The Asteroids Arcade Game – Most Popular Video Arcade Games Of All Time
First it was pinball. Then, in the early 1970′s, it was Pong. Then, everything changed in the arcade world in 1979 with the release of Asteroids by Atari Inc., one of the most popular video arcade games of all time. Asteroids was immediately a huge hit in the United States, and went on to become Atari’s best-selling game ever. In fact, Asteroids was so popular that many arcade owners reported that they needed to install larger coin boxes to hold all of the money that players were spending on this new arcade sensation.
The Beginning of Arcade Space Travel
Asteroids got the ball rolling for all of the other space-themed video games that were to follow it, but none of these space-themed arcade games had the popularity or the influence that Asteroids did. The game itself is simple, especially by today’s standards, but the concept was a fun one: destroy asteroids and flying saucers. The player is in control of their own triangular-shaped spaceship, which is able to move in left and right directions. This is necessary because the player is only able to shoot straight ahead.
Each stage of the game gets progressively harder, with asteroids breaking off into smaller pieces, and moving faster at each level. And, don’t forget the flying saucers also trying to get in the way. They need to be destroyed too, both the large and the small ones. At the end of each level, a new screen of asteroids appears for the player to destroy. When players lose all of their lives, their games are over.
Working Out The Bugs
Being one of the first space-themed video arcade games on the market, there were obviously a few bugs that needed to be worked out. For instance, the maximum score in Asteroids is only 99,990 points, and if a player were to surpass this score, the numbers would “roll over” to the original zero.
Another bug was one that let players play for an indefinite amount of time on one credit, which was not making a lot of money for arcade owners. Players figured out that they could hide on the opposite screen and stay safe while shooting at the targets. This bug was corrected for the sequel game.
Asteroids Lives On
A year after the release of the highly successful Asteroids, a second game was released, Asteroids Deluxe. This game was similar to its predecessor, with a few changes to make it even more fun and challenging. A new addition of a killer satellite was a part of Asteroids Deluxe, and the objects on the screen were blue instead of white.
Two more sequels would follow. In 1982, Space Duel was released, and 1987 saw the release of Blasteroids. To this day, Asteroids is considered to be one of the top 100 video arcade games of all time. Today, versions of Asteroids are available online, and many people are rushing to online auctions and thrift shops to find old Atari game systems, which are now more expensive than some of the newest models.
About the Author:
Howard Symington is the owner and managing director of Southern Star Amusements and Vending. Australia’s leading Amusement, Arcade, Pinball, Redemption and Vending Machine Hire, Rental and Sales Company. For all your Pinball, Arcade and Amusement Machine Sales, Rentals and Coin Share Programs for your Pub, Hotel, Club, Company or Venue requirements visit Southern Star Amusements
Related posts:
- The Low Down On The Big Buck Hunter Pro Arcade Game
- Big Buck Hunter Safari Arcade Game
- Big Buck Hunter Pro Open Season Arcade Game
- The Ripleys Believe It Or Not Pinball Game
- The Nba Pinball Game – He Shoots, He Scores With The Nba Pinball Machine
