is a
video game
Video games, also known as computer games, are electronic games that involves interaction with a user interface or input device such as a joystick, controller, keyboard, or motion sensing device to generate visual feedback. This fee ...
released in arcades in 1988 by
Atari Games
Atari Games Corporation, known as Midway Games West Inc. after 1999, was an American producer of Arcade game, arcade Video game, games. It was formed in 1985 when the coin-operated Arcade game, arcade game division of Atari, Inc. was transfered ...
. The game is a 7-man
American football
American football (referred to simply as football in the United States and Canada), also known as gridiron, is a team sport played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular field with goalposts at each end. The offense, the team with ...
using robotic avatars of different speeds, sizes, and skill sets set in the year 2022. Originally released for arcades, ''Cyberball'' was ported to several home consoles and computers.
In 1988, Atari released the original ''Cyberball'' arcade game as a large cabinet with two monitors, each with two sets of controls for one or two players. Players on each side could play against computer opponents or head-to-head on opposing monitors for a maximum of four players. In 1989, Atari Games released a sequel to the original ''Cyberball'' in both the same large dual-monitor cabinet titled ''Tournament Cyberball 2072'' as well as a stand-alone two-player cabinet titled ''Cyberball 2072''. The sequel included improved game play, which included refined player movements and many more offensive plays and defensive formations, and changed its setting to 2072. Also shipped in 1989 were several conversion kits to modify existing cabinets to ''Tournament Cyberball 2072'' or the 2-player-only ''Cyberball 2072''.
Gameplay
The game replaces the standard
downs system with an explosive ball that progresses from "cool" to "warm", "hot", and "critical" status as it is used. Players can only defuse the ball, resetting it from its current state back to "cool" by crossing the 50
yard line or by change of possession, whether through
touchdown
A touchdown (abbreviated as TD) is a scoring play in gridiron football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone. In Ameri ...
,
interception
In ball-playing competitive team sports, an interception or pick is a move by a player involving a pass of the ball—whether by foot or hand, depending on the rules of the sport—in which the ball is intended for a player of the same team b ...
, or
fumble
A fumble in gridiron football occurs when a player who has possession and control of the ball loses it before being downed (tackled), scoring, or going out of bounds. By rule, it is any act other than passing, kicking, punting, or successful ...
. A robot holding a critical ball while being tackled is destroyed along with the ball. The robots also possess finite durability. As offensive units are tackled, they wear down, finally issuing smoke and then flames after a number of hits. A flaming robot will explode when hit, thereby fumbling the ball. Players can use the money bonuses they earn while playing to upgrade their robots with faster and more durable units. Players select from run, pass, or option plays on offense, after which the computer presents four individual plays from which to choose. On defense, a player can select short, medium, or long defenses, and then select a specific defensive scheme.
The standard configuration allows single player, two player
cooperative
A cooperative (also known as co-operative, co-op, or coop) is "an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly owned and democratically-control ...
, two player head-to-head or four player head-to-head play. Playing with two teams of two people opened up a new dimension of gameplay.
Computer-controlled avatars run offensive patterns in very specific ways before reaching their assigned passing spots. Human players, however, could exploit the fact that a number of offensive plays started with identical formations. By choosing one play, but moving their avatars in imitation of a similar but different play, the offensive team could disguise their intentions before suddenly breaking for their assigned pass locations. This offensive flexibility forced defending players to quickly recognize plays and move to break them up by rushing to what they guessed was the intended passing spot. Most often, the timely use of the defender's turbo, a short-term speed boost usable once per play, would determine whether the play resulted in a missed pass, an interception, a long gain, or a score. This ability to improvise in four player mode built the popularity of ''Cyberball'', leading to many tournaments across the United States for a period of time.
Arcade sequels
Native Atari cabinets
In 1989, Atari Games released the four-player ''Tournament Cyberball 2072'', as well as the 2-player ''Cyberball 2072'', which included the following changes from the original ''Cyberball'':
*New "Game Breakers" mode
*Added
Rookie
A rookie is a person new to an occupation, profession, or hobby. In sports, a ''rookie'' is a professional athlete in their first season (or year).
In contrast with a veteran who has experience and expertise, a rookie is usually inexperienced ...
mode
*Bugfixes, in particular the
onside kick
In gridiron football, an onside kick is a kickoff deliberately kicked short in an attempt by the kicking team to regain possession of the ball. This is in contrast with a typical kickoff, in which the kicking team intends to give the ball to the o ...
*Added 100 additional plays
*Introduced the powerback
Conversion kits
Also released in 1989 were several conversion kits. These included:
* Kit to upgrade ''Cyberball'' cabinet to ''Tournament Cyberball 2072''
* Kit to upgrade Nintendo Dual System cabinet to ''Tournament Cyberball 2072''
* Kit to upgrade 2-player
JAMMA
The (formerly the , abbreviated JAMMA) is a Japanese trade association headquartered in Tokyo.
JAMMA is run by representatives from various arcade video game manufacturers, including Bandai Namco, Sega, Taito, Koei Tecmo, Capcom, and Konami am ...
cabinets to ''Cyberball 2072''
Note, the conversion kit for the original ''Cyberball'' cabinet required a technician to modify the original game PCB by adding several jumper wires as well as a ROM daughter board. Other conversion kits included a full dedicated game PCB.
Ports
''Cyberball'' was released for the
Nintendo Entertainment System
The Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) is an 8-bit third-generation home video game console produced by Nintendo. It was first released in Japan in 1983 as the commonly known as the The NES, a redesigned version, was released in America ...
in 1992 by
Jaleco
was a corporate brand name that was used by two previously connected video game developers and publishers based in Japan. The original Jaleco company was founded in 1974 as Japan Leisure Company, founded by Yoshiaki Kanazawa, before being renam ...
.
Tengen intended to release it unlicensed, but Jaleco purchased rights to publish it first. Ports were also published for the
Sega Genesis
The Sega Genesis, known as the outside North America, is a 16-bit Fourth generation of video game consoles, fourth generation home video game console developed and sold by Sega. It was Sega's third console and the successor to the Master Syst ...
,
Atari ST
The Atari ST is a line of personal computers from Atari Corporation and the successor to the Atari 8-bit family. The initial model, the Atari 520ST, had limited release in April–June 1985 and was widely available in July. It was the first pers ...
,
Amiga
Amiga is a family of personal computers introduced by Commodore in 1985. The original model is one of a number of mid-1980s computers with 16- or 32-bit processors, 256 KB or more of RAM, mouse-based GUIs, and significantly improved graphi ...
,
Commodore 64
The Commodore 64, also known as the C64, is an 8-bit home computer introduced in January 1982 by Commodore International (first shown at the Consumer Electronics Show, January 7–10, 1982, in Las Vegas). It has been listed in the Guinness ...
,
Amstrad CPC
The Amstrad CPC (short for ''Colour Personal Computer'') is a series of 8-bit home computers produced by Amstrad between 1984 and 1990. It was designed to compete in the mid-1980s home computer market dominated by the Commodore 64 and the Sin ...
, and
ZX Spectrum
The ZX Spectrum () is an 8-bit computing, 8-bit home computer that was developed by Sinclair Research. It was released in the United Kingdom on 23 April 1982, and became Britain's best-selling microcomputer.
Referred to during development as t ...
.
Lynx ''Tournament Cyberball''
A ''Tournament Cyberball 2072'' port for the
Atari Lynx
The Atari Lynx is a hybrid 8/16-bit fourth generation handheld game console released by Atari Corporation in September 1989 in North America and 1990 in Europe and Japan. It was the first handheld game console with a color liquid-crystal disp ...
was released by
Atari Corporation
Atari Corporation was an American manufacturer of computers and video game consoles. It was founded by Jack Tramiel on May 17, 1984, as Tramel Technology, Ltd., but then took on the Atari name less than two months later when WarnerMedia, Warn ...
in 1991.
Reception
In a retrospective review, Brett Alan of Allgame praising the arcade version calling it "A highly influential futuristic sports game". He also praised the fast paced hard hitting gridiron action although gave criticized the gameplay being erratic concluding: "however, the game is undeniable fun for arcade-style sports enthusiasts." on the same website, Skyler Miller gave a negative review for the NES version writing: "The NES isn't able to handle the detailed graphics found in the arcade version of Cyberball, so this adaptation ironically ends up feeling more like a primitive version of football than a futuristic one." Megatech praised the Genesis version being a decent conversion from the arcade version and praised the graphics.
References
External links
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{{Atari Games
1988 video games
American football video games
Amiga games
Amstrad CPC games
Arcade video games
Atari arcade games
Atari Lynx games
Atari ST games
Commodore 64 games
Domark games
DOS games
Fantasy sports video games
Midway video games
Nintendo Entertainment System games
Sega Genesis games
Tengen (company) games
Video games about robots
Video games set in 2022
Video games set in the 2070s
Video games scored by Brad Fuller
Video games developed in the United States
Warner Bros. Games franchises
Xbox 360 Live Arcade games
ZX Spectrum games
Jaleco games
Multiplayer and single-player video games