''Basketball'' is an

arcade video game An arcade video game takes player input from its controls, processes it through electrical or computerized components, and displays output to an electronic monitor or similar display. Most arcade video games are coin-operated, housed in an arca ...

released in May 1979 by

Atari, Inc. Atari, Inc. was an American video game developer and home computer company founded in 1972 by Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney. Atari was a key player in the formation of the video arcade and video game industry. Based primarily around the Sunny ...

It was the first basketball video game with a

trackball A trackball is a pointing device consisting of a ball held by a socket containing sensors to detect a rotation of the ball about two axes—like an upside-down ball mouse with an exposed protruding ball. Users roll the ball to position the on-s ...

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.

Gameplay

''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 "Sweet Georgia Brown" is a jazz standard composed in 1925 by Ben Bernie and Maceo Pinkard, with lyrics by Kenneth Casey. History Reportedly, Ben Bernie came up with the concept for the song's lyrics – although he is not the credited lyricist ...

" 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.

Reception

Cashbox magazine praised the game for its fast action and realistic animated player characters. ''Basketball'' appeared in the top 10 video arcade games rankings for several months in 1979 according to

Play Meter ''Play Meter'' (initially ''Coin Industry Play Meter'') was an American trade magazine focusing on the coin-op amusement arcade industry, including jukebox and arcade game machines. It was founded in December 1974 by publisher and editor Ralph C. ...

magazine.

References

External links

The International Arcade Museum
{{1970s Atari arcade games 1979 video games Arcade video games Arcade-only video games Atari arcade games Basketball video games Trackball video games Video games developed in the United States

Gameplay

Reception

See also

References

External links