• Tag Archives Robotron 2084

  • Atarisoft

    Posted on by Azrael Comment


    Atarisoft

    http://darth-azrael.tumblr.com/post/177671538230/atarisoft

    Atarisoft was a brand used by Atari, Inc. to sell games for competing systems. Atari themselves typically only developed games for their own systems (Atari 8-bit computers, Atari 2600, Atari 5200, etc.) so Atarisoft titles were mostly developed by third parties. Atarisoft was only around as a brand for about two years (1983-1984), until the Atari consumer division was sold to Jack Tramiel.

    It seems to me that Atari could have done better by focusing on selling their own systems and making these games exclusive, at least for a period of time. Despite the short amount of time the Atarisoft brand was used, a relatively large number of games were produced. Twenty titles were released on at least eight different systems (home computers and video game consoles other than Atari). A number of others were partially developed but cancelled before being completed after Atari was sold.

    The above ad includes the earliest releases from Atarisoft for the Commodore 64, VIC-20, IBM (DOS) and TI-99/4A.



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  • Robotron: 2084 (Atari 5200)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Robotron: 2084 (Atari 5200, 1983)

    http://darth-azrael.tumblr.com/post/158391687184/mastersofthe80s-robotron-2084-atari-5200

    Robotron: 2084 was first developed as an arcade game in 1982. It was best known for its intense action and unique for the time control scheme. In Robotron you used two joysticks. One controlled movement and the other controlled the direction of fire. This control scheme would later be revived by Smash TV in 1990.

    Beginning in 1983 Robotron was ported to a number of home systems including the Atari 5200 (box art above), Atari 7800, Apple IIe, Commodore 64 and TI-99/4A. The Atari 5200 was not the best graphically or in terms of supporting the most action on screen but it did have one thing that other early ports did not have: support for dual joystick control.

    Most early ports used a more conventional control scheme and the game suffered for it. However, the Atari 5200 supported the use of two joysticks and came with an adapter to mount the joysticks in so that they were practical to use. Support of this dual joystick control scheme arguably makes the Atari 5200 version the best early home version even though systems like the Atari 7800 had much better graphics.

    More recently, Robotron has been included in a number of compilations in emulated form (Midway Arcade Treasures, Midway’s Greatest Arcade Hits, etc.) but in the early days if you wanted the unique control scheme that was part of what made Robotron special and you wanted to play at home, the Atari 5200 was your only option.





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  • Robotron 2084

    Posted on by Azrael 1 Comment

    Robotron 2084 is an arcade game from the early 1980′s. It’s been ported to several home consoles including the Atari 7800, which is the version I’ve played the most. The 7800 version recreates the arcade game well.

    Inspired by Berzerk (where one shot robots in a maze) and Chase (where one tried to lure enemies into walking into their deaths), Robotron is notable for using two joysticks, one to control your character’s movement and the other to aim where you fired. There’s a lot going on on the screen at once and I found it helpful to get to know your enemies from its Strategy Wiki page.

    The premise is a lot like Terminator: it’s the future and humans have created the robotrons, which were “smarter” than humans. Deeming humans as a threat, they aim to destroy mankind. There’s a large variety of enemies in this tough game. To clear a level, shoot all the destructible enemies. Rescue humans to earn extra points to get you to your next extra life faster.

    The Grunts are the dumbest robots, but they are numerous: they just walk at you. If you touch one, you die.

    Then there are indestructible Hulks which move around and hunt down the other humans. If they get to the humans, the humans die.

    But beware of those enemies that spawn more enemies on the screen – get rid of those first, before you focus on the Grunts.

    Every 5 rounds, the formidable Brains will appear and start shooting at you and morphing with humans. Try to get all the Brains as quickly as possible.

    http://darth-azrael.tumblr.com/post/153602994047/robotron-2084





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