.gif)
Caverns of Mars (computer game)
Encyclopedia
Caverns of Mars is a computer game for the Atari 8-bit computers, programmed by Greg Christensen and published by Atari Program Exchange
(APX) in 1981
. Christensen, a high-school student at the time, won a $3,000 prize from Atari, and his first royalty check was $18,000. He would go on to receive over $100,000 in royalties from the game, making it the most popular APX title.
shoot 'em up
similar in concept and visual style to the 1981 arcade game Scramble
. Christensen changed the orientation of the caverns from Scramble, having the player fly down into them as opposed to sideways through them. Due to technical details of the Atari platform, vertical scrolling was somewhat simpler to implement. Using a joystick
, the player controls a ship descending into the tunnels of Mars
, firing at targets along the way. Unlike Scramble, the targets generally did not move relative to the map.
There are several different sections of the map, with easier skill levels removing the more difficult sections from the areas through which the player has to fly. The easiest skill level has only three sections, the hardest has six. At any level the last section of the map a reactor, which the player lands on and thereby sets to explode. The player then has to reverse course and fly up and out of the caverns to escape before the reactor explodes.
.
Phobos was followed by Caverns of Mars II in 1982
. This version was much more similar to the original Scramble, including rockets that launched upwards from the ground. These were Scrambles main opponent for most of the game. It isn't clear if Caverns II was ever sold through the Atari Program Exchange, but it was sold through the Antic Software
catalog—the successor to APX.
In 1983
, Atari released Caverns of Mars on a cartridge (RX8021) as an official Atari product, one of the few user-submitted programs to ever become an official Atari product. In 2005
, a version of "Caverns of Mars" was included on the Atari Flashback 2 classic game console. In 2006 a homebrew
version of the original Caverns of Mars, titled Conquest of Mars, was released in cartridge form via AtariAge
for the Atari 2600
system.
Atari Program Exchange
Atari Program Exchange was a division of Atari, Inc. that distributed software for the Atari 8-bit family of home computers through a quarterly mail-order catalog. APX, the brain-child of Dale Yocam, started in February 1981 and guided by Fred Thorlin. APX published quarterly catalogs until 1984,...
(APX) in 1981
1981 in video gaming
-Events:* November -** The British video game magazine Computer and Video Games starts.** Game & Watch - released in Sweden.* Arnie Katz and Bill Kunkel found Electronic Games, the first magazine on video games and generally recognized as the beginning of video game journalism.-Notable releases:*...
. Christensen, a high-school student at the time, won a $3,000 prize from Atari, and his first royalty check was $18,000. He would go on to receive over $100,000 in royalties from the game, making it the most popular APX title.
Gameplay
Caverns of Mars is a vertically scrollingScrolling
In computer graphics, filmmaking, television production, and other kinetic displays, scrolling is sliding text, images or video across a monitor or display. "Scrolling", as such, does not change the layout of the text or pictures, or but incrementally moves the user's view across what is...
shoot 'em up
Shoot 'em up
Shoot 'em up is a subgenre of shooter video games. In a shoot 'em up, the player controls a lone character, often in a spacecraft or aircraft, shooting large numbers of enemies while dodging their attacks. The genre in turn encompasses various types or subgenres and critics differ on exactly what...
similar in concept and visual style to the 1981 arcade game Scramble
Scramble (arcade game)
Scramble is a 1981 horizontally scrolling shoot 'em up, arcade game. It was developed by Konami, and manufactured and distributed by Stern in North America. It was the first side-scrolling shooter with forced scrolling and multiple distinct levels...
. Christensen changed the orientation of the caverns from Scramble, having the player fly down into them as opposed to sideways through them. Due to technical details of the Atari platform, vertical scrolling was somewhat simpler to implement. Using a joystick
Joystick
A joystick is an input device consisting of a stick that pivots on a base and reports its angle or direction to the device it is controlling. Joysticks, also known as 'control columns', are the principal control in the cockpit of many civilian and military aircraft, either as a center stick or...
, the player controls a ship descending into the tunnels of Mars
Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the Solar System. The planet is named after the Roman god of war, Mars. It is often described as the "Red Planet", as the iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a reddish appearance...
, firing at targets along the way. Unlike Scramble, the targets generally did not move relative to the map.
There are several different sections of the map, with easier skill levels removing the more difficult sections from the areas through which the player has to fly. The easiest skill level has only three sections, the hardest has six. At any level the last section of the map a reactor, which the player lands on and thereby sets to explode. The player then has to reverse course and fly up and out of the caverns to escape before the reactor explodes.
Sequels
Christensen followed Caverns in 1981 with a lesser-known sequel, Phobos, also sold through the Atari Program Exchange. Phobos was effectively a version of Caverns with improved graphics, although there were other minor modifications as well. The levels were broken down into sub-levels with letters as names; after being killed the action restarts at the top of the sub-level, as opposed to the top of the whole level. The system is similar to the one used in Moon PatrolMoon Patrol
is a classic arcade game by Irem that was first released in 1982. It was licensed to Williams for distribution in North America.The player controls a moon buggy, viewing it from the side, that travels over the moon's surface. While driving it, obstacles such as craters and mines must be avoided....
.
Phobos was followed by Caverns of Mars II in 1982
1982 in video gaming
-Events:* December 27 - Starcade, a video game television game show, debuts on TBS in the United States.-Notable releases:*October 13 - Mystique releases the Custer's Revenge adult video game for the Atari 2600 home console....
. This version was much more similar to the original Scramble, including rockets that launched upwards from the ground. These were Scrambles main opponent for most of the game. It isn't clear if Caverns II was ever sold through the Atari Program Exchange, but it was sold through the Antic Software
ANTIC Software
Antic Software was the name of the software company founded by Gary Yost of Antic, a magazine for the Atari 8-bit computers. The catalog of software was bound into issues of Antic, and products were sold via mail order....
catalog—the successor to APX.
In 1983
1983 in video gaming
-Events:* A major shakeout of the video game industry begins. By 1986, total video games sales will decrease from US$3.2 billion to US$0.1 billion.* MCA Universal files suit against Nintendo, claiming that the latter company's video arcade hit Donkey Kong violated Universal's copyright on King Kong...
, Atari released Caverns of Mars on a cartridge (RX8021) as an official Atari product, one of the few user-submitted programs to ever become an official Atari product. In 2005
2005 in video gaming
-Events:*March 6 — The television show 60 Minutes tackles issues within video game controversy. This segment of 60 Minutes has been criticized by video game players for encouraging video game censorship....
, a version of "Caverns of Mars" was included on the Atari Flashback 2 classic game console. In 2006 a homebrew
Homebrew (video games)
Homebrew is a term frequently applied to video games or other software produced by consumers to target proprietary hardware platforms not typically user-programmable or that use proprietary storage methods...
version of the original Caverns of Mars, titled Conquest of Mars, was released in cartridge form via AtariAge
AtariAge
Atari Age was a magazine distributed to Atari Club members from 1982 until 1984. It was published by The Atari Club Inc., a subsidiary of Atari, Inc.-History:...
for the Atari 2600
Atari 2600
The Atari 2600 is a video game console released in October 1977 by Atari, Inc. It is credited with popularizing the use of microprocessor-based hardware and cartridges containing game code, instead of having non-microprocessor dedicated hardware with all games built in...
system.
External links
- atariarchives.org Caverns of Mars - APX Cat. No. 20084
- atarihq.com review - Caverns of Mars
- atariarchives.org Interview with Fred Thorlin, Director of APX
- Caverns of Mars, play-through on Novice settings