''Robot Tank'' is a 1983

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, game controller, controller, computer keyboard, keyboard, or motion sensing device to gener ...

for the

Atari 2600 The Atari 2600, initially branded as the Atari Video Computer System (Atari VCS) from its release until November 1982, is a home video game console developed and produced by Atari, Inc. Released in September 1977, it popularized microprocess ...

similar in design to Atari's '' Battlezone'' arcade game, and more so to its 2600

port A port is a maritime facility comprising one or more wharves or loading areas, where ships load and discharge cargo and passengers. Although usually situated on a sea coast or estuary, ports can also be found far inland, such as ...

. It was written by Alan Miller and published by

Activision Activision Publishing, Inc. is an American video game publisher based in Santa Monica, California. It serves as the publishing business for its parent company, Activision Blizzard, and consists of several subsidiary studios. Activision is one ...

Gameplay

The player remotely controls a robot tank in 2019, using

radar Radar is a detection system that uses radio waves to determine the distance ('' ranging''), angle, and radial velocity of objects relative to the site. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, w ...

to find and destroy enemy robot tanks intent on reaching downtown

Santa Clara, California Santa Clara (; Spanish for " Saint Clare") is a city in Santa Clara County, California. The city's population was 127,647 at the 2020 census, making it the eighth-most populous city in the Bay Area. Located in the southern Bay Area, the cit ...

, United States. The enemy is organized into squadrons of 12 tanks each. Defeating an enemy squadron adds a reserve tank to the initial three, to a maximum of 12. The game ends when all of a player's tanks are destroyed. As the player's tank is damaged, firepower and/or visual display capabilities are irreparably worsened. Enough damage eventually destroys a tank. Combat can take place at any time of day or night (displayed on-screen), which adds challenge in tracking enemy combatants by radar alone. Weather conditions, announced at the start of each level, can be clear,

rain Rain is water droplets that have condensed from atmospheric water vapor and then fall under gravity. Rain is a major component of the water cycle and is responsible for depositing most of the fresh water on the Earth. It provides water ...

snow Snow comprises individual ice crystals that grow while suspended in the atmosphere An atmosphere () is a layer of gas or layers of gases that envelop a planet, and is held in place by the gravity of the planetary body. A planet ...

, or fog. Rain slows the tank’s movements. Snow causes the tank to lose traction. Fog impairs the tank’s vision.

Reception

Computer and Video Games ''Computer and Video Games'' (also known as ''CVG'', ''Computer & Video Games'', ''C&VG'', ''Computer + Video Games'', or ''C+VG'') was a UK-based video game magazine, published in its original form between 1981 and 2004. Its offshoot website ...

'' rated the game 84% in 1989.

References

External links

''Robot Tank''
at Atari Mania
1983 TV commercial
(US) 1983 video games Atari 2600 games Atari 2600-only games Activision games First-person shooters Tank simulation video games Video games developed in the United States {{vehicle-simulation-videogame-stub

Gameplay

Reception

See also

References

External links