The Classic Nine: Atari Games of 1977 Quiz

Answer: Video Olympics

Designed by Joe Decuir, "Video Olympics" was released on September 11, 1977. The fifty games available on this cartridge include "Pong", "Super Pong", "Robot Pong", "Foozpong", and "Quadrapong". In addition, the cartridge included "Soccer", "Handball", "Ice Hockey", "Basketball", and "Volleyball". Most of these games were played with the paddle controllers rather than the joysticks. (The paddle controllers were named because of their initial use with "Pong"--as paddles would be used to play Ping-Pong.

However, the paddle controllers instead included a dial that could be spun to the right or the left.) Atari would later release video versions of individual games, including "Basketball".

Answer: River Raid

Although popular, "River Raid" was not one of the original nine games, but was designed by Carol Shaw and released in 1982. In this game you controlled a jet fighter that followed the path of a river and attempted to blow up various targets for various points.

While you could use the joystick to move from left to right on the screen, you continued to travel forwards rather than backwards. The "up and down" on the joystick would allow the player to accelerate or decelerate. The various bridges that were destroyed served as checkpoints for where a player would begin again after losing a life. For a while, "River Raid" was actually banned for minors in West Germany.

Answer: Indy 500

"Indy 500" was inspired by the Indianapolis 500 race held each Memorial Day Weekend in May. The game was released in 1977 and designed by Carla Meninsky and Ed Riddle. The game featured three primary modes that could be played as two player games or one player (with a computer player) games.

There was a "standard" version which was simply speed based, a "crash" version where players attempted to touch a randomized square on the screen, and a "tag" version where the player with the "blinking" car earned points when the other car was evaded and the "non-blinking" car would earn points when the other car was "tagged".

Answer: Surround

Alan Miller designed "Surround", which was released in September 1977. "Surround" was based on an arcade game, "Blockade". The basic model of the game was each of two players used the joysticks to move a colored square across the board (horizontally or verticall), which left a line trailing behind.

The goal was to force your opponent to intersect a previously drawn line. A non-competitive version of the game called "Video Graffitti" allowed players to draw pictures.

Answer: Combat

"Combat" was released in 1977 and was designed by Steve Mayer, Joe Decuir, Larry Kaplan, and Larry Wagner. "Combat" was packaged with the VCS from 1977 through 1982. In the game, a player controlled either a tank, a biplane (or biplanes), or a jet fighter (or jet fighters). You had the same vehicle as your opponent (whether another player or the computer). Simply put, you tried to score as many hits as possible in a set amount of time. Depending on the specific game chosen, your missiles were straight shots, guided shots, or "Pong-style" or ricochetting.

The flying versions of combat features on-screen clouds that could temporarily obscure you and/or your opponent. The tank versions featured various mazes as well as invisible tanks that would briefly appear when firing or being hit.

Answer: Basic Math

Gary Palmer designed this educational "game" that was released in 1977. The game featured addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. The player would use the joystick to enter answers with sound effects that indicated a correct answer. Even by the standards of the late 1970s this was considered a basic and not particularly interesting "game".

Answer: Blackjack

Bob Whitehead designed "Blackjack", which was released in 1977. Players would use the paddle controller to enter a wager (up to 25 chips) on their hand. One to three players would play against the computer dealer. An inability to split pairs and a dealer who won all ties made the odds relatively unfavorable against the players.

Despite this, the game was generally viewed favorably when it was released.

Answer: Air-Sea Battle

"Air-Sea Battle" was designed by Larry Kaplan and released in September 1977. The game featured several variants where players controlled anti-aircraft guns, submarines, boats, and bombers that attempted to hit various targets (often one of the above options) controlled either by the computer or another player. An interesting variant was more like a carnival shooting gallery where the player attempted to clowns, ducks, and rabbits.

Answer: Street Racer

Larry Kaplan designed "Street Racer", which was released on September 11, 1977. As opposed to "Indy 500", which featured a circular racetrack that fully appeared on the screen, in "Street Racer", you moved on a scrolling track against your opponent. In the different variants, players used the paddle controllers to touch or avoid various objects that appeared on the screen.
"Speedway II" was the name used by Sears for its "Tele-Games" clone of "Street Racer".

Answer: Star Ship

"Star Ship" was released on September 11, 1977, and designed by Bob Whitehead. The game was only included in Atari's catalog through 1980. Objectives in the games included, destroying spacecraft, avoiding asteroids and enemy fire, and landing your space ship on a lunar landing pad.

Although generally not reviewed favorably at the time, "Star Ship" is considered the first space-themed game for the VCS.