Air Raid (video game)
| Air Raid | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Men-A-Vision |
| Publisher(s) | Men-A-Vision |
| Designer(s) | Unknown |
| Platform(s) | Atari 2600 |
| Release date(s) | 1982 |
| Genre(s) | Shoot 'em up |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
| Distribution | Cartridge |
Air Raid, not to be confused with Air Raiders or River Raid, is considered to be the rarest game released for the Atari 2600. Its cartridge is a blue T-handle design with a picture of flying saucers attacking a futuristic city. It was the only game released by Men-A-Vision and had an extremely limited distribution, making it highly sought after by video game collectors. It is not uncommon for the game to sell in the thousands of dollars when listed on eBay. On April 10, 2010 the only believed to be complete game at the time (cartridge and box) known to still exist sold for $31,600.[1] The next known copy to surface on the internet was on October 22, 2011. The eBay auction offered an incomplete version of the game (cart only). Air Raid still sold for an impressive amount of $3,575 US. The transaction was completed, having both parties exchange positive feedback making this the second highest confirmed price paid for the game.[2] On October 24, 2012, the first truly complete game (cartridge, instruction manual and box) was listed for auction and eventually sold for $33,433.30.[3] Due to the media attention that this complete copy brought, on October 26, 2012, a third boxed copy (although without the instruction manual) has surfaced on eBay [4] Near the end of 2010, the AtariAge website made a cartridge with a new label as a magnet.[5]
The back of the box, visible in pictures posted for one of the online auctions, describes game play as follows: "The quiet pre-dawn sky is suddenly filled with enemy bombers. Can you save Manhattan from your loan[sic] command post? You watch as the sky scrapers around you are reduced by each hit until, after 12 hits, nothing but rubble remains. You fire fast and furiously to protect the falling city. Can you withstand the deadly on slaught[sic]? With 8 variations of play this debut thrill packed action game by Men-a-Vision will bring many hours of exciting challenging play. Printed And Made in Taiwan. 1982, Men-a-Vision, L.A., Calif."