I have a distinct memory of a very odd video game from way back in the early 80’s. It can’t remember the name of it, and it’s been bugging me.
It was an arcade game, with wireframe vector graphics (similar to “Asteroids”). The premise was completely abstract, and didn’t match up to any real-world objects or even imaginary world objects (like, for instance, asteroids or a spaceship), making it hard for me to even explain what the game looked like.
The screen depicted a grid representation of what (to me) looked like a deep, craggy pit. It was roughly (VERY roughly) circular, and the player controlled an icon that appeared something akin to a spider (a long-legged creature) that climbed around the perimeter of the pit.
The “opponent” of the game was represented as straight lines that gradually climbed up the sides of the pit. The Game Player had to prevent the lines from reaching the top of the pit. To do this, the GP had a joystick to manuever his “spider” around the perimeter, and pushed a button to fire missiles into the pit. The missiles destroyed the “lines.” But of course as the game progressed, more and more lines began climbing up the sides of the pit, and at faster rates of speed. The player had to maneuver around the perimeter faster & faster and shoot more often to keep the lines at bay.
I know this description sounds vague, but as mentioned above, the game was a complete abstraction, and while I remember it very well, it’s extremely difficult to explain to someone what it looked like. Does this ring a bell with anyone?
Thirding Tempest, it didn’t have a joystick it had a ‘spinner’ control which rotated all the way round. IIRC when you won a level you did a hyperspace jump to the next. Only arcade game I was any good at.
Tempest! Thank you, man that was bugging me. And I had forgotten about the hyperspace jump to the next level. Ah, the memories.
Hamlet - “school” is an institution of learning. Old skool is a hip-hop slang term originally applying to early (mid-70s to early 80s) rap, but more broadly to any kind of nostalgic thing from the past 25 years (and thus doesn’t fit in with the “classic” baby-boomer period of nostalgia.) In the thread title, I used it to distinguish the game from more modern Wii type games you’d play at home.
Admittedly, seeing that I am a 42 year old white guy who grew up in the suburbs, and my closest connection to rap music is having a few Chaka Khan songs on my ipod, I probably shouldn’t be describing anything as “ol skool.” I promise not to in the future.
You could tell how the basic concept of the game had changed during development by comparing the graphics on the case (which showed monsters and whatnot climbing up out at you) with the game itself, where it was more of an electrical circuit motif.
