Loosely-based on the 1979 film, The China Syndrome , China Syndrome by Spectravision – first released in 1982 – is a “simulation” of a fission nuclear reactor going wrong. The aim is to capture neutrons, using a roaming cursor, to prevent a runaway nuclear reaction and eventual reactor meltdown.
Tag Archives: early
Barnstorming, Atari 2600
Barnstorming was designed by Steve Cartwright and first published by Activision in 1982. Like most people who play it for the first time, I had to check if I was playing the game as intended, because there’s so little to it.
Missile Command, Atari 2600
The Atari 2600 version of the classic arcade game, Missile Command, was programmed by Rob Fulop and initially released in April 1981 by Atari, Inc.
Atari 2600 Special
We’ve never had an Atari 2600 Special before, so now’s the time to have one!
For the next ten days I’ll be adding only Atari 2600 games to the grabs collection.
Beach Head, ZX Spectrum
The ZX Spectrum version of Beach Head was developed by Ocean Software and published by US Gold in 1984.
Strangeloop, ZX Spectrum
Written by Charles Goodwin and published by Virgin Games in 1984, Strangeloop is a maze-based action adventure for the ZX Spectrum with a surreal, futuristic vibe to it.
Dead Eye, Arcade
Dead Eye is an early arcade game that was first released in 1978 by Meadows Games. The aim of the game is to flip a coin, and then shoot it to keep it in the air, scoring points as you do so.
3D Bomberman, MSX
3D Bomberman (aka 3-D Bomber Man aka Sanjigen Bomberman) is an early, first-person interpretation of the Hudson Soft Bomberman concept. It was released in – Japan only – for MSX, Sharp X1, FM-7, PC-6001 and PC-8000 home computers in 1984.
In spite of the game’s title, this is not a true 3D game as it doesn’t contain any polygonal graphics, it’s just an old school way of describing a game that takes place along the ‘Z’ axis of an X,Y,Z three-dimensional grid.
Bomberman, MSX
The very first release in the famous Bomberman series was this game – aka “Bomber Man” – which was developed and published by Hudson Soft, for the MSX, in 1983. This is basically a prototype of the Bomberman we know and love, that was to come some years later.
Treasure Island, Commodore 64
Based on the 1883 novel, Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson, this pirate-themed maze game was written by Greg Duddle and published by Mr. Micro for the Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum in 1984.
