Lunar Lander (arcade game)
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| Lunar Lander | |
|---|---|
 Screenshot of Lunar Lander in play |
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| Developer(s) | Atari Inc. |
| Publisher(s) | Atari Inc. |
| Platform(s) | Arcade |
| Release date | 1979 |
| Genre(s) | Vehicle Simulation |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
| Input methods | lever, 3 buttons |
| Cabinet | Upright |
| Display | Horizontal orientation, vector monitor, size: 19 inch |
Lunar Lander is an arcade game released by Atari in 1979, which uses a vector monitor to display vector graphics. The object of the game is to pilot a lunar landing module to a safe touchdown on the moon. Approximately 4830 units were produced.[1]
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[edit] Gameplay
The objective of Lunar Lander is to pilot a lunar landing module as it prepares to touch down on the moon. The terrain is very jagged and has only a few flat areas appropriate for landing. These areas are highlighted with a flashing bonus multiplier, which is higher for smaller areas. If the player successfully lands the module, he or she is awarded points based on how good the landing was and the difficulty of the landing site. If he or she crashes, no points are awarded, but instead the player receives a fuel penalty. In either case, the game starts another round with a different set of terrain and the player's remaining fuel. The game is over when the player has run out of fuel and crashes on the moon's surface.
To pilot the lander, the player must counteract gravity by using the lander's aft thrusters to slow its descent. The player uses a proportional throttle to adjust the strength of the thrusters, a new feature at the time of the game's release. Three buttons provide the ability to rotate the craft clockwise and counterclockwise, and to "abort" an approach by firing the thrusters at full strength for a short time. Each action uses up the craft's limited fuel, and when fuel has run out, the lander stops responding to the player's actions. The player can optionally purchase more fuel at any time during the game by depositing additional coins, also a new feature for its time.
The player can adjust the game's difficulty at any time during play.[1]
[edit] Clones
The home computer version of Lunar Lander was released by Adventure International in 1981,[2] Commodore released the very similar Jupiter Lander for its VIC-20 computer.
[edit] References
- ^ a b Lunar Lander at arcade-history.com
- ^ Lunar Lander from AtariMania
[edit] External links
- Lunar Lander at the Killer List of Videogames
- Moonlander.eu Online tribute to Lunar Lander / Moonlander
