For many computer buyers of the early 80s' - Star Raiders showed off what the Atari 400/800 home computers could do - with this real time 3D space simulation of the classic Star Trek computer game - done with 3D graphics - all in 8K. This is a very important video game as regards the timeline of the 80s' home computers - it was available at the launch of the Atari 400 and Atari 800 home computers in 1979/1980 in which 8K videogames was thought to be the limit, in which memory was expensive - but within a couple of years - 16K became the accepted minimum. The game features the use of the keyboard to turn on/off various features - such as shields, computer, hyperwarp, map display, long range scan and what sublight speed you'd like to be travelling at. And you have front and rear views with which you can fire photons from. The numbers on screen are important - and it's a semi-realistic simulation given the time in which this was programmed. (Spoiler Alert) - you'll eventually end up with this kind of situation to be in.... That with a battle damaged craft - you seek repairs at the nearest starbase (which you are defending - one of several in this sector) - your computer is partially damaged - but you hyperwarp to it's position - and as you come within close range, you then switch to long range scan - and gingerly line up to the starbase (via 2 axis of control available to you) - change to forward view and peer intently hoping to spot the starbase as a distant speck - one light seems to stand out, and so you edge close to it - hopeful to be rewarded to seeing it grow closer and closer - otherwise you'll have to repeat the above with a better result?
There is real depth to this game - and it's worthwhile to read through the instructions and get familiar with the on screen panel figures, and the keyboard options. There was no equivalent on any other competing home computer system - with a game of this caliber. Sure - the BBC/etc got their Elite game - which can be called a Star Raiders game with extras thrown in. But Star Raiders got there first - without the trading/etc aspects to it. For those without the original old hardware - you can still re-experience this - as if using that hardware, by running the excellent Windows Atari 400/800 emulator - Altirra - and download the Star Raiders ROM from any number of Atari archive sites such as Atarimania, Fandal, Atariage and others... Also there are other Atari emulators for Mac, Android, etc.
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