Space Invaders!

This game almost needs no introduction. It is the classic arcade game by Atari, Space Invaders. You are a green tank moving between shields trying to shoot the little bug-like aliens. The aliens pick up speed as the move down the screen. If you hit the red spaceship you get more points.

I really like this game because, unlike most games around this time, it kind of has a nice rhythmic/musical element to it. It reminds me of the music in Mario that speeds up when time is close to the end. I got a chance at the 2013 Indiana State Fair to play this game on the arcade version. I played two-player with my mom. Needless to say she won, it is one of her favorite games.

Lunar Lander by Atari

This game can seem simple at first and then become a mess of strategy and skill. It is another vector-style game. This is more complicated than the previous vector games I have written about. You are the lunar lander trying to land on the very strangely mountainous terrain of the moon. There are about multiple difficulties that involve a change in gravity, rotation ability, and friction. If you do not slow down enough or come in at the wrong angle, you crash and either lose or get points based on how close you were to landing. The game ends when you run out of fuel.

This is the first game that let you see how much of supplies you have.  I like knowing what I have in my inventory and how I need to counteract forces that could harm me. When the rotation of the module is no longer restricted it make me laugh. The craft begins to spin out of control and nothing gets accomplished. I also really enjoy how the module breaks apart into tiny pieces.  This game has been remade many times as computer flash games. I remember playing it in elementary school during winter recess.

Atari's Battlezone

Battlezone is a vector-style game.  You are piloting a tank around the battle ground trying to avoid and hit enemy tanks and space ships.  There is simple terrain and obstacles to hide behind.  It is very green and seems like a game we would make in to a free app for phones today.

It is clear to see how this game quickly progresses.  As an arcade game is could eat all of a child's lunch money in an afternoon.  There have been many versions of this game made today.  Tanks is a good example of a game based off this game.  I did not realize until it was pointed out to me that you could shoot at the spaceships and get more points.  Its a good classic war game.

Atari's Tempest

Tempest is a creative game.  You are some kind of ship or gun that is shooting at these x-things that are shooting back at you.  It takes some skill to keep up with the changing shape and speed of the game.  It is very colorful and is mostly simple lines and shapes moving across the screen.

I find this game to be very captivating.  If I saw this game in an arcade I would have a hard time not feeding it all of my coins.  It has lots of levels in many shapes.  There are even a few sides that are hard to see until you move down them.

Atari 2600 Missile Command

Atari's Missile Command is a very simple game.  It is very flashy.  The name gives the game's objective, you are shooting missiles at bombs that are falling out of the sky.  You try to protect the six cities and three missile bases on the screen.  The end screen is so flashy that it could trigger an epileptic seizure.

This game gets hard rather quickly.  If I were to make a game like this today it would be a free app for phones  and tablets.  This game is good for wasting a few minutes before you need to go do something.  It is good for a classic game collection.

First Game...Adventure!


To start off this blog, I will talk about the Atari 2600 classic game Adventure.  It is a game where you go around various castles looking for keys, spears, trophies (I think that's what they are supposed to be...) and various other objects.  You fight dragons and try to get bats in the upper levels that steal you objects.  To win the game, all of three levels, you need to acquire the shinning trophy and bring it back to the yellow/original castle you started at.

After playing this game for a good amount of time, I feel that it is well thought out for an 1980s 8-bit game.  It fits the name of the game.  You constantly have to battle dragons and keep track of keys and spears.  The bat moves objects around which keeps a person entertained trying to find all the items.  This game is obviously a precursor to Zelda.