Spacechase is a video game published by Games by Apollo

Games By Apollo

Games by Apollo was an early third-party developer for the Atari 2600, based in Richardson, Texas. Founded by Pat Roper in October 1981 by as a subsidiary of his National Career Consultants , their first game was Skeet Shoot...

 for the Atari 2600/VCS

Atari 2600

The Atari 2600 is a video game console released in October 1977 by Atari, Inc. It is credited with popularizing the use of microprocessor-based hardware and cartridges containing game code, instead of having non-microprocessor dedicated hardware with all games built in...

 home console

Video game console

A video game console is an interactive entertainment computer or customized computer system that produces a video display signal which can be used with a display device to display a video game...

 and the Atari 8-bit

Atari 8-bit family

The Atari 8-bit family is a series of 8-bit home computers manufactured from 1979 to 1992. All are based on the MOS Technology 6502 CPU and were the first home computers designed with custom coprocessor chips...

 computer line. Spacechase was programmed by Ed Salvo.

Gameplay

In orbit of an unnamed "moon", the player uses a Starcruiser to destroy formations of alien enemy raiders that attack from above. The lunar surface rotates in the background, but has no effect on gameplay. The player's ship can maneuver in eight directions within the lower third of the game screen. As the game advances, the aliens attacks begin to include "Lazer-Directed Heat-Seeking Proton Missiles".

The game features single and two-player games, with the latter having players alternate turns. The game can be handicapped for each player by setting the Atari's Difficulty Switch. In the "A" position the player's shots are slower than when the switch is in the "B" position.

Market presence

Spacechase went on to become Apollo's best selling title. Apollo also marketed Spacechase with an offer to make customized or "monogrammed" versions of Spacechase. Less than 10 were sold, and several were given to press including Electronic Games

Electronic Games

Electronic Games was the first video game magazine published in the United States and ran from 1981 to 1994. It was co-founded by Arnie Katz and Bill Kunkel, and is unrelated to the subsequent Electronic Gaming Monthly.-External links:* *...

 magazine co-founder

1981 in video gaming

-Events:* November -** The British video game magazine Computer and Video Games starts.** Game & Watch - released in Sweden.* Arnie Katz and Bill Kunkel found Electronic Games, the first magazine on video games and generally recognized as the beginning of video game journalism.-Notable releases:*...

 Arnie Katz.

PM Magazine

PM Magazine

PM/Evening Magazine was a television series with a news and entertainment format. It was syndicated to stations throughout the United States...

 came to Apollo's offices to film a segment on Apollo and Spacechase, with Leeza Gibbons

Leeza Gibbons

Leeza Kim Gibbons is an American talk show host. Gibbons is the host of her own radio show, Hollywood Confidential, part of the United Stations radio syndication company.-Early life:...

 doing the interview. The segment included programmer Ed Salvo making a customized Spacechase for Gibbons, changing three shapes in the explosion graphic to her initials. When her ship was destroyed, Leeza's initials appeared.

Reviews

• The Atari Times, reviewed by Ethan C. Nobles, gave it a 75% rating.
• Planet Atari (German) reviewed by Michael Tausendpfund, gave it a 63% rating.
• The Video Game Critic
  The Video Game Critic
  The Video Game Critic is a website focused on video-game reviews and run by David Mrozek. It was established in 1999, and is known for featuring comprehensive reviews on many early gaming platforms.-History:...
  
  gave it an F- rating.