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m (Wrong year. 1977, not 1978.) |
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{{ | {{Header Nav|game=Combat|onepage=1|num=4}} | ||
{{Infobox | {{Infobox | ||
|title=Combat | |title=Combat | ||
|boxart=[[Image: | |boxart=[[Image:Combat 2600 box.png|250px]] | ||
|developer=[[Atari]] | |developer=[[Atari]] | ||
|publisher=[[Atari]] | |publisher=[[Atari]] | ||
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Combat was, for many people, the first [[Atari 2600]] game they ever played, as it was packaged with the system from [[1977]] to [[1982]], until it was replaced with [[Pac-Man]]. Combat is a two-player only game where each player takes control of a combat vehicle; either a tank, a bi-plane, or a jet. For two minutes and sixteen seconds, the players shoot at each other and try to score the most hits before time runs out. | Combat was, for many people, the first [[Atari 2600]] game they ever played, as it was packaged with the system from [[1977]] to [[1982]], until it was replaced with [[Pac-Man]]. Combat is a two-player only game where each player takes control of a combat vehicle; either a tank, a bi-plane, or a jet. For two minutes and sixteen seconds, the players shoot at each other and try to score the most hits before time runs out. | ||
Combat is the home presentation of a few [[Atari]] arcade games that were available at the time of the | Combat is the home presentation of a few [[Atari]] arcade games that were available at the time of the 2600s release, including Tank and Jet Fighter. Tank was actually distributed under the publisher name Kee Games, which was a company that Nolan Bushnell purposely created to "compete" with Atari (they routinely shared technology and information) for the expressed purpose of breaking up the exclusivity that arcade distributors had with arcade publishers at the time. | ||
Naturally, as a first generation game on a first generation console, Combat is noticeably primitive. Despite the aged look that it has, it is still surprisingly fun to play with another player, since you are pit against another human being, not the computer. The controls are simple and easy to comprehend. Combat was released as ''Tank-Plus'' under the Sears Telegames label. | Naturally, as a first generation game on a first generation console, Combat is noticeably primitive. Despite the aged look that it has, it is still surprisingly fun to play with another player, since you are pit against another human being, not the computer. The controls are simple and easy to comprehend. Combat was released as ''Tank-Plus'' under the Sears Telegames label. | ||
== Controls == | ==Controls== | ||
=== Console === | ===Console=== | ||
* '''Color/BW''': Switch between color display and black & white display. (This feature made the game look better on black & white TVs that were still prominent at the time of the game's release.) | * '''Color/BW''': Switch between color display and black & white display. (This feature made the game look better on black & white TVs that were still prominent at the time of the game's release.) | ||
* '''Left/Right Difficulty Switch''': If set to '''A''', the left/right player will have a shorter bullet range in Tank games, and fly slower in Bi-plane or Jet games. | * '''Left/Right Difficulty Switch''': If set to '''A''', the left/right player will have a shorter bullet range in Tank games, and fly slower in Bi-plane or Jet games. | ||
* '''Game Select''': Select a game variation. The variations cycle from 1 to 27 and start back over at 1. See the Game Variation chart below. | * '''Game Select''': Select a game variation. The variations cycle from 1 to 27 and start back over at 1. See the Game Variation chart below. | ||
* '''Game Reset''': Starts a new game in whatever game variation is currently selected. Both players' scores are reset to 0, and the timer starts over. | * '''Game Reset''': Starts a new game in whatever game variation is currently selected. Both players' scores are reset to 0, and the timer starts over. | ||
=== Tank === | ===Tank=== | ||
[[Image: | [[Image:Combat 2600 tank.png|right]] | ||
* '''Joystick''': The tank will stand still if the joystick is left in the neutral position. | * '''Joystick''': The tank will stand still if the joystick is left in the neutral position. | ||
** '''Up''': Advance the tank in the direction that it's currently facing. | ** '''Up''': Advance the tank in the direction that it's currently facing. | ||
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** '''Down''': No effect | ** '''Down''': No effect | ||
* '''Button''': Press the button to fire a missile from the tank. Only one missile per player can occupy the screen at one time. | * '''Button''': Press the button to fire a missile from the tank. Only one missile per player can occupy the screen at one time. | ||
=== Bi-plane === | ===Bi-plane=== | ||
[[Image: | [[Image:Combat 2600 biplane.png|right]] | ||
* '''Joystick''': The Bi-plane will fly continuously at medium speed if the joystick is left in the neutral position. | * '''Joystick''': The Bi-plane will fly continuously at medium speed if the joystick is left in the neutral position. | ||
** '''Up''': Direct the bi-plane to dive. | ** '''Up''': Direct the bi-plane to dive. | ||
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** '''Down''': Direct the bi-plane to climb. | ** '''Down''': Direct the bi-plane to climb. | ||
* '''Button''': Press the button to fire a bullet from the bi-plane. Only one bullet per players' planes can occupy the screen at one time. | * '''Button''': Press the button to fire a bullet from the bi-plane. Only one bullet per players' planes can occupy the screen at one time. | ||
=== Jet === | ===Jet=== | ||
[[Image: | [[Image:Combat 2600 jet.png|right]] | ||
* '''Joystick''': The jet will fly continuously at medium speed if the joystick is left in the neutral position. | * '''Joystick''': The jet will fly continuously at medium speed if the joystick is left in the neutral position. | ||
** '''Up''': Increase the speed of the jet. Combine with left or right to turn while flying quickly. | ** '''Up''': Increase the speed of the jet. Combine with left or right to turn while flying quickly. | ||
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* '''Button''': Press the button to fire a bullet from the jet. Only one bullet per players' jets can occupy the screen at one time. | * '''Button''': Press the button to fire a bullet from the jet. Only one bullet per players' jets can occupy the screen at one time. | ||
== Game Variations == | ==Game Variations== | ||
{| {{ | {| {{Prettytable}} | ||
! Type | ! Type | ||
! colspan="5" | Tank | ! colspan="5" | Tank | ||
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| || | | || | ||
|} | |} | ||
=== Tank Games === | ===Tank Games=== | ||
[[Image: | [[Image:Combat 2600 screen1.gif|thumb|right|Tanks Open Field]] | ||
[[Image: | [[Image:Combat 2600 screen2.gif|thumb|right|Tanks Easy Maze]] | ||
[[Image: | [[Image:Combat 2600 screen3.gif|thumb|right|Tanks Complex Maze]] | ||
The tank games (game variations 1 through 14) pit two players against one another in a pair of tanks. The options for each game include: | The tank games (game variations 1 through 14) pit two players against one another in a pair of tanks. The options for each game include: | ||
* Whether the tanks are visible or invisible. | * Whether the tanks are visible or invisible. | ||
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'''Mazes''': The decision to use a maze or not drastically impacts the strategy that players will employ while playing a game. In an open field, there is no place to take cover, so each player is equally vulnerable at any given moment. With a maze, whether simple or complex, each player can reduce their vulnerability (as well as their offensive advantage) by using some of the walls of a maze as cover. | '''Mazes''': The decision to use a maze or not drastically impacts the strategy that players will employ while playing a game. In an open field, there is no place to take cover, so each player is equally vulnerable at any given moment. With a maze, whether simple or complex, each player can reduce their vulnerability (as well as their offensive advantage) by using some of the walls of a maze as cover. | ||
{{-}} | {{-}} | ||
=== Bi-plane Games === | ===Bi-plane Games=== | ||
[[Image: | [[Image:Combat 2600 screen4.gif|thumb|right|Bi-planes Clouds]] | ||
[[Image: | [[Image:Combat 2600 screen5.gif|thumb|right|Bi-planes 3 vs. 1]] | ||
The bi-plane games (game variations 15 through 20) pit two players against one another in bi-planes. Note that whenever one player's planes or bullets reach the edge of the screen, they automatically wrap around to the other side of the screen. The options for each game include: | The bi-plane games (game variations 15 through 20) pit two players against one another in bi-planes. Note that whenever one player's planes or bullets reach the edge of the screen, they automatically wrap around to the other side of the screen. The options for each game include: | ||
* Whether bullets fly straight, can be guided, or can be fired in rapid succession. | * Whether bullets fly straight, can be guided, or can be fired in rapid succession. | ||
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'''Numbers of bi-planes''': The first four variations provide each player with only one bi-plane. Game variation 19 provides both players with a pair of bi-planes that fly and shoot together. Game variation 20 provides one player with an over sized bi-plane, the width of three bi-planes, while the other player pilots three regular sized bi-planes. The large bi-plane fires an equally large bullet, while the three bi-planes fire three shots (which technically gives that player the advantage.) Choose variation 20 when one player is significantly better than another. | '''Numbers of bi-planes''': The first four variations provide each player with only one bi-plane. Game variation 19 provides both players with a pair of bi-planes that fly and shoot together. Game variation 20 provides one player with an over sized bi-plane, the width of three bi-planes, while the other player pilots three regular sized bi-planes. The large bi-plane fires an equally large bullet, while the three bi-planes fire three shots (which technically gives that player the advantage.) Choose variation 20 when one player is significantly better than another. | ||
{{-}} | {{-}} | ||
=== Jet Games === | ===Jet Games=== | ||
[[Image: | [[Image:Combat 2600 screen6.gif|thumb|right|Jets Clouds]] | ||
[[Image: | [[Image:Combat 2600 screen7.gif|thumb|right|Jets 3 vs. 1]] | ||
The bi-plane games (game variations 21 through 27) pit two players against one another in jet combat. Note that whenever one player's jets or bullets reach the edge of the screen, they automatically wrap around to the other side of the screen. The options for each game include: | The bi-plane games (game variations 21 through 27) pit two players against one another in jet combat. Note that whenever one player's jets or bullets reach the edge of the screen, they automatically wrap around to the other side of the screen. The options for each game include: | ||
* Whether the bullets fly straight or can be guided. | * Whether the bullets fly straight or can be guided. | ||
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'''Clouds''': Choosing a play field with clouds does nothing to affect the gameplay beyond obscuring the location of the jets and bullets that pass behind them. Players can use the clouds strategically to surprise one another with shots fired from within the clouds.<br> | '''Clouds''': Choosing a play field with clouds does nothing to affect the gameplay beyond obscuring the location of the jets and bullets that pass behind them. Players can use the clouds strategically to surprise one another with shots fired from within the clouds.<br> | ||
'''Numbers of jets''': The first four variations provide each player with only one bi-plane. Game variation 25 and 27 provides both players with a pair of jets that fly and shoot together. Game variation 26 provides one player with a one jet, while the other player pilots three jets that fly and shoot together. The player with three jets has triple the firepower, but also triple the exposure to the other player's bullets. | '''Numbers of jets''': The first four variations provide each player with only one bi-plane. Game variation 25 and 27 provides both players with a pair of jets that fly and shoot together. Game variation 26 provides one player with a one jet, while the other player pilots three jets that fly and shoot together. The player with three jets has triple the firepower, but also triple the exposure to the other player's bullets. | ||
[[Category:Atari]] | [[Category:Atari]] | ||
[[Category:Atari 2600]] | [[Category:Atari 2600]] | ||