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Basketball is an arcade video game released in May 1979 by Atari, Inc.[2] It was the first basketball video game with a trackball for player movement and the first to use the angled side view which became a commonly used perspective in the basketball video games that followed.[3]
| Basketball | |
|---|---|
 Arcade flyer | |
| Developer(s) | Atari, Inc. |
| Publisher(s) | Atari, Inc. |
| Programmer(s) | Chris Downend[1] |
| Platform(s) | Arcade |
| Release | Arcade
|
| Genre(s) | Sports |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
Gameplay
edit
Basketball supports one and two player modes and uses a trackball to control each player's movement. At the start of each game, the song "Sweet Georgia Brown" is played. Players must first gain possession of the ball and move towards their opponent's goal. When in position for a shot, the pushbutton is held until the player's arm is at a suitable height and the button is released. Shots can be blocked by an opponent, and, when dribbling, an opponent can steal the ball. The winner is the player with the highest score when the clock runs out.[4]
Reception
editCashbox magazine praised the game for its fast action and realistic animated player characters.[5] Basketball appeared in the top 10 video arcade games rankings for several months in 1979 according to Play Meter magazine.[6]
See also
edit- TV Basketball (1974) the first arcade basketball video game
- Basketball (1978 video game) for the Atari 2600
References
edit- ^ Hague, James. "The Giant List of Classic Game Programmers".
- ^ "SEC Info - Atari Inc".
- ^ Loguidice, Bill; Barton, Matt (2012). Vintage Games: An Insider Look at the History of Grand Theft Auto, Super Mario, and the Most Influential Games of All Time. CRC Press. p. 126.
- ^ "Atari Basketball Flyer". The Arcade Flyer Archive. Atari Inc. 1979. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
- ^ "Realistic Sports Action In Atari 'Basketball' Video". Cash Box. New York, NY: Cash Box. 1979-05-26. Retrieved 2023-01-20.
...'Atari Basketball', a new Trak Ball sport game for one or two players, has all the features for intense, fast action competition ... In the play process, realistic animated characters are maneuvered in any direction...
- ^ "Play Meter Equipment Poll". Play Meter. New Orleans, LA: Skybird Publishing Company. November 1979. Retrieved 2023-01-20.
...Top Videos...7. BASKETBALL/Atari...