Brain Games

Last updated
Brain Games
Braingamesbox.png
Developer(s) Atari, Inc.
Publisher(s) Atari, Inc.
Programmer(s) Larry Kaplan [1]
Platform(s) Atari 2600
Release 1978
Genre(s) Puzzle
Mode(s)1–2 players

Brain Games is a collection of memory video games programmed by Larry Kaplan and released by Atari, Inc. for the Atari 2600 in 1978. [1] It is a group of memory games, [2] in which the player is faced with outwitting the computer in sound and picture puzzles. [3] It can be played as either a one or two player game. [4] In place of using the standard joystick, Brain Games utilizes the 12-button keypad controller. [5]

Contents

Brain Games was suggested in the 1984 book Clinical Management of Memory Problems as an effective clinical device for memory retraining exercises. Noted for having a variety of useful games, patients would be faced with auditory and visual cues that may improve spatial reasoning. [6]

Gameplay

"Picture Me" gameplay Braingamesscreenshot.png
"Picture Me" gameplay

Featuring a total of 19 games, the catalog of Brain Games includes a variety of memory games where the player must focus on a series of ciphers, symbols, and musical notes. [4] Each game has several options for altering the "difficulty switches", which add different aspects of challenge [7] and have the following progression: [8]

GameVariants
Touch Me1–4
Count Me5–8
Picture Me9–10
Find Me11–14
Add Me15–18
Play Me19

"Touch Me", which is the video version of the 1974 arcade game of the same name, [2] was the precursor for the handheld game Simon, in which the player must match a sequence of tones, and the computer would add a new note upon each successive turn. [7] This continues up until the player completes a 32 consecutive note execution. [9] In "Find Me", the player must detect subtle differences in the figures as they are flashed on the screen; [10] in "Picture Me", the player must memorize the placement of the picture sets, which the computer then rearranges. "Count Me" requires the player to match a sequence of digits played by the computer; upon correctly ordering the digits, the computer adds a new digit to the sequence. "Add Me" also utilizes numeric digits as part of the challenge, although the player must determine the sum the digits presented by the computer. Finally, "Play Me", which turns the 12-button keypad controller into a musical instrument, allows players to play the songs "Happy Birthday to You", "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star", and "Three Blind Mice". If two keypad controllers are plugged in, the players can play a duet with "Row Your Boat" as well. [7] Adding to the timed challenges are "diabolical distractions", [4] such as loud noises. [7]

Atari later released a handheld version of Touch Me. [2]

Reception

In his 2011 book, Classic Home Video Games, 1972-1984: A Complete Reference Guide, Brett Weiss said of Brain Games that "Despite the variety of options, Brain Games is limited in scope". [11]

Legacy

Brain Games was re-released bundled with BASIC Programming and two keypad controllers in the Back To School Pak in 1978. [12]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atari 5200</span> Home video game console

The Atari 5200 SuperSystem or simply Atari 5200 is a home video game console introduced in 1982 by Atari, Inc. as a higher-end complement for the popular Atari Video Computer System. The VCS was renamed to the Atari 2600 at the time of the 5200's launch. Created to compete with Mattel's Intellivision, the 5200 wound up a direct competitor of ColecoVision shortly after its release. While the Coleco system shipped with the first home version of Nintendo's Donkey Kong, the 5200 included the 1978 arcade game Super Breakout which had already appeared on the Atari 8-bit family and Atari VCS in 1979 and 1981 respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Intellivision</span> Home video game console

The Intellivision is a home video game console released by Mattel Electronics in 1979. The name is a portmanteau of "intelligent television". Development began in 1977, the same year as the launch of its main competitor, the Atari 2600. In 1984, Mattel sold its video game assets to a former Mattel Electronics executive and investors, eventually becoming INTV Corporation. Game development ran from 1978 to 1990 when the Intellivision was discontinued. From 1980 to 1983, more than 3 million consoles were sold.

<i>Super Sprint</i> 1986 video game

Super Sprint is a racing video game released by Atari Games and Midway Games in 1986. Up to three players drive Formula One-like cars on a circuit that is viewed from above. The game is a successor to Gran Trak 10 and the Sprint series, which were black-and-white games from the 1970s. A sequel, Championship Sprint, was released later in the same year.

<i>Chopper Command</i> 1982 video game

Chopper Command is a horizontally scrolling shooter released by Activision for the Atari 2600 in June 1982. It was written by Bob Whitehead.

In the history of video games, the second generation era refers to computer and video games, video game consoles, and handheld video game consoles available from 1976 to 1982 Notable platforms of the second generation include the Fairchild Channel F, Atari 2600, Intellivision, Odyssey 2, and ColecoVision. The generation began in November 1976 with the release of the Fairchild Channel F. This was followed by the Atari 2600 in 1977, Magnavox Odyssey² in 1978, Intellivision in 1980 and then the Emerson Arcadia 2001, ColecoVision, Atari 5200, and Vectrex, all in 1982. By the end of the era, there were over 15 different consoles. It coincided with, and was partly fuelled by, the golden age of arcade video games. This peak era of popularity and innovation for the medium resulted in many games for second generation home consoles being ports of arcade games. Space Invaders, the first "killer app" arcade game to be ported, was released in 1980 for the Atari 2600, though earlier Atari-published arcade games were ported to the 2600 previously. Coleco packaged Nintendo's Donkey Kong with the ColecoVision when it was released in August 1982.

<i>Atari Video Cube</i> 1982 video game

Atari Video Cube is a puzzle video game developed by GCC for the Atari 2600 and published by Atari, Inc. in 1982. Atari Video Cube was sold exclusively through the Atari Club, run by Atari, Inc. Originally an unlicensed interpretation of the Rubik's Cube toy, Atari rereleased the game in 1984 as Rubik's Cube.

<i>A Game of Concentration</i> 1978 video game

A Game of Concentration is a video game developed by Atari, Inc. and released in 1978 for the Atari VCS. It was programmed by Jim Huether, and is a version of the classic memory game. It was one of a handful of games that used Atari's keypad controllers.

<i>Dishaster</i> 1983 video game for the Atari 2600

Dishaster is an action game released for the Atari 2600 in 1983 by Zimag. Another version of the game was released by Bit Corporation under the name Dancing Plates which features oriental-themed graphics and adds eight game variations.

<i>Secret Quest</i> 1989 video game

Secret Quest is an action-adventure game developed by Axlon for the Atari 2600 and published by Atari Corporation in 1989. The player controls a humanoid character that fights monsters and gathers items on a series of space stations. It was one of the last cartridges released for the console and has a larger ROM capacity than most 2600 games plus a small amount of RAM. The box credits Nolan Bushnell for the game and includes his photo on both the front and back. According to Secret Quest programmer Steve DeFrisco, "Atari thought that his name would entice people to buy some more 2600 titles".

<i>Human Cannonball</i> (video game) 1979 video game

Human Cannonball is a non-military variant of an artillery video game released in 1979 by Atari, Inc. for the Atari VCS. The goal is to launch a performer from a cannon so they land in container of water supported by a tower. The game was in the first wave of Atari VCS games after the original nine launch titles. It was also among the first games for the console to be discontinued by Atari.

<i>Backgammon</i> (1979 video game) 1979 video game

Backgammon is a video game adaptation of the board-game backgammon developed by Atari, Inc. for the Atari Video Computer System and released in 1979. The game was one of the earliest electronic versions of Backgammon.

<i>Codebreaker</i> (video game) 1978 video game

Codebreaker is a video game released in 1978 by Atari, Inc. for the Atari VCS. It was in the first wave of Atari VCS games to follow the original nine launch titles. It was one of three cartridges to accompany the introduction of the Atari keyboard controller, an add-on launched in response to claims of false advertising that the VCS is a "computer".

<i>Flag Capture</i> 1978 video game

Flag Capture is a video game published in 1978 by Atari, Inc. for the Atari Video Computer System. It is based on the traditional game Capture the flag. The game was designed and programmed by Jim Huether. The cover art for the game is by John Enright.

<i>Hangman</i> (video game) 1978 video game

Hangman is a video game based on the pen-and-paper game of the same name released in 1978 by Atari, Inc. for the Atari VCS.

<i>Home Run</i> (video game) 1978 video game

Home Run is a 1978 sports video game developed and published by Atari, Inc. for the Atari Video Computer System. It was the first baseball-themed game released for an Atari platform. The game received mostly negative critical reception due to its unrealistic portrayal of the sport. It was one of the games used by console competitor Mattel to show the quality improvement of Intellivision sports games over the Atari VCS.

<i>Obelix</i> (video game) 1983 video game

Obelix is a 1983 video game developed and published by Atari, Inc. for the Atari 2600. It is centred around the characters Asterix and Obelix created by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo.

<i>Pigs in Space</i> (video game) 1983 video game

Pigs in Space is a three-in-one 1983 video game developed and published by Atari, Inc. for the Atari 2600. It is based on the "Pigs in Space" sketch series on the then-popular television series The Muppet Show. The game is the last in a series of children-friendly games developed by Atari for the Atari 2600. Atari marketed the games as being good for the development of hand-to-eye coordination.

<i>RealSports Baseball</i> 1982 baseball game for Atari 2600, 5200, and 7800

RealSports Baseball is a 1982 sports video game developed and published by Atari, Inc. originally for the Atari 2600. It was also launched on the Atari 5200 and 7800 machines. A version for the Atari 8-bit family of home computers was also in development, but it was cancelled.

<i>Slot Machine</i> (video game) 1979 game for Atari 2600

Slot Machine is a 1979 video game written by David Crane for the Atari VCS and published by Atari, Inc. Along with Star Ship and Miniature Golf, it was one of the first Atari VCS games to be discontinued.

<i>Video Checkers</i> 1980 game for Atari 2600

Video Checkers is a 1980 video game developed and published by Atari, Inc. for the Atari VCS.

References

  1. 1 2 Hague, James. "The Giant List of Classic Game Programmers".
  2. 1 2 3 Herman, p. 36.
  3. ↑ Kiplinger's Personal Finance, p. 44.
  4. 1 2 3 Atari Catalog (1982), p. 39.
  5. ↑ "Brain Games Game Program Instructions" (PDF). Atari, Inc. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 6, 2022. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
  6. ↑ Wilson; et al., p. 165.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "Atari 2600 Manuals (HTML) - Brain Games (Atari)". AtariAge . Archived from the original on December 5, 2021. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Box Scans (Brain Games)". AtariAge . Archived from the original on November 30, 2022. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  9. ↑ Atari Catalog (1981), p. 18.
  10. ↑ Johnson, p. 104.
  11. ↑ Weiss, Brett (2011). Classic Home Video Games, 1972-1984 A Complete Reference Guide. Macfarland. p. 39. ISBN   9780786487554 . Retrieved 1 November 2021.
  12. ↑ Weiss, Brett (2011). Classic Home Video Games, 1972-1984 A Complete Reference Guide. Macfarland. p. 34. ISBN   9780786487554 . Retrieved 1 November 2021.

Sources

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.