Blaster (arcade game)
Encyclopedia
Blaster is an arcade game
developed by Eugene Jarvis
and released by Williams
in 1983. The game is a 3d shooter set in outer space
and is a quasi-sequel to Robotron: 2084
. The objective is to shoot enemies and avoid obstacles in twenty differently-goaled levels in order to reach paradise
. The game had advanced graphics at the time of release, that used scaled sprites to display the impression of three dimensional worlds and asteroid fields.
The introductory text implies that the game takes place after the events of Robotron: 2084
. However, aside from a few oversized G.R.U.N.T. robots in the first stage, none of the Robotron characters make an appearance in Blaster.
Marooned astronaut
s can be rescued by interception through the various waves. They are initially worth 1000 points, and are incremented by 200 points for each subsequent rescue during the same life, for a maximum value of 2000 points. Any situation where enemies appear in groups offer additional bonuses for destroying all enemies in the group. In some levels, such as the Saucerland waves, there are conditions which necessitate a certain order for the ships to be destroyed in. In most of the levels a large blue "E" decorated with arcs of lightning can be found. Shooting these E's will completely fill the shields, while colliding with them will cause the player to warp to the next wave. Before warping, every object in the level will turn into E's and the ship will speed against a backdrop of a field of E's.
for the Atari 8-bit family
and the Atari 5200
console, and then converted to the arcade version. The Atari versions were eventually scrubbed during the corporate shuffling that occurred after the video game crash of 1983
, although they were finally found and released to the public in 2004. This game was programmed using a chip that ran at only 1 MHz, "and man did it hurt", says Jarvis. Footage of his discussion is available in the trivia section of the Blaster History page in MAT 1. Only 3 sit-down machines were ever produced. One is on display in Palo Alto, California
in the home of Eugene Jarvis' father. The second was converted into a machine for "Devastator" a prototype game that was never released (not to be confused with Konami's 1988 title Devastators
). According to Jarvis, there have been unconfirmed sightings of the 3rd, but as of the release of Arcade's Greatest Hits Midway Collection 2, its whereabouts are unknown. (Midway Arcade Treasures Vol. 1 recycles the same interviews from previous compilations, such as the aforementioned Midway Collection 2.)
, GameCube
, IBM PC
, and Xbox
video game consoles as a part of Midway Arcade Treasures
.
cabinet. The official registry for this game is an attempt to keep the legacy of this game alive and to promote the preservation of this past gone era and to pay tribute to the creativity of the golden age of Arcade Games.
Arcade game
An arcade game is a coin-operated entertainment machine, usually installed in public businesses such as restaurants, bars, and amusement arcades. Most arcade games are video games, pinball machines, electro-mechanical games, redemption games, and merchandisers...
developed by Eugene Jarvis
Eugene Jarvis
Eugene Peyton Jarvis is a game designer and programmer, known for producing pinball machines for Atari and video games for Williams Electronics. Most notable amongst his works are the seminal arcade video games Defender and Robotron: 2084 in the early 1980s, and the Cruis'n series of driving games...
and released by Williams
Williams (gaming company)
WMS Industries, Inc. is an American electronic gaming and amusement company based in Waukegan, Illinois. The company's main operating subsidiaries are WMS Gaming and Orion Gaming. WMS traces its roots as far back as 1943, the Williams Manufacturing Company, founded by Harry E. Williams...
in 1983. The game is a 3d shooter set in outer space
Outer space
Outer space is the void that exists between celestial bodies, including the Earth. It is not completely empty, but consists of a hard vacuum containing a low density of particles: predominantly a plasma of hydrogen and helium, as well as electromagnetic radiation, magnetic fields, and neutrinos....
and is a quasi-sequel to Robotron: 2084
Robotron: 2084
Robotron: 2084 is an arcade video game developed by Vid Kidz and released by Williams Electronics in 1982. It is a shooting game that features two-dimensional graphics. The game is set in the year 2084, in a fictional world where robots have turned against humans...
. The objective is to shoot enemies and avoid obstacles in twenty differently-goaled levels in order to reach paradise
Paradise
Paradise is a place in which existence is positive, harmonious and timeless. It is conceptually a counter-image of the miseries of human civilization, and in paradise there is only peace, prosperity, and happiness. Paradise is a place of contentment, but it is not necessarily a land of luxury and...
. The game had advanced graphics at the time of release, that used scaled sprites to display the impression of three dimensional worlds and asteroid fields.
Story
According to the opening demo:- "The year is 2085 and the Robotrons have destroyed the human race. You escape in a stolen space shuttle. Your destination: Paradise. A remote outpost 20 million light years away. Does paradise exist? Can civilization be started again? These questions will be answered at the end of your journey. But first, you must BLAST... OR BE BLASTED!"
The introductory text implies that the game takes place after the events of Robotron: 2084
Robotron: 2084
Robotron: 2084 is an arcade video game developed by Vid Kidz and released by Williams Electronics in 1982. It is a shooting game that features two-dimensional graphics. The game is set in the year 2084, in a fictional world where robots have turned against humans...
. However, aside from a few oversized G.R.U.N.T. robots in the first stage, none of the Robotron characters make an appearance in Blaster.
Gameplay
The game is controlled with an optical joystick and two buttons: fire and thrust. The ships weapon fires from a linear bank of four pyramid-shaped shots. Shots do not emanate toward the exact center of the screen; the first shot in the series will be furthest left, while the fourth will be furthest right. The player is given three lives and extra lives are awarded every 100,000 points. The player has a life bar, in likeness to similar games such as Star Fox; however in this implementation, the life bar represents three hit points, and not a continuum of health points. When the ship gets hit a second time the text "ENERGY CRITICAL" will be flashed on-screen. Almost everything in the game can be destroyed, from the asteroids to enemy shots. In fact the latter is a critical component of surviving for an extended period of time.Marooned astronaut
Astronaut
An astronaut or cosmonaut is a person trained by a human spaceflight program to command, pilot, or serve as a crew member of a spacecraft....
s can be rescued by interception through the various waves. They are initially worth 1000 points, and are incremented by 200 points for each subsequent rescue during the same life, for a maximum value of 2000 points. Any situation where enemies appear in groups offer additional bonuses for destroying all enemies in the group. In some levels, such as the Saucerland waves, there are conditions which necessitate a certain order for the ships to be destroyed in. In most of the levels a large blue "E" decorated with arcs of lightning can be found. Shooting these E's will completely fill the shields, while colliding with them will cause the player to warp to the next wave. Before warping, every object in the level will turn into E's and the ship will speed against a backdrop of a field of E's.
Development
Blaster was originally programmed by Vid KidzVid Kidz
Vid Kidz was a video game developer formed in February 1981 by Defender programmers Eugene Jarvis and Larry DeMar, following their departure from Williams Electronics. Eventually, Williams made a deal with Vid Kidz to design games for them....
for the Atari 8-bit family
Atari 8-bit family
The Atari 8-bit family is a series of 8-bit home computers manufactured from 1979 to 1992. All are based on the MOS Technology 6502 CPU and were the first home computers designed with custom coprocessor chips...
and the Atari 5200
Atari 5200
The Atari 5200 SuperSystem, commonly known as the Atari 5200, is a video game console that was introduced in 1982 by Atari Inc. as a higher end complementary console for the popular Atari 2600...
console, and then converted to the arcade version. The Atari versions were eventually scrubbed during the corporate shuffling that occurred after the video game crash of 1983
Video game crash of 1983
The North American video game crash was a serious event that brought an abrupt end to what is considered the second generation of console video gaming in North America. Beginning in 1983, the crash almost destroyed the then-fledgling industry and led to the bankruptcy of several companies producing...
, although they were finally found and released to the public in 2004. This game was programmed using a chip that ran at only 1 MHz, "and man did it hurt", says Jarvis. Footage of his discussion is available in the trivia section of the Blaster History page in MAT 1. Only 3 sit-down machines were ever produced. One is on display in Palo Alto, California
Palo Alto, California
Palo Alto is a California charter city located in the northwest corner of Santa Clara County, in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, United States. The city shares its borders with East Palo Alto, Mountain View, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Stanford, Portola Valley, and Menlo Park. It is...
in the home of Eugene Jarvis' father. The second was converted into a machine for "Devastator" a prototype game that was never released (not to be confused with Konami's 1988 title Devastators
Devastators
is a 1988 third-person shoot 'em up arcade game by Konami.- Plot :Set in 1989, the player takes control of a mercenary duo known as the "Devastators", who are hired by a small undeveloped country to defend their land from a fanatical Middle East dictator threatening to conquer it.- Gameplay :The...
). According to Jarvis, there have been unconfirmed sightings of the 3rd, but as of the release of Arcade's Greatest Hits Midway Collection 2, its whereabouts are unknown. (Midway Arcade Treasures Vol. 1 recycles the same interviews from previous compilations, such as the aforementioned Midway Collection 2.)
Versions and re-releases
The game was first made available as a part of the Midway Classics Volume II. The game was also made available on the PlayStation 2PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
, GameCube
Nintendo GameCube
The , officially abbreviated to NGC in Japan and GCN in other regions, is a sixth generation video game console released by Nintendo on September 15, 2001 in Japan, November 18, 2001 in North America, May 3, 2002 in Europe, and May 17, 2002 in Australia...
, IBM PC
IBM PC
The IBM Personal Computer, commonly known as the IBM PC, is the original version and progenitor of the IBM PC compatible hardware platform. It is IBM model number 5150, and was introduced on August 12, 1981...
, and Xbox
Xbox
The Xbox is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Microsoft. It was released on November 15, 2001 in North America, February 22, 2002 in Japan, and March 14, 2002 in Australia and Europe and is the predecessor to the Xbox 360. It was Microsoft's first foray into the gaming console...
video game consoles as a part of Midway Arcade Treasures
Midway Arcade Treasures
Midway Arcade Treasures is a collection of 24 arcade games developed by Digital Eclipse and released by Midway for the GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox and PC....
.
legacy
The blaster wooden cabinet is certainly the Holy Grail for collectors and there are very few to be purchased at any price. Even tracking one down is incredibly hard to do. One can typically find this game in a DuramoldDuramold
Duramold is a composite material process developed by Virginius E. Clark. Birch plies are impregnated with phenolic resin, such as Haskelite and laminated together in a mould under heat and pressure for use as a lightweight structural material...
cabinet. The official registry for this game is an attempt to keep the legacy of this game alive and to promote the preservation of this past gone era and to pay tribute to the creativity of the golden age of Arcade Games.