Before becoming the visionary behind Tesla, SpaceX, and Neuralink, Elon Musk was a young boy passionate about technology. At 12, he developed a space-themed video game called “Blastar,” which earned him $500.
At an early age, Musk, born in South Africa, developed an interest in computers and programming. He taught himself how to code using a manual and a Commodore VIC-20, a home computer popular in the 1980s. He spent hours on his hobby, experimenting with different genres and styles.
One of his creations was “Blastar,” an 8-bit game inspired by sci-fi movies and books. The game’s objective was simple: to blast away alien ships carrying dangerous weapons. The game had basic graphics and sound effects but was challenging and fun.
Musk decided to share his game with the world by selling the source code to a computer magazine called PC and Office Technology. He wrote a letter to the editor, explaining the game and asking for $500. To his delight, the magazine agreed and published his code on page 69 of its June 1984 issue.
Musk later joked that “Blastar” was “a trivial game… but better than Flappy Bird“, a reference to a viral mobile game released in 2013. He also admitted that he was not very proud of his game, saying it was “not very good.”
However, “Blastar” has gained a cult following among fans of Musk and retro gaming. In 2015, a Google software engineer named Tomas Lloret Llinares recreated the game using HTML5 and JavaScript, making it playable on modern browsers. He also added improvements, such as a score counter and a pause button.
Musk has come a long way since his “Blastar” days. He is a top entrepreneur and engineer leading companies that shape the future. He’s famous for projects like electric cars and reusable rockets.
But even as he pursues his grand goals, he still remembers his roots. He likes playing video games, especially ones about space. He supports young coders and gamers, telling them to pursue their dreams.
