Asteroids Arcade Machine
Asteroids Arcade Machine was released in 1979 by Atari. Asteroids Arcade is a space-themed multidirectional shooter arcade game.
Object:
- To maneuver a spacecraft quickly enough to blast and destroy streams of asteroids and computer-controlled enemy saucers – before they can destroy the player’s ship.
Gameplay:
- Asteroids is easy to learn but hard to master – a replay natural!
- The better you play, the more difficult Asteroids gets.
- Keep playing to better your previous scores.
- Players start with either three or four ships.
- A direct hit on a large asteroid breaks it in two. A hit on one of these breaks it into two still smaller asteroids, a final hit on a small asteroid destroys it completely.
- When the number of asteroids is minimal, a saucer will enter. As the game progresses, more enemy saucers will appear more frequently.
- Large saucers shoot in random directions. Small spacecraft will zero in on player’s craft. When all asteroids have been destroyed, a new cluster of large asteroids will appear.
Realistic Controls:
- Push-button controls are provided for rotation left or right, thrust and fire control.
- Activation of the Hyperspace button causes the spacecraft to go off screen and reappear at random in a different area.
- Hyperspace is risky however, because of a high probability of destruction upon reentry.
Scoring:
- Small Asteroids…………100 points
- Medium Asteroids……….50 points
- Large Asteroids…………..20 points
- Large Spacecraft……….200 points
- Small Spacecraft…….1,000 points
Bonus Scoring:
- Each time 10,000 points are achieved an additional spacecraft is awarded.
Spectacular Visual Effects:
- Realistic explosions, laser blasts, fragmentation of space debris are created by the unique Atari-designed QuadraScan display system.
- Exciting visuals are enhanced by highly realistic sound effects.