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  • 3D Tic-Tac-Toe (Atari 2600)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Atari 2600 – 3D Tic-Tac-Toe.
    Programmer/designer Carol Shaw.

    http://darth-azrael.tumblr.com/post/182561816859/lutwentythree-atari-2600-3d-tic-tac-toe

     

    3-D Tic-Tac-Toe is exactly what it sounds like. A three dimensional version of the classic Tic-Tac-Toe. Instead of the traditional goal of getting three Xs or three Os in a row, vertically, horizontally or diagonally, you must get four in a row on a 4x4x4 board. 3-D Tic-Tac-Toe was released for the Atari 2600 in 1979 and can be played by two players or one against the computer.

    What originally surprised me about this game was that it wasn’t unique to the Atari 2600. 3-D Tic-Tac-Toe, otherwise known as Qubic (and a few other names besides). Unfortunately, Tic-Tac-Toe, even in its 3-dimensional form, isn’t all that compelling. The 3D nature of this game makes in interesting for a while but you will likely grow tired of it pretty quickly.

    There were a few other implementations besides the Atari 2600 version. Around the same time that verions was released, a nearly identical Atari 8-bit computer version was also released. More recent releases include a version on the Microsoft Windows Entertainment Pack called TicTactics in the 1990s. This version was also available via Microsoft’s Gameroom service for the Xbox 360 in 2010.

    As a side note, the creator of the Atari version of the game, Carol Shaw, went on to also create River Raid.

    If you want to play 3-D Tic-Tac-Toe, the Atari 2600 version is probably the easiest to find. This version is also easy to emulate if you want to go that route. Another option is to play this game via one of the Atari Flashback consoles. I know that it is at least available on Atari Flashback 7 and probably on other versions as well.





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  • Reactor (Atari 2600)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Parker Brothers Reactor game for the Atari 2600 from 1982

    http://darth-azrael.tumblr.com/post/182572093446/parker-brothers-reactor-game-for-the-atari-2600

     

    Reactor was originally an arcade game by Gottlieb in 1982. However, is was ported to the Atari 2600 and released on that platform by Parker Brothers the same year. The goal of the game is to prevent a nuclear reactor from melting down.

    The control scheme of Reactor is rather unique. In the center of the screen is the reactor and it is constantly pulling you towards it as if it were a black whole. There are various “enemy” radioactive particles that are trying to kill you. Touching the particles or the barrier around the reactor is a bad things. However, you can only speed up or slow down as you “orbit” the reactor in order to control your trajectory. You don’t control your movement directly. Particles are affected by the reactor’s pull as well but they try to steer towards you. You have traps that you can set that the particles will target instead. Setting them in the right place can lead to them colliding with the reactor and being destroyed or into the control rods and destroying them which is your ultimate goal.

    The relative uniqueness of this game makes it worth trying though it won’t be for everybody. The arcade version has the advantage of using a trackball whereas most Atari 2600 owners were stuck with a joystick. However, a trackball can be used on the Atari 2600 as well. The joystick is not a great substitute and I definitely recommend trying out a trackball even if you play this on an Atari 2600.

    I’m not aware of any re-releases of this game and while an Intellivision port was planned, it was never released. If you want to give this game a try then you will either have to resort to emulation (of the arcade game or the 2600 version), or hunt down an original. The Atari 2600 cartridges are not terribly hard to find.


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  • Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (Atari 2600)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (Atari 2600)

    The Empire Strikes Back was released by Parker Brothers for the Atari 2600 in 1982. It shouldn’t be confused with the vector based arcade game that was released in 1985. They are completely different games. While the Atari 2600 version is somewhat derivative of Defender, it is a decent game and one of the better Star Wars games on the 2600.

    The basic game play is much like Defender in that you can fly horizontally in either direction and shoot things. The difference is that instead of shooting down flying saucers and rescuing humans, you are trying to destroy Imperial Walkers. As the game progresses, they move faster as they try to destroy your shield generator. Your goal is to stop them. It is a little more simplistic than Defender and as such doesn’t have quite the replay value.

    Empire Strikes Back is a fun enough diversion in small doses but it can get repetitive (but then that can be said of most Atari 2600 games). For Star Wars and Atari 2600 fans I would say that it is definitely a game that you want to have. Fortunately, it is easily emulated and original cartridges can be found reasonably priced, particularly if you aren’t concerned about a complete in box copy. I don’t believe this one has been re-released and as a Star Wars movie license probably won’t be. However, there is also an Intellivision version of this game if you prefer that system.

    The screen shot above is from the Atari 2600 version of the game



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