| Bug Attack | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Jim Nitchals |
| Publisher(s) | Cavalier Computer |
| Platform(s) | Apple II, Atari 8-bit |
| Release | 1981: Apple 1982: Atari |
| Genre(s) | Fixed shooter |
Bug Attack is a fixed shooter video game written by Jim Nitchals for the Apple II and published by Cavalier Computer in 1981. [1] A version for Atari 8-bit computers was released in 1982. [2] Bug Attack is based on Atari, Inc.'s Centipede arcade game. [3]
Bug Attack is a game in which the player uses beetles to fight other insects. [4]
Dave Jones reviewed the game for Computer Gaming World , and stated that "the novel touches of Bug Attack, such as the variety of vegetations and patterns of color, and the intermissions which break up the action between insect waves, served to maintain my interest in the game hour after hour. The author of the game is to be complemented on his packing such a successful combination of imaginative flair and technical expertise into the confines of the Apple II." [4]
Reviewing the Apple II original, Leigh Goldstein wrote in Electronic Games : "Clearly modeled on Atari's coin-op, Centipede, Bug Attack just doesn't offer enough of the features that make Centipede such a great game" and "Bug Attack is dull gaming." [3] She cited Centipede's sound effects and vertical player movement as two elements lacking from Bug Attack.
Zaxxon is a scrolling shooter developed and released by Sega as an arcade video game in 1982. The player pilots a ship through heavily defended space fortresses. Japanese electronics company Ikegami Tsushinki was also involved in the game's development.
Missile Command is a 1980 shoot 'em up arcade video game developed and published by Atari, Inc. and later licensed to Sega for Japanese and European releases. It was designed by Dave Theurer, who also designed Atari's vector graphics game Tempest from the same year. The game was released during the Cold War, and the player uses a trackball to defend six cities from intercontinental ballistic missiles by launching anti-ballistic missiles from three bases.
Centipede is a 1981 fixed shooter arcade video game developed and published by Atari, Inc. Designed by Dona Bailey and Ed Logg, it was one of the most commercially successful games from the golden age of arcade video games and one of the first with a significant female player base. The primary objective is to shoot all the segments of a centipede that winds down the playing field. An arcade sequel, Millipede, followed in 1982.
Miner 2049er is a 1982 platform game developed for Atari 8-bit computers by Bill Hogue and released by his company, Big Five Software. The player controls Bounty Bob through multiple levels of a mine, with the goal of traversing all of the platforms while avoiding or defeating enemy mutants.
Choplifter is a military themed scrolling shooter developed by Dan Gorlin for the Apple II and published by Broderbund in 1982. It was ported to Atari 8-bit computers the same year and also to the VIC-20, Commodore 64, Atari 5200, ColecoVision, MSX, and Thomson computers.
1982 was the peak year for the golden age of arcade video games as well as the second generation of video game consoles. Many games were released that would spawn franchises, or at least sequels, including Dig Dug, Pole Position, Mr. Do!, Zaxxon, Q*bert, Time Pilot and Pitfall! The year's highest-grossing video game was Namco's arcade game Pac-Man, for the third year in a row, while the year's best-selling home system was the Atari 2600. Additional video game consoles added to a crowded market, notably the ColecoVision and Atari 5200. Troubles at Atari late in the year triggered the video game crash of 1983.
Dona Bailey is an American video game programmer and educator. Bailey, along with Ed Logg in 1981, developed Atari, Inc.'s arcade video game Centipede.
Shamus is a shooter with light action-adventure game elements written by Cathryn Mataga and published by Synapse Software. The original Atari 8-bit computer version was released on disk and tape in 1982. According to Synapse co-founder Ihor Wolosenko, Shamus made the company famous by giving it a reputation for quality. "Funeral March of a Marionette", the theme song from Alfred Hitchcock Presents, plays on the title screen.
Apple Panic is a game for the Apple II programmed by Ben Serki and published by Broderbund Software in 1981. Apple Panic is an unauthorized version of the 1980 arcade game Space Panic, the first game with ladders and platforms. While the arcade original remained obscure, Apple Panic became a top seller for home computers. It was ported to the Atari 8-bit computers, VIC-20, IBM PC, and TRS-80.
Centipede is a 1998 action game developed by Leaping Lizard Software and published by Hasbro Interactive. It is a remake of Atari's 1981 arcade game of the same name.
Transylvania is an adventure video game published by Penguin Software. It was released for the Apple II in 1982 followed by ports to the Atari 8-bit computers and Commodore 64. A Mac conversion was published in 1984, then versions for the Amiga, Atari ST, and MS-DOS in 1985.
Picnic Paranoia is an action game written by Russ Segal for both the Atari 8-bit computers and Apple II and published by Synapse Software in 1982. A version for the TI-99/4A was published by Atarisoft in 1983. Although the gameplay is identical, all three versions of the game utilize slightly different graphics.
Dragon's Eye is fantasy role-playing video game published by Automated Simulations in 1981 for the Apple II, Atari 8-bit computers, and Commodore PET.
Star Maze is a space-themed shooter taking place in a multidirectional scrolling maze published by Sir-Tech in 1982. It was written by Canadian programmer Gordon Eastman for the Apple II, based on a design by Robert Woodhead. Versions for the Atari 8-bit computers and Commodore 64 followed in 1983.
Star Blazer is a horizontally scrolling shooter programmed by Tony Suzuki for the Apple II and published by Broderbund Software in 1982. A version for Atari 8-bit computers was released in 1983 as Sky Blazer.
Seafox is a shoot 'em up written by Ed Hobbs and published by Broderbund in 1982 for the Apple II and as a cartridge for Atari 8-bit computers. A VIC-20 port, also on cartridge, was released in 1983.
Protector II is a video game written by Mike Potter for Atari 8-bit computers and published by Synapse Software in 1982. It is a sequel to 1981's Protector; both games are horizontally scrolling shooters inspired by the arcade video game Defender. Protector II was ported to the Commodore 64, TI-99/4A, and TRS-80 Color Computer.
The Blade of Blackpoole is an adventure game written for the Apple II by Tim Wilson and published in 1982 by Sirius Software. It was ported to the Atari 8-bit computers, Commodore 64, FM-7, PC-88, PC-98.
Threshold is a space-themed fixed shooter written by Warren Schwader and Ken Williams for the Apple II and published by On-Line Systems in 1981. Inspired by Sega's Astro Blaster arcade video game, Threshold introduces many enemy ship types and wave formations as the game progresses. Reviewers found the variety distinguished the game from the many similar shoot 'em ups.