lumpy · 2013-06-26 12:13 · Score: 3, Insightful

Honestly if it does not have the full paperwork and possibly all the actors signing the lid back then, it could be ANY Altair8080

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1. Re:Anything to PROVE it's the one? by Nyder · 2013-06-26 12:30 · Score: 2
  
  Honestly if it does not have the full paperwork and possibly all the actors signing the lid back then, it could be ANY Altair8080
  I don't think that will stop anyone. I'm not familiar with movie prop collecting, but it seems it would be hard to probably prove most the stuff was actually a prop that was used.
  Plus it's not like this guy just suddenly appeared and is claiming it's the computer. This guy was there from the beginning. Try reading this link:
  http://www.imsai.net/movies/wargames.htm
  
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  Be seeing you...
2. Re:Anything to PROVE it's the one? by anasciiman · 2013-06-26 13:11 · Score: 3, Informative
  
  It's an IMSAI not an Altair. Different critters entirely.
  
  --
  Think of me when you shave your legs...
3. Re:Anything to PROVE it's the one? by _merlin · 2013-06-26 14:16 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  Insightful? The guy doesn't even know the difference between an Altair and an IMSAI!
4. Re:Anything to PROVE it's the one? by cold+fjord · 2013-06-26 16:00 · Score: 1
  
  I suppose you could say that when it comes to CP/M, he isn't really a CompuPro, thank Godbout.
  
  --
  much of left-wing thought is a kind of playing with fire by people who don't even know that fire is hot - George Orwell
5. Re:Anything to PROVE it's the one? by tlhIngan · 2013-06-26 16:59 · Score: 2
  
  I don't think that will stop anyone. I'm not familiar with movie prop collecting, but it seems it would be hard to probably prove most the stuff was actually a prop that was used.
  Plus it's not like this guy just suddenly appeared and is claiming it's the computer. This guy was there from the beginning. Try reading this link:
  http://www.imsai.net/movies/wargames.htm
  
  Depends on the prop. Special props made just for the show have distinguishing features that often show it's made for TV (usually poor quality, looks like crap up close, etc).
  But without official paperwork showing it was used in the movie, or some way to tie it to the movie (if the prop has distinguishing marks that positively identify that one unit to the movie), it is effectively worthless.
  At best, an undocumented prop should be sold as a "prop replica" if there's nothing to trace it directly back. Of course, unscrupulous sellers will sell it as a official prop.
  The way to document it would be to have its serial number recorded by a third party which can be cross-correlated with this unit. Or an official purchase invoice that shows the buyer as the studio and the serial number. Alternatively, since he's kept it all this time, he could include shots and other stuff and a notarized letter saying it's from the movie and what his credentials are in relation to the movie.
  All this only really matters if you want to resell it or send it to a museum and want to get more than what retail would get. It's all about provenance.
6. Re:Anything to PROVE it's the one? by adolf · 2013-06-26 17:16 · Score: 1
  
  Did you, you know, try reading the link?
  I did. Years and years ago. It's a lovely story about a prop computer that actually was a real computer, from the horse's mouth.
  Paperwork? The dude who built it is the dude who's selling it. WTF else do you want?
  
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7. Re:Anything to PROVE it's the one? by TWiTfan · 2013-06-27 00:42 · Score: 2
  
  but it seems it would be hard to probably prove most the stuff was actually a prop that was used
  Not really. The prop people usually get credits in the movie. And if the guy selling it has some sort of paper trail to the prop people or prop company credited in the movie (or better yet, he worked for them), it's pretty straightforward to demonstrate a highly likely case for authenticity. And reading the article, it looks like the person selling it had well-established ties to Mike Fink, the FX supervisor for the film.
  The fact that this is being auctioned off by Christie's indicates that they have made a pretty solid connection too. You can bet that Christie's researches their items pretty carefully before putting their name behind it.
  
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8. Re:Anything to PROVE it's the one? by QuietLagoon · 2013-06-27 04:21 · Score: 1
  
  it could be ANY Altair8080
  Ummm... no.
  .
  An Altair 8080 is a different computer entirely.
9. Re:Anything to PROVE it's the one? by Internal+Modem · 2013-06-27 05:28 · Score: 1
  
  How is this modded +3 when it shows the long-winded poster didn't even RTF?
10. Re:Anything to PROVE it's the one? by toddestan · 2013-06-27 12:08 · Score: 1
  
  Besides, it would seem he does have plenty of paperwork. Linked from TFA:
  http://www.imsai.net/movies/provenance.htm
Forget that shit, I want... by Anonymous Coward · 2013-06-26 12:25 · Score: 1

...the WOPR!!!!
But it's not the WOPR! by Anonymous Coward · 2013-06-26 12:27 · Score: 1

Now THAT would be the bit of movie gear to have! :-)
1. Re:But it's not the WOPR! by cold+fjord · 2013-06-26 12:51 · Score: 4, Interesting
  
  But it's not the WOPR! Now THAT would be the bit of movie gear to have! :-)
  It would be, but if I recall correctly it was only a prop wired for lights. Still, it would fun to have that in a data center, especially if its one that people tour.
  
  --
  much of left-wing thought is a kind of playing with fire by people who don't even know that fire is hot - George Orwell
2. Re:But it's not the WOPR! by JWSmythe · 2013-06-26 14:21 · Score: 2
  
  I'd *LOVE* to move it in to my datacenter. It might be a hard sell for the boss though..
  "So I have this really cool piece of IT history, we just need to move that row a few feet over. It shouldn't involve too much downtime." :)
  
  --
  Serious? Seriousness is well above my pay grade.
3. Re:But it's not the WOPR! by cold+fjord · 2013-06-26 14:24 · Score: 1
  
  My recollection was correct. There is quite a bit about the prop WOPR design and construction down a bit on this web page.
  
  --
  much of left-wing thought is a kind of playing with fire by people who don't even know that fire is hot - George Orwell
4. Re:But it's not the WOPR! by slew · 2013-06-26 18:40 · Score: 1
  
  But it's not the WOPR! Now THAT would be the bit of movie gear to have! :-)
  It would be, but if I recall correctly it was only a prop wired for lights. Still, it would fun to have that in a data center, especially if its one that people tour.
  As I recall, that although the WOPR (like other movie computers of that era) was basically a prop with dancing stereo equalizer lights for cinematic effect, I think there was actually an Apple ][ inside controlling an experimental flat panel display on the side.
5. Re:But it's not the WOPR! by TWiTfan · 2013-06-27 00:48 · Score: 2
  
  Apparently, it was scrapped. Keep in mind, that was back in the days when movie props weren't considered particularly valuable assets. Today, they would probably do some sort of auction or at least warehouse it.
  
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  The cow says "Moo." The dog says "Woof." The Timothy says "Thanks, valued customer. We appreciate your input."
Déjà Vu by ArcadeMan · 2013-06-26 12:30 · Score: 5, Funny

The only way to win the auction is to not place any bid.

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Disk drives by Captain_Cozmic · 2013-06-26 12:35 · Score: 2

Wonder if it's an 8" floppy drive. I still have a few of those sitting around that work. And we used to think that a SSSD disk with 241K was something. Or that DSDD with almost 1 Meg was a wonder to behold. Unless it was one of the new Seagate 5 MB hard drives. Think they used to sell for around $1200 at the time.
1. Re:Disk drives by d'baba · 2013-06-26 12:52 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  The drives are 8" Calcomp pizza ovens. These were the original drives for the IMSAI 8080. We sold them along with the 8080 kits.
  
  Hi, Todd! Good luck on the auction.
2. Re:Disk drives by Megane · 2013-06-26 12:55 · Score: 2
  
  I used to work on the computer of a place back in the day. They had a TRS-80 Model II which ran CP/M. It had a 5 megabyte hard drive. The hard drive was split into 4 partitions.
  
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3. Re:Disk drives by cold+fjord · 2013-06-26 13:12 · Score: 2
  
  On the IMSAI web site they have a "garage sale" listing at the bottom of the page. They list both 8" and 5 1/4" drives. You might even be able to get 3.5" drives working with it. I seem to recall reading about some CP/M system mods for other systems that would allow that.
  
  --
  much of left-wing thought is a kind of playing with fire by people who don't even know that fire is hot - George Orwell
4. Re:Disk drives by d'baba · 2013-06-26 13:21 · Score: 5, Informative
  
  The later IMSAI models ran the Calcomp and PerSci 8" drives along with the 5.25 and 3.5 sizes. Also, around the time the VDP-80 with 8085 boards replacing the 8080's saw a Rob Barnaby, et. al. rewrite of CP/M which we called and shipped as IMDOS.
5. Re:Disk drives by cold+fjord · 2013-06-26 13:40 · Score: 1
  
  Sounds like that would make for a fairly powerful CP/M system even if not up the SB-180 levels. I think that would probably fun to play with, and useful to boot.
  
  --
  much of left-wing thought is a kind of playing with fire by people who don't even know that fire is hot - George Orwell
6. Re:Disk drives by fyngyrz · 2013-06-26 17:14 · Score: 1
  
  and useful to boot.
  Well, face it, it won't be very useful if you don't boot it...
  
  --
  I've fallen off your lawn, and I can't get up.
A strange game by Roachie · 2013-06-26 12:44 · Score: 1

... the only winning move is to not bid.

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This sig is not paradoxical or ironic.
Re:Fags by cold+fjord · 2013-06-26 12:48 · Score: 2, Insightful

You do realize that you are hurling invective about gays in a story centered around a young man trying to impress a pretty young lady, and which contained some innocent but sexually charged moments between them? That isn't really a gay theme. When you went to post you could have made a useful comment. Instead you blew past useful, past useless, to stupid and ironic. That isn't a good practice in life.

--
much of left-wing thought is a kind of playing with fire by people who don't even know that fire is hot - George Orwell
Re:How much for Ally Sheedy? by Gothmolly · 2013-06-26 13:09 · Score: 2

1980s Ally Sheedy, or "now" Ally Sheedy?
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b2/Ally_Sheedy.jpg/220px-Ally_Sheedy.jpg

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Re:How much for Ally Sheedy? by OhSoLaMeow · 2013-06-26 13:19 · Score: 2

1980s Ally Sheedy, or "now" Ally Sheedy?
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b2/Ally_Sheedy.jpg/220px-Ally_Sheedy.jpg
Stephanie ... change color!

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How about Jodie Foster? by TheGoodNamesWereGone · 2013-06-26 13:29 · Score: 1

Obligatory, really.
1. Re:How about Jodie Foster? by TheGoodNamesWereGone · 2013-06-27 00:11 · Score: 1
  
  FWIW just a few seconds after posted it, I flagged my own comment here as being in poor taste.
No thanks. by PopeRatzo · 2013-06-26 13:57 · Score: 1

Have you seen Ally Sheedy recently? I'm not saying she's had a lot of work, but when she smiles, her face squeaks.

--
You are welcome on my lawn.
I'd rather have... by Horshu · 2013-06-26 14:07 · Score: 2

Wyatt's computer from "Weird Science".
1. Re:I'd rather have... by uncle+slacky · 2013-06-26 21:37 · Score: 1
  
  That would be the Memotech MTX 512... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memotech_MTX
  
  --
  Windows is like the faint smell of piss in a subway: it's there, and there's nothing you can do about it.
Ebay... by Richy_T · 2013-06-26 14:28 · Score: 1

The only way to win is not to play.
1. Re:Ebay... by Richy_T · 2013-06-26 14:32 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  Ug. Not even second with that. Mod me to obscurity, please...
2. Re:Ebay... by slothman32 · 2013-06-26 17:59 · Score: 1
  
  I can't mod but I did give a chuckle.
  
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Who's Ally Sheedy? by GoChickenFat · 2013-06-26 14:29 · Score: 1

If you're the gray haired guy looking for a job or the kid's giving him advice you've probably never heard of her.
keep your marbles by Tastecicles · 2013-06-26 14:54 · Score: 1

I want the computer from Eagle Eye. Aria, I think her name was.
"Operation Guillotine is in effect."
Ooh, that sounds like a new sig happening right there.

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Operation Guillotine is in effect.
Somebody is out of touch with reality. by ChrisKnight · 2013-06-26 15:28 · Score: 5, Informative

From the linked article: "It is currently appraised at over $25,000, potentially making it the most expensive "personal computer" ever!"
There's an Apple I up for auction that is expected to haul in half a million.

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1. Re:Somebody is out of touch with reality. by gl4ss · 2013-06-26 22:19 · Score: 1
  
  And that Apple One was in WHAT movie?
  couple of documents.
  besides, you can spec up a brand new apple at 25k$..
  but more than that.. 1987 you could buy a 386dx for 10 grand of 1987 cash as starting price(and double it with addons).
  that's not to say anything about next, sgi etc computers.
  
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  world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
2. Re:Somebody is out of touch with reality. by drinkypoo · 2013-06-27 00:07 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  There's an Apple I up for auction that is expected to haul in half a million.
  That's nothing. You should see what they want for the latest Mac Pro.
  
  --
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3. Re:Somebody is out of touch with reality. by OakDragon · 2013-06-27 01:35 · Score: 1
  
  This topic reminds me of an old "SoftSide" article about a TRS-80 (4K, Level 1) that provided some "computer console" effects for Star Trek : The Motion Picture.
  
  The $44,000 Star Trek! Game ( [sic] - the article's title does have the exclamation point, and the program is not really a game)
  
  Program listing included. Some conversion will probably be needed for your new IMSAI, but I can't say for sure.
  
  --
  Dark Reflection
Might not be the original by kbsoftware · 2013-06-26 18:27 · Score: 1

I've been reading a few comments else where that this is not the original. The original was destroyed and another was built for some commercials and the second movie. I found an image from the original movie and looking at the image on the website they do look a bit different. Even so would be cool to have the WOPR instead :) http://collider.com/wp-content/uploads/WarGames-Sheedy-and-Broderick-on-computer.jpg
1. Re:Might not be the original by lxs · 2013-06-26 23:22 · Score: 1
  
  I think you'll find that there is no such thing as a second Wargames movie. It's a myth like the sequels to the Matrix and the Star Wars prequels.
2. Re:Might not be the original by kannibal_klown · 2013-06-27 00:38 · Score: 1
  
  LOL. Yeh.
  I mean, it was neat to see them fire up the old WOPR again towards the end. And Claudia Black's voice was cool for the new computer.
  But beyond that, it was hardly a worthy sequel to such a classic.
3. Re:Might not be the original by Custard+Horse · 2013-06-27 01:23 · Score: 1
  
  They made a sequel? I'll file that one next to Highlander 2 and Escape from L.A.
4. Re:Might not be the original by kbsoftware · 2013-06-27 05:07 · Score: 1
  
  WarGames The Dead Code http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WarGames:_The_Dead_Code http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJ63ZyyGQTI
To heck with the WOPR! by tlambert · 2013-06-26 19:19 · Score: 3, Funny

To heck with the WOPR!
I want that acoustic coupled modem that was capable of autodialing! That's technology indistinguishable from magic, baby!
1. Re:To heck with the WOPR! by Bill,+Shooter+of+Bul · 2013-06-27 03:53 · Score: 1
  
  Even as a 4 year old watching the movie I was confused about that...
  
  --
  Well.. maybe. Or Maybe not. But Definitely not sort of.
Re:Ok so you impress Ally Sheedy but by lxs · 2013-06-26 23:06 · Score: 1

Who cares? You'll get to hang out with a guy who flies RC pterodactyl gliders.
Re:Fags by wbr1 · 2013-06-26 23:46 · Score: 1

So.. that's why you're here? Kindreded spirits and all?

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Silence is a state of mime.
Just checked with Justin Long and John Hodgman by EGenius007 · 2013-06-27 00:11 · Score: 1

And was informed that a Mac is not a PC.

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1. Re:Just checked with Justin Long and John Hodgman by gl4ss · 2013-06-27 02:20 · Score: 1
  
  And was informed that a Mac is not a PC.
  and apple 1 is not a mac and neither that or imsai 8080 are ibm pc's.
  personal computers anyways.
  you could spec a more expensive ibm pc quite easily though.
  
  --
  world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
Re:Ally Sheedy by TWiTfan · 2013-06-27 00:52 · Score: 1

She's also kind of nuts these days. Not completely Sean-Young-level-batshit-crazy, but definitely not the kind of person you would probably want to have to live with. Pretty common with aging actresses, unfortunately. There is nothing more unstable than a narcissistic actress going through fame withdrawls and hearing the word "No" for the first time in years.

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The cow says "Moo." The dog says "Woof." The Timothy says "Thanks, valued customer. We appreciate your input."
I've got one of those by RobertNotBob · 2013-06-27 01:59 · Score: 1

I still have one of those, - I even still have the outer case (and docs) for it.
I never did have any disk drives for it; I had to reenter the code every time I turned it on.
...
I've always credited it (we call it Blinky, BTW... since that's all it does) with my career in IT. - My dad was the first guy in the neighborhood with an actual computer and I was writing assembler code in 1978. I learned two things:1) digital processing was the wave of the future, and 2) I didn't want to be a programmer (I'm a network security engineer). - But of course, if you've ever done assembler code by switching 8 toggles up and down to form Hex instructions one-by-one, you'll understand.
I was keeping it purely for sentimental reasons... but if this guy builds a furver for it... maybe I finally get the infamous DotDotDot :
1- get a computer in grade school
2- build a career in IT
3) ...
4) Profit!
:)

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Re:Ally Sheedy by technothrasher · 2013-06-27 02:15 · Score: 2

> There is nothing more unstable than a narcissistic actress going through fame withdrawls and hearing the word "No" for the first time in years.

You obviously know nothing about the woman. I happen to be good friends with her sister, and this description is not even close. She's far from narcissistic, and she basically quit the whole industry years ago because she didn't want the fame and simply wished to quietly live in peace.
Re:How much for Ally Sheedy? by wildstoo · 2013-06-27 02:39 · Score: 1

You still would though. You know you would.
I'd want the WOPR or nothing. by BetaDays · 2013-06-27 02:58 · Score: 1

Yep.

--
Paul: Father... father, the sleeper has awakened! - Dune
Re:Ally Sheedy by TWiTfan · 2013-06-27 03:25 · Score: 1

And you obviously haven't seen just about any interview she's done in the last 15 years, or her appearance on just about any award show.

--
The cow says "Moo." The dog says "Woof." The Timothy says "Thanks, valued customer. We appreciate your input."