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It was loosely based on the arcade gameTankwhich was also produced by the studio.
The arcade game was massively popular and a huge win for developer Taito.
Inventive, fun, and endlessly challenging,Space Invadersrepresented everything great about retro video gaming.
Suddenly, that famous sound design could be heard in any home across the country.
In theory, the game should have been a dud upon its release.
Yet, critically it received praise across the board for its ease of gameplay and engaging mechanics.
It shattered many conventions and broke the mold, moving players away from traditional scoreboards and social competition.
WithSpace Invadersalready proving that arcade ports really connected with audiences, it was no surprise whenAsteroidsalso performed remarkably well.
The concept behindAsteroidsremained the same.
Players were tasked with destroying the lumps of cosmic rock and flying saucers, in the multi-directional shooter.
Although there have been remakes and sequels, nothing quite lands like the original gem.
It seemed as if people wanted the Atari 2600 purely to play the dynamic maze action title.
Pac-Manwhich also made the jump from arcade.
PerhapsPac-Manslongevity would not be nearly as prevalent had the title not been taken directly to consumers by Atari.
Without it, Nintendo would not have theMarioseries and all the other titles that have come from that world.
But the power of the Atari shone through.
In a partnership with LucasFilm they created an adaptation ofRaiders of the Lost Ark.
Mechanically it took no major strides forward, and this led to some consumers actually returning their copies.
Despite the numbers it sold, the performance was still below expectations and negatively affected Atari.
Clearly, despite a well-known name, Atari couldnt get lazy with its game development.
Having players simply run around as the titular alien, looking for telephone pieces, just wasnt compelling enough.
The graphics really popped on the console, and the smoothness of the gameplay made it pretty addictive.
The racing game was a best seller and had already dominated the arcade space.
It is undoubtedly one of the best titles on the console.
It was this attention to detail that showcased that the Atari 2600 was also home to serious gaming.
It was bold and brash and incorporated a range of often unseen systems that elevated the game further.
Players controlled their titular tank and attacked and defended in equal measure.
