Avalanche (video game)
| Avalanche | |
|---|---|
 Promotional flyer for Avalanche |
|
| Developer(s) | Dennis Koble |
| Publisher(s) | Atari Inc. |
| Distributor(s) | Atari Inc. |
| Designer(s) | Dennis Koble |
| Platform(s) | Arcade Game |
| Release date(s) | 1978 (Arcade) |
| Genre(s) | Action |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
| Cabinet | Horizontal |
| CPU | M6502 |
| Sound | Amplified Mono (one channel) |
| Display | Black and White Raster with 2 color overlay, 256 x 240 pixels. |
Avalanche is an arcade game released by Atari Inc. in 1978. The object is to catch avalanching rocks with a controllable set of paddles that diminish in number and size as the rocks fall faster and faster. [1]
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[edit] Technology
Avalanche is housed in a custom cabinet that includes 2 large lit start buttons and a rotary controller. The side art and bezel feature groupings of rocks with extending lines meant to convey the motion of falling rocks. The screen is black and white with 2 colored strips to provide colored rows of graphics as in Breakout.
The PCB is based 6502 CPU, with game code stored in roms.[2] All game text is selectable to 4 different languages: English, French, German, or Spanish. Avalanche also includes a built-in self-test diagnostic program that displays all microprocessor and memory functions, including all operator switches and functions.[1]
[edit] Gameplay
Avalanche is for 1 or 2 players, with no simultaneous gameplay. There are six rows of rocks to deal with. The game starts with a six-storied platform and the player loses one platform per row of rocks cleared. The player scores points for those rocks they prevent from reaching the ground. The farther the row of rocks, the smaller and faster they become. The ultimate goal is to get enough points so that the player can continue the game should they lose their first one.
[edit] Clones
- Kaboom! for the Atari 2600, by Activision. Activision programmer and ex-Atari programmer, Larry Kaplan, originally wanted to port Avalanche to the Atari 2600. But the problem was that in Avalanche all the boulders are lined up at the top which is difficult to accomplish on the 2600, hence the shift to the Mad Bomber. David Crane actually coded the overlaid sprites for the Mad Bomber himself. [3]
- The Sky is Falling for the Commodore VIC-20.
- Popcorn by Steve Bjork for the Tandy Color Computer.
[edit] References
- ^ a b "Avalanche dealer flyer" (Press release). Atari Inc.. 1978. http://www.arcadeflyers.com/?page=flyer&db=videodb&id=87&image=2. Retrieved 2008-01-25.
- ^ "System 16 - 6502 Black & White Raster Hardware (Atari)". http://www.system16.com/hardware.php?id=757. Retrieved 2008-01-25.
- ^ Yarusso, Albert. "Kaboom!". Atari Age. http://www.atariage.com/software_page.html?SoftwareLabelID=257. Retrieved 2006-01-25.
[edit] External links
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