Asteroids - MAME software

Atari 2600 cart. published 43 years ago:

Asteroids © 1981 Atari, Incorporated.

The object of the game is to destroy as many asteroid boulders as possible and keep your ship in space as long as possible. Use your Joystick Controller to maneuver your ship through space and press the red controller (fire) button to shoot photon torpedoes at the asteroid boulders. When an asteroid is hit, it may just break up into smaller boulders, or it may be completely pulverized. In some game variations you'll face additional space hazards such as satellites and UFOs (Unidentified Flying Objects); both of which may be firing torpedoes at you.

Asteroids includes 66 game variations for 1 or 2 players.

TECHNICAL
Model CX2649

TRIVIA
Export releases:
PAL "Asteroids [Model CX2649P]"

SCORING
Points are determined by the size of the asteroid boulders. Obviously, the smaller boulders are harder to hit and therefore worth more points. With each game or turn you have four spaceships. You can earn extra spaceships by scoring high as indicated in the Game Select Matrix.

Points are scored as follows:
Small Asteroids: 100 points
Medium Asteroids: 50 points
Large Asteroids: 20 points
Satellites: 200 points
UFOs: 1,000 points

TIPS AND TRICKS
After playing Asteroids several times you'll discover which techniques work best for you. Here are some that the space cadets at Atari found most helpful.

• When the screen becomes clear of asteroids (just before a new group of large asteroids appears), try to avoid placing your spaceship close to the right or left edge of the screen. New asteroids almost always begin from these edges.
• It is often helpful to remain in the center of the screen throughout the game, aiming your spaceship right or left in a circular motion.
• If you're close to earning an extra ship, and your spaceship is about to crash, you may want to cause your spaceship to collide with a small asteroid, UFO, or satellite. You'll earn points even if you crash, and this may be just enough points to earn that extra ship.
• Try to hit the faster and smaller asteroid boulders. This will give you more protection and more points.

STAFF
Programmer: Brad Stewart

PORTS

• CONSOLES:

[US] Tapwave Zodiac (2004) "Atari Retro"
[US] Microsoft XBOX (nov.16, 2004) "Atari Anthology [Model 26084]"
[US] Sony PS2 (nov.22, 2004) "Atari Anthology [Model SLUS-21076]"
[JP] Microsoft XBOX (aug.4, 2005) "Atari Anthology [Model B7X-00001]"
[US] Microsoft XBOX One (nov.1,2016) "Atari Flashback Classics Vol.2"
[US] Sony PlayStation 4 (nov.1,2016) "Atari Flashback Classics Vol.2"

• HANDHELDS:

[US] Nintendo DS (nov.2, 2010) "Atari Greatest Hits Vol.1 [Model NTR-BR6E-USA]"

• COMPUTERS:

[US] PC [MS Windows, CD-ROM] (jan.1, 2003) "Atari Retro"
[US] PC [MS Windows, CD-ROM] (nov.11, 2003) "Atari - 80 Classic Games in One! [Model 25069J]"
[US] Steam (mar.24,2016) "Atari Vault [Model 400020]"

• OTHERS:

[US] "Atari 10 in 1 TV Game" (2002) by Jakk's Pacific)
[US] "Atari Flashback 2" (2005)
[US] "Atari Flashback 2+" (2010)
[US] "Atari Flashback 3" (sept.16, 2011) by AtGames
[US] "Atari Flashback 4" (nov.13, 2012) by AtGames
[US] "Atari Flashback 5" (oct.1, 2014) by AtGames
[US] "Atari Flashback 6" (sept.15,2015) by AtGames
[US] "Atari Flashback 7" (oct.1,2016) by AtGames
[US] "Atari Ultimate Portable Game Player" (nov.2016) by AtGames
[US] "Atari Plug & Play Joystick" (aug.2017) by The Bridge Direct
[US] "Atari Flashback 8" (sept.22, 2017) by AtGames
[US] "Atari Flashback 8 Gold Edition" (sept.22, 2017) by AtGames
[US] "Atari Flashback 8 Gold Activision Edition" (sept.22, 2017) by AtGames
[US] "Atari Flashback Portable Game Player" (sept.22, 2017) by AtGames

CONTRIBUTE
Edit this entry: https://www.arcade-history.com/?&page=detail&id=50217&o=2