Phasor Zap
Encyclopedia
Phasor Zap is a game for the Apple II
family of computers, created in 1978 by programmer Chris Oberth
and published by The Elektrik Keyboard
of Chicago, Illinois.
to focus four "phasor" beams onto each ship to destroy it, earning points. The player begins with a limited amount of phasor energy, one point of which is consumed each time the player shoots. When the amount of remaining energy reaches zero, the phasor is depleted and the game is over.
When an enemy ship crosses either the vertical or horizontal center line of the screen, it fires, scoring a hit. When this happens, the word "ZAP!" briefly fills the screen. If the player hasn't already run out of phasor energy, the game will end when the enemies score 99 hits.
The term "phasor" alludes to the phaser energy weapons used in the Star Trek
science fiction series.
Apple II series
The Apple II series is a set of 8-bit home computers, one of the first highly successful mass-produced microcomputer products, designed primarily by Steve Wozniak, manufactured by Apple Computer and introduced in 1977 with the original Apple II...
family of computers, created in 1978 by programmer Chris Oberth
Christian Oberth
Chris Oberth is a game programmer and the creator of a number of software titles, including games for the Apple II family of personal computers published in the late 1970s and early 1980s.-Software:Programma, 1978* Phasor Zap* 3-D Docking Mission...
and published by The Elektrik Keyboard
The Elektrik Keyboard
The Elektrik Keyboard was a computer and musical instrument store located on North Lincoln Avenue in Chicago, Illinois in the 1970s and 1980s. In the late '70s it added personal computers and MIDI music to its lineup, and began publishing Apple II computer software written by programmer Chris Oberth...
of Chicago, Illinois.
Game play
Phasor Zap presents the player with a purple-tinted starfield that represents the view from the player's spacecraft. Enemy spacecraft appear from the edges of the screen and move straight across it, and it's up to the player to use to the paddlesPaddle (game controller)
A paddle is a game controller with a round wheel and one or more fire buttons, where the wheel is typically used to control movement of the player object along one axis of the video screen...
to focus four "phasor" beams onto each ship to destroy it, earning points. The player begins with a limited amount of phasor energy, one point of which is consumed each time the player shoots. When the amount of remaining energy reaches zero, the phasor is depleted and the game is over.
When an enemy ship crosses either the vertical or horizontal center line of the screen, it fires, scoring a hit. When this happens, the word "ZAP!" briefly fills the screen. If the player hasn't already run out of phasor energy, the game will end when the enemies score 99 hits.
The term "phasor" alludes to the phaser energy weapons used in the Star Trek
Star Trek: The Original Series
Star Trek is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry, produced by Desilu Productions . Star Trek was telecast on NBC from September 8, 1966, through June 3, 1969...
science fiction series.