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This 1970s tank simulator drives through a tiny world

Tom Scott · explainer · Watch on YouTube

History of computingVR, AR & spatial computingMilitary history & warfare

What it is

Tom Scott visits the Swiss Military Museum to see the last surviving 1970s tank-driving simulator. It uses a real camera moving over a miniature model landscape rather than any computer graphics.

Why Hacker News recommends it

Recommended as a great example of early VR and pre-computer simulation.

  • 2 people recommended it
  • 2 different months
  • 0 strong recommendations
  • first 2024, last 2025

What HN commenters said

  1. “This tank simulator from the 1970s is a great example of early VR”

    1970s tank simulator as an early VR example

    bux93, 2024-02 · Recommendation · in “A man who invented VR goggles 50 years too soon (2016)”

  2. “reminds me a bit of two Tom Scott videos”

    Tank simulator driving through a tiny model world

    anfractuosity, 2024-08 · Recommendation · in “Sega Jet Rocket: The '70s arcade game with no computer or screen”

Excerpts from Hacker News comments, linked to the originals. Summaries and labels were written by a language model from those comments.

Topics: tank simulator, early vr, simulation, tom scott, computer history

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