View source for Asteroids (video game)

{{Short description|1979 video game}}
{{good article}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2012}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Asteroids
| image = Asteroids-arcadegame.jpg
| caption = Arcade flyer
| alt = An arcade cabinet over a background of asteroids in rings around a planet. The ''Asteroids'' logo and details about the game are seen at the bottom of the flyer.
| developer = [[Atari, Inc.]]
| publisher = '''Arcade''' {{vgrelease|NA/EU|Atari, Inc.|JP|[[Taito]]/[[Sega]]<ref>{{cite book |last1=Akagi |first1=Masumi |title=アーケードTVゲームリスト国内•海外編(1971-2005) |trans-title=Arcade TV Game List: Domestic • Overseas Edition (1971-2005) |date=13 October 2006 |publisher=Amusement News Agency |language=ja |location=Japan |isbn=978-4990251215 |pages=34–5, 40–1 |url=https://archive.org/details/ArcadeGameList1971-2005/page/n35/mode/2up}}</ref>}} '''Atari 7800'''<br/>[[Atari Corporation]]
| designer = [[Lyle Rains]]<br/>[[Ed Logg]]
|released = '''Arcade'''{{vgrelease|NA|November 1979|EU|1979<ref>{{cite web |title=Video Game Flyers: Asteroids, Atari, Inc. (UK) |url=https://flyers.arcade-museum.com/?page=flyer&db=videodb&id=3773&image=1 |website=The Arcade Flyer Archive |publisher=[[Killer List of Videogames]] |access-date=22 March 2021}}</ref>|JP|January 1980<ref>{{cite book |last1=Akagi |first1=Masumi |title=アーケードTVゲームリスト国内•海外編(1971-2005) |trans-title=Arcade TV Game List: Domestic • Overseas Edition (1971-2005) |date=13 October 2006 |publisher=Amusement News Agency |language=ja |location=Japan |isbn=978-4990251215 |pages=40–1 |url=https://archive.org/details/ArcadeGameList1971-2005/page/n41/mode/2up}}</ref>}} '''Atari 2600'''{{vgrelease|NA|July 1981}}'''Atari 8-bit'''{{vgrelease|NA|1981}}'''Atari 7800'''{{vgrelease|NA|1986}}'''Game Boy'''{{vgrelease|NA|1992}}
| genre = [[Multidirectional shooter]]
| modes = [[Single-player video game|Single-player]], [[Multiplayer video game|multiplayer]]
| platforms = [[Arcade video game|Arcade]], [[Atari 2600]], [[Atari 7800]], [[Atari 8-bit]], [[Game Boy]]
}}
'''''Asteroids''''' is a space-themed [[multidirectional shooter]] [[arcade video game]] designed by [[Lyle Rains]] and [[Ed Logg]] released in [[1979 in video games|November 1979]] by [[Atari, Inc.]]<ref name="atari_production99">{{cite web|title=Production Numbers|url=http://www.atarigames.com/atarinumbers90s.pdf|publisher=[[Atari]]|access-date=March 19, 2012|year=1999|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130120084729/http://www.atarigames.com/atarinumbers90s.pdf|archive-date=January 20, 2013|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The player controls a single spaceship in an [[Asteroid belt|asteroid field]] which is periodically traversed by [[flying saucer]]s. The object of the game is to shoot and destroy the asteroids and saucers, while not colliding with either, or being hit by the saucers' counter-fire. The game becomes harder as the number of asteroids increases.
''Asteroids'' was conceived during a meeting between Logg and Rains, who decided to use hardware developed by Wendi Allen (then known as Howard Delman) previously used for ''[[Lunar Lander (1979 video game)|Lunar Lander]]''. Asteroids was based on an unfinished game titled ''Cosmos''; its physics model, control scheme, and gameplay elements were derived from ''[[Spacewar!]]'', ''[[Computer Space]]'', and ''[[Space Invaders]]'' and refined through trial and error. The game is rendered on a [[vector display]] in a two-dimensional view that wraps around both screen axes.
''Asteroids'' was one of the first major hits of the [[Golden age of arcade video games|golden age of arcade games]]; the game sold  47,840 upright cabinets and 8,725 cocktail cabinets and proved both popular with players and influential with developers. In the 1980s it was ported to Atari's home systems, and the Atari VCS version sold over three million copies.<ref name="RacingTheBeam"/> The game was widely imitated, and it directly influenced ''[[Defender (1981 video game)|Defender]]'',<ref name="RG-55">{{cite magazine | magazine= [[Retro Gamer]] | publisher = [[Imagine Publishing]] | title = The Making of Defender | issue = 55 | pages = 34–39 | date=October 2008}}</ref> ''[[Gravitar]]'', and many other video games.
==Gameplay==
[[Image:Asteroi1.png|thumb|left|A ship is surrounded by asteroids and a saucer.]]
The objective of ''Asteroids'' is to destroy asteroids and saucers. The player controls a triangular [[spacecraft|ship]] that can rotate left and right, fire shots straight forward, and thrust forward.<ref name="WiredEdLogg">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/gamelife/2011/11/ed-logg-pioneer-award/ |author=Chris Kohler |title=Asteroids Designer Ed Logg Honored With Pioneer Award |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |publisher=[[Condé Nast Publications]] |date=November 17, 2011 |access-date=December 28, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131208141237/http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2011/11/ed-logg-pioneer-award/ |archive-date=December 8, 2013 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Once the ship begins moving in a direction, it will continue in that direction for a time without player intervention unless the player applies thrust in a different direction. The ship eventually comes to a stop when not thrusting. The player can also send the ship into hyperspace, causing it to disappear and reappear in a random location on the screen, at the risk of self-destructing or appearing on top of an asteroid.<ref name="RetroGamerAsteroids">{{cite magazine |magazine=[[Retro Gamer]] |issue=68 |publisher=[[Imagine Publishing]] |year=2009 |url=http://www.rawbw.com/~delman/pdf/making_of_Asteroids.pdf |title=The Making of Asteroids |access-date=December 18, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219041721/http://www.rawbw.com/~delman/pdf/making_of_Asteroids.pdf |archive-date=December 19, 2013 |df=mdy-all}}</ref>
Each level starts with multiple large asteroids drifting across the screen. Objects [[Wraparound (video games)|wrap around screen edges]]; an asteroid that drifts off the top edge of the screen reappears at the bottom and continues moving in the same direction.<ref name="RulesOfPlay">{{cite book |last1=Salen |first1=Katie |last2=Zimmerman |first2=Eric |title=Rules of Play: Game Design Fundamentals |publisher=MIT Press |year=2004 |isbn=0-262-24045-9 |name-list-style=amp}}</ref> As the player shoots asteroids, they break into smaller asteroids that move faster and are more difficult to hit. Smaller asteroids are also worth more points. Two flying saucers appear periodically on the screen; the "big saucer" shoots randomly and poorly, while the "small saucer" fires frequently at the ship. After reaching a score of 40,000, only the small saucer appears. As the player's score increases, the angle range of the shots from the small saucer diminishes until the saucer fires extremely accurately.<ref name="EdgeAsteroids">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.edge-online.com/features/making-asteroids/ |magazine=[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]] |issue=117 |title=The Making of Asteroids |author=Edge Staff |publisher=[[Future plc]] |access-date=January 4, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140104211104/http://www.edge-online.com/features/making-asteroids/ |archive-date=January 4, 2014 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Once the screen has been cleared of all asteroids and flying saucers, a new set of large asteroids appears, thus starting the next level. The game gets harder as the number of asteroids increases until after the score reaches a range between 40,000 and 60,000.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Bjork |first1=Staffan |last2=Holopainen |first2=Jussi |title=Patterns in Game Design |publisher=Charles River Media |year=2005 |page=60 |isbn=1-58450-354-8 |name-list-style=amp}}</ref> The player starts with 3–5 lives upon game start and gains an extra life per 10,000 points.<ref name="EsquireAsteroids">{{Cite magazine | url=http://www.gamearchive.com/General/Articles/ClassicNews/1981/Esquire2-81-pg62.htm | magazine=[[Esquire (magazine)|Esquire]] | volume=2 | issue=81 | title=Invasion of the Asteroids | author=David Owen | publisher=[[Hearst Corporation]] |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080622053948/http://www.gamearchive.com/General/Articles/ClassicNews/1981/Esquire2-81-pg62.htm |archive-date=June 22, 2008}}</ref> Play continues to the last ship lost, which ends the game. The machine "turns over" at 99,990 points, which is the maximum high score that can be achieved.
===Lurking exploit===
In the original game design, saucers were supposed to begin shooting as soon as they appeared, but this was changed.<ref name="EdgeAsteroids"/>  Additionally, saucers can only aim at the player's ship on-screen; they are not capable of aiming across a screen boundary. These behaviors allow a "lurking" strategy, in which the player stays near the edge of the screen opposite the saucer. By keeping just one or two rocks in play, a player can shoot across the boundary and destroy saucers to accumulate points indefinitely with little risk of being destroyed.<ref name="EsquireAsteroids"/><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2206&dat=19820319&id=0IEmAAAAIBAJ&pg=2751,2833371 |newspaper=The Miami News |title=Beating the Video Games: Lurking on an Asteroid |author=Michael Blanchet |date=March 19, 1982 |access-date=January 4, 2014 }}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Arcade operators began to complain about losing revenue due to this exploit. In response, Atari issued a patched [[EPROM]] and, due to the impact of this exploit, Atari (and other companies) changed their development and testing policies to try to prevent future games from having such exploits.<ref name="EdgeAsteroids"/>
==Development==
''Asteroids'' was conceived by Lyle Rains and programmed by Ed Logg with collaborations from other Atari staff.<ref name="allgame">{{Cite web | url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=15438 | work=allgame | publisher=Macrovision | title=Asteroids | author=Brett Alan Weiss | access-date=June 6, 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090308030532/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=15438 | archive-date=March 8, 2009}}</ref> Logg was impressed with the Atari Video Computer System (later called the [[Atari 2600]]), and he joined Atari's coin-op division to work on ''Dirt Bike'', which was never released due to an unsuccessful field test. Paul Mancuso joined the development team as ''Asteroids''{{'}} technician and engineer Wendi Allen contributed to the hardware.<ref name="EdgeAsteroids"/> During a meeting in April 1979, Rains discussed ''Planet Grab'', a multiplayer arcade game later renamed to ''Cosmos''. The unfinished game featured a giant, indestructible asteroid.<ref name="RetroGamerAsteroids"/>  Logg did play Cosmos and remembered shooting the indestructible asteroid to no effect.  So Rains asked Logg: "Well, why don't we have a game where you shoot the rocks and blow them up?" In response, Logg described a similar concept where the player selectively shoots at rocks that break into smaller pieces.<ref name="ClassicGamingAsteroids">{{cite web|url=http://classicgaming.gamespy.com/View.php?view=GameMuseum.Detail&id=25 |title=Asteroids |author=William Cassidy |work=ClassicGaming |publisher=IGN |access-date=January 6, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121029030926/http://classicgaming.gamespy.com/View.php?view=GameMuseum.Detail&id=25 |archive-date=October 29, 2012 |df=mdy}}</ref> Thus combining the two-dimensional approach of ''Space War'' with ''Space Invaders''{{'}} addictive gameplay of "completion" and "eliminate all threats".<ref name="RetroGamerAsteroids"/>  Both agreed on the concept.<ref name="RetroGamerAsteroids"/>
===Hardware===
''Asteroids'' was implemented on hardware developed by Allen and is a [[vector monitor|vector game]], in which the graphics are composed of lines drawn on a vector monitor.<ref name="allgame"/> Rains initially wanted the game done in [[raster graphics]], but Logg, experienced in [[vector monitor|vector graphics]], suggested an XY monitor because the high image quality would permit precise aiming.<ref name="RetroGamerAsteroids"/><ref name="EdgeAsteroids"/> The hardware is chiefly a [[MOS Technology 6502|MOS 6502]] executing the game program,<ref name="RacingTheBeam">{{cite book |last1=Monfort |first1=Nick |last2=Bogost |first2=Ian |title=Racing the Beam |publisher=[[MIT Press]] |year=2009  |name-list-style=amp|title-link=Racing the Beam|isbn = 9780262261524}}</ref> and [[QuadraScan]], a high-resolution vector graphics processor developed by Atari and referred to as an "XY display system" and the "Digital Vector Generator (DVG)".<ref name="WiredEdLogg"/><ref>{{cite book |last=Dillion |first=Roberto |title=The Golden Age of Video Games: The Birth of a Multibillion Dollar Industry |publisher=CRC Press |year=2011 |page=58 |chapter=Part 1: Games That Pushed Boundaries |isbn=978-1-4398-7323-6}}</ref><ref name="asteroidsflyer">Asteroids Flyer, 1979, Atari, Inc.</ref>
The original design concepts for QuadraScan came out of Cyan Engineering, Atari's off-campus research lab in [[Grass Valley, California]], in 1978. Cyan gave it to Delman, who finished the design and first used it for ''Lunar Lander''. Logg received Delman's modified board with five buttons, 13 sound effects, and additional RAM, and he used it to develop ''Asteroids''. The size of the board was 4 by 4 inches, and it was "linked up" to a monitor.<ref name="WiredEdLogg"/><ref name="RetroGamerAsteroids"/>
===Implementation===
Logg modeled the player's ship, the five-button control scheme, and the game physics after ''Spacewar!'', which he had played as a student at the [[University of California, Berkeley]], but made several changes to improve playability. The ship was programmed into the hardware and rendered by the monitor, and it was configured to move with thrust and inertia.<ref name="WiredEdLogg"/><ref name="RetroGamerAsteroids"/><ref name="RulesOfPlay"/> The hyperspace button was not placed near Logg's right thumb, which he was dissatisfied with, as he had a problem "tak[ing] his hand off the thrust button".<ref name="RetroGamerAsteroids"/> Drawings of asteroids in various shapes were incorporated into the game.<ref name="EdgeAsteroids"/> Logg copied the idea of a high score table with initials from Exidy's ''[[Star Fire]]''.<ref name="RetroGamerAsteroids"/>
The two saucers were formulated to be different from each other. A steadily decreasing timer shortens intervals between saucer attacks to keep the player from not shooting asteroids and saucers.<ref name="RetroGamerAsteroids"/> A "heartbeat" soundtrack quickens as the game progresses.<ref name="AtariIncBIF">{{Cite book |last1=Vendel |first1=Curt |last2=Goldberg |first2=Marty |title=Atari Inc.: Business Is Fun |publisher=Syzygy Company Press |date=November 2012 |orig-year=1st. Pub. 2012|page=515 |chapter=Chapter 8 |isbn=9780985597405 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3FwGMtRafrAC&q=asteroids+heartbeat&pg=PA515 |name-list-style=amp}}</ref> The game does not have a sound chip. Allen created a hardware circuit for 13 sound effects by hand which was wired onto the board.<ref name="RetroGamerAsteroids"/>
A prototype of ''Asteroids'' was well received by several Atari staff and engineers, who "wander[ed] between labs, passing comment and stopping to play as they went". Logg was often asked when he would be leaving by employees eager to play the prototype, so he created a second prototype for staff to play.<ref name="RetroGamerAsteroids"/><ref name="ClassicGamingAsteroids"/> Atari tested the game in arcades in [[Sacramento, California]], and also observed players during focus group sessions at Atari. Players used to ''Spacewar!'' struggled to maintain grip on the thrust button and requested a joystick; players accustomed to ''[[Space Invaders]]'' noted they get no break in the game. Logg and other engineers observed proceedings and documented comments in four pages.<ref name="RetroGamerAsteroids"/>
<!-- HIDDEN BECAUSE OF NO EASY RELIABLE SOURCE: ''Asteroids'' uses 6 [[kilobyte|KB]] of [[Read-only memory|ROM]] code. Another 2 KB of vector ROM contains the descriptions of the main graphical elements (rocks, saucer, player's ship, explosion pictures, letters, and digits) in the form of DVG commands. For each picture frame, the 6502 writes graphics commands for the DVG into a defined area of [[RAM]] (the vector RAM) and then asks the DVG to draw the corresponding vector image on the screen. The DVG reads the commands and generates appropriate signals for the vector monitor. There are DVG commands for positioning the cathode ray, for drawing a line to a specified destination, calling a subroutine with further commands, and so on. It features various sound effects, each of which is implemented by its own circuitry. There are seven distinct audio circuits designed by Delman. The CPU activates these audio circuits (and other hardware components) by writing to special memory addresses (memory mapped ports). The inputs from the player's controls (buttons) are also mapped into the CPU [[address space]]. -->
''Asteroids'' slows down as the player gains 50–100 lives, because there is no limit to the number of lives displayed. The player can "lose" the game after more than 250 lives are collected.<ref name="EdgeAsteroids"/>
<!-- HIDDEN BECAUSE OF LACK OF RELIABLE SOURCE: On some early versions of the game, it was also possible to hide the ship in the score area indefinitely without being hit by asteroids.<ref>[http://www.atari800xl.org/asteroids/ Atari 800XL]</ref> -->
==Ports==
''Asteroids'' was released for the Atari VCS (later renamed [[Atari 2600]]) and [[Atari 8-bit computers]] in 1981. Programmers Brad Stewart and Bob Smith were unable to fit the Atari VCS port into a 4 KB cartridge. It became the first game for the console to use [[bank switching]], a technique that increases ROM size from 4 KB to 8 KB.<ref name="DPInterviewsBradStewart">{{Cite web|url=http://www.digitpress.com/library/interviews/interview_brad_stewart.html|author=Scott Stilphen|title=DP Interviews... Brad Stewart|work=Digital Press|year=2001|access-date=January 9, 2014}}</ref> A port for the [[Atari 5200]], identical to the Atari 8-bit computer version, was in development in 1982, but was not published.<ref>{{cite web |last=Reichert |first=Matt |title=Asteroids |website=AtariProtos.com |url=http://www.atariprotos.com/5200/software/asteroids/asteroids.htm |access-date=September 19, 2014}}</ref>
An Atari 7800 version was published in 1986 with the official launch of the console. It includes cooperative play; the asteroids have colorful textures and the "heartbeat" sound effect remains intact.<ref name="allgameAsteroids7800">{{Cite web | url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=8372 | work=allgame | publisher=Macrovision | title=Asteroids (Atari 7800) | author=Brett Alan Weiss | access-date=January 7, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141114095534/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=8372 | archive-date=November 14, 2014}}</ref> <!-- HIDDEN BECAUSE OF APPARENTLY NO EASILY SEARCHABLE RELIABLE SOURCES: It was the built in game for European Atari 7800 models. -->
==Reception==
''Asteroids'' was immediately successful upon release. It displaced ''[[Space Invaders]]'' by popularity in the United States and became Atari's best selling arcade game of all time, with over 70,000 units sold.<ref name="allgame"/><ref name="VGExplosion">{{cite book|last=Wolf|first=Mark J.P.|title=The video game explosion: A history from Pong to Playstation and beyond|year=2008|publisher=Greenwood Press|isbn=978-0-313-33868-7}}</ref> Atari earned an estimated $150 million in sales from the game, and arcade operators earned a further $500 million from coin drops.<ref name="RetroGamerAsteroids"/> Atari had been in the process of manufacturing another vector game, ''Lunar Lander'', but demand for ''Asteroids'' was so high "that several hundred ''Asteroids'' games were shipped in ''Lunar Lander'' cabinets".<ref>
{{cite book
| last1 = Demaria
| first1 = Russel
| last2 = Wilson
| first2 = Johnny I.
| title = High Score! The Illustrated History of Electronic Games
| year = 2004
| edition = 2nd
| publisher = McGraw-Hill/Osborne}}</ref> ''Asteroids'' was so popular that some [[video arcade]] operators had to install large boxes to hold the number of coins spent by players.<ref name="ClassicGamingAsteroids"/> It replaced ''Space Invaders'' at the top of the US ''RePlay'' [[amusement arcade]] charts in April 1980, though ''Space Invaders'' remained the top game at street locations.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Adlum |first=Eddie |title=The Replay Years: Reflections from Eddie Adlum |magazine=RePlay |date=November 1985 |volume=11 |issue=2 |pages=134–175 (160) |url=https://archive.org/details/re-play-volume-11-issue-no.-2-november-1985-600DPI/RePlay%20-%20Volume%2011%2C%20Issue%20No.%202%20-%20November%201985/page/160}}</ref> ''Asteroids'' went on to become the highest-grossing [[1980 in video games|arcade video game of 1980]] in the United States, dethroning ''Space Invaders''.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Video Games |magazine=RePlay |date=November 1980}}</ref><ref name="Kubey">{{cite book |last1=Kubey |first1=Craig |title=The Winners' Book of Video Games |date=1982 |publisher=New York: [[Warner Books]] |isbn=978-0-446-37115-5 |page=13 |url=https://archive.org/details/Winners_Book_of_Video_Games/page/n29}}</ref> It shipped 70,000 arcade units worldwide in 1980,<ref>{{cite book |last1=Kepos |first1=Paula |last2=Derdak |first2=Thomas |title=International Directory of Company Histories |date=1994 |volume=9 |page=45 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b_YkAQAAMAAJ |publisher=[[St. James Press]] |isbn=9781558623248 |quote=In 1980, the company introduced ''Asteroids'' to compete with the ''Space Invaders'' arcade game, which was produced by another company. Atari's version proved to be a popular alternative. By the end of the year, 70,000 of the units had been shipped.}}</ref> including over 60,000 sold in the United States that year,<ref name="Kubey"/> and grossed about {{US$|700 million|long=no}} worldwide ({{US$|{{Inflation|US|0.700|1980}} billion|long=no}} adjusted for inflation) by 1980.<ref name="Kubey"/> The game remained at the top of the US ''RePlay'' charts through [[1981 in video games|March 1981]].<ref>{{cite magazine |title=RePlay: The Players' Choice |magazine=RePlay |date=March 1981}}</ref> The game did not perform as well overseas in Europe and Asia. It sold 30,000 arcade units overseas, for a total of 100,000 arcade units sold worldwide.<ref name="kent_asteroids">{{cite book |title=[[The ultimate history of video games: from Pong to Pokémon and beyond: the story behind the craze that touched our lives and changed the world]]|author=Steve L. Kent|authorlink=Steven L. Kent |publisher=[[Prima Games|Prima]]|year=2001|isbn=0-7615-3643-4|page=132|quote=Atari sold more than 70,000 ''Asteroids'' machines in the United States. The game did not do as well in Europe and Asia, however. Only about 30,000 units were sold overseas.}}</ref> Atari manufactured 76,312 units from its US and Ireland plants, including 21,394 ''Asteroids Deluxe'' units.<ref name="atari_production99"/> It was a commercial failure in Japan when it released there in 1980, partly due to its complex controls and partly due to the Japanese market beginning to lose interest in space shoot 'em ups at the time.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Bloom |first1=Steve |title=Video Invaders |date=1982 |publisher=Arco Publishing |isbn=978-0668055208 |page=39 |url=https://archive.org/details/book_video_invaders/page/n59}}</ref>
''Asteroids'' received positive reviews from video game critics and has been regarded as Logg's magnum opus.<ref name="Retro54"/> Richard A. Edwards reviewed the 1981 ''Asteroids'' home cartridge in ''[[The Space Gamer]]'' No. 46.<ref name="SG">{{cite journal|last=Edwards |first=Richard A. |date=December 1981 |title=Capsule Reviews|journal=[[The Space Gamer]]|publisher=[[Steve Jackson Games]]|issue=46|pages=36}}</ref> Edwards commented that "this home cartridge is a virtual duplicate of the ever-popular Atari arcade game. [...] If blasting asteroids is the thing you want to do then this is the game, but at this price I can't wholeheartedly recommend it".<ref name="SG"/> ''Video Games Player'' magazine reviewed the Atari VCS version, rating the graphics and sound a B, while giving the game an overall B+ rating.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Software Report Card |magazine=Video Games Player |date=September 1982 |volume=1 |issue=1 |publisher=Carnegie Publications |location=United States |pages=62–3 |url=https://archive.org/details/Video_Games_Player_Vol_1_No_1_1982-09_Carnegie_Publications_US/page/n61/mode/2up}}</ref> ''[[Electronic Fun with Computers & Games]]'' magazine gave the Atari VCS version an A rating.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Video Game Explosion! We rate every game in the world |magazine=[[Electronic Fun with Computers & Games]] |date=December 1982 |volume=1 |issue=2 |pages=12–7 |url=https://archive.org/details/Electronic_Fun_with_Computer_Games_Vol_01_No_02_1982-12_Fun_Games_Publishing_US/page/n11/mode/2up}}</ref>
William Cassidy, writing for [[GameSpy]]'s "Classic Gaming", noticed its innovations, including being one of the first video games to track initials and allow players to enter their initials for appearing in the top 10 high scores, and commented that "the vector graphics fit the futuristic outer space theme very well".<ref name="ClassicGamingAsteroids"/> In 1995, [[Flux (magazine)|Flux]] magazine ranked the arcade version 11th on their "Top 100 Video Games".<ref>{{Cite journal |date=April 1995 |title=Top 100 Video Games |url=https://archive.org/details/flux-issue-4/page/n25/mode/2up |journal=Flux |publisher=Harris Publications |issue=4 |pages=27}}</ref> In 1996, ''[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]'' listed it as number 39 on their "Top 100 Games of All Time", particularly lauding the control dynamics which require "the constant juggling of speed, positioning, and direction".<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Top 100 Games of All Time |magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|issue=21 |publisher=[[Imagine Media]] |date=September 1996|page=56}}</ref> In 1999, ''[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]'' listed ''Asteroids'' as number 29 on their "Top 50 Games of All Time", commenting that "''Asteroids'' was a classic the day it was released, and it has never lost any of its appeal".<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Top 50 Games of All Time |magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|issue=50 |publisher=[[Imagine Media]] |date=February 1999|page=76}}</ref> ''Asteroids'' was ranked fourth on ''[[Retro Gamer]]''{{'}}s list of "Top 25 Arcade Games"; the ''Retro Gamer'' staff cited its simplicity and the lack of a proper ending as allowances of revisiting the game.<ref name="Retro54">{{cite magazine | magazine = [[Retro Gamer]] | publisher = [[Imagine Publishing]] | issue = 54 | page = 68 | title = Top 25 Arcade Games | url = http://www.freegamemanuals.com/pdfmagazines/RetroGamer054.pdf | author = Retro Gamer Staff | date = September 2008 | access-date = January 22, 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140201211526/http://www.freegamemanuals.com/pdfmagazines/RetroGamer054.pdf | archive-date = February 1, 2014 | url-status = live | df = mdy-all}}</ref> In 2012, ''Asteroids'' was listed on ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]''{{'s}} All-Time 100 greatest video games list.<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Grossman|first1=Lev|title=All-Time 100 Video Games|url=https://techland.time.com/2012/11/15/all-time-100-video-games/slide/asteroids-1979/|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |access-date=September 28, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121118053317/http://techland.time.com/2012/11/15/all-time-100-video-games/slide/asteroids-1979|archive-date=November 18, 2012|url-status=live|date=November 15, 2012}}</ref> ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' named ''Asteroids'' one of the top ten games for the Atari 2600 in 2013.<ref name=ew>{{cite magazine | url=http://www.ew.com/article/2013/01/25/the-10-best-atari-games | first=Aaron | last=Morales | title=The 10 best Atari games | magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] | date=January 25, 2013 | access-date=April 17, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180115174334/http://ew.com/article/2013/01/25/the-10-best-atari-games/ | archive-date=January 15, 2018 | url-status=live | df=mdy-all}}</ref> It was added to the [[Museum of Modern Art]]'s collection of video games.<ref name="MoMA+7VGArtCollection">{{Cite magazine | url=https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2421168,00.asp | magazine=[[PC Magazine]] | title=MoMA Adds Seven Video Games to Art Collection | author=Stephanie Mlot | date=June 28, 2013 | access-date=January 17, 2014 | publisher=Ziff Davis | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201100354/http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2421168,00.asp | archive-date=February 1, 2014 | url-status=live | df=mdy-all}}</ref> In 2021, ''[[The Guardian]]'' listed ''Asteroids'' as the second greatest video game of the 1970s, just below ''[[Galaxian]]'' (1979).<ref>{{cite news |title=The 15 greatest video games of the 70s – ranked! |url=https://www.theguardian.com/games/2021/may/13/15-greatest-video-games-of-the-70s-ranked |access-date=23 May 2021 |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=13 May 2021}}</ref> By contrast, in March 1983 the Atari 8-bit port of ''Asteroids'' won sixth place in ''[[Softline (magazine)|Softline]]''{{'}}s Dog of the Year awards "for badness in computer games", Atari division, based on reader submissions.<ref name="softline198303">{{cite news | url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1983&pub=6&id=10 | title=Everybody Doesn't Like Something | work=Softline | date=March 1983 | access-date=28 July 2014 | pages=22–23 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140729044509/http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1983&pub=6&id=10 | archive-date=July 29, 2014 | url-status=live | df=mdy-all}}</ref>
Usage of the names of ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' characters "Mr. Bill" and "Sluggo" to refer to the saucers in an ''[[Esquire (magazine)|Esquire]]'' article about the game led to Logg receiving a [[cease and desist]] letter from a lawyer with the "Mr. Bill Trademark".<ref name="AtariIncBIF"/>
==Legacy==
===Arcade sequels===
Released in 1981, ''[[Asteroids Deluxe]]'' was the first sequel to ''Asteroids''.<!-- <ref name="atari_production99">{{cite web|title=Production Numbers|url=http://www.atarigames.com/atarinumbers90s.pdf|publisher=Atari|access-date=March 19, 2012|year=1999}}</ref> --> Dave Shepperd edited the code and made enhancements to the game without Logg's involvement. The onscreen objects are tinted blue, and hyperspace is replaced by a shield that depletes when used. The asteroids rotate, and new "killer satellite" enemies break into smaller ships that home in on the player's position.<ref name="RetroGamerAsteroids"/> The arcade machine's monitor displays vector graphics overlaying a holographic backdrop.<ref>{{cite book |last=Kohler |first=Chris |publisher=O'Reilly Media |title=Retro Gaming Hacks |year=2005 |chapter=Chapter 3, Playing Arcade Games on Your Computer |edition=1st |isbn=0-596-00917-8}}</ref> The game is more difficult than the original and enables saucers to shoot across the screen boundary, eliminating the lurking strategy for high scores in the original.
''[[Space Duel]]'', released in arcades in 1982, replaces the rocks with colorful geometric shapes and adds cooperative two-player gameplay.
1987's ''[[Blasteroids]]'' includes power-ups, ship morphing, branching levels, bosses, and the ability to dock ships in multiplayer for added firepower.<ref name="RetroGamerAsteroids"/> ''Blasteroids'' uses raster graphics instead of vectors.
===Re-releases===
The game is half of the Atari Lynx pairing ''[[Super Asteroids & Missile Command]]'',<ref name="IGNReviewSA&MC">{{cite web | url = http://www.ign.com/articles/1999/07/07/super-asteroids-missile-command | author = Robert A. Jung | title = Super Asteroids & Missile Command | work = IGN | publisher = Ziff Davis | date = July 6, 1999 | access-date = January 8, 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140223050633/http://www.ign.com/articles/1999/07/07/super-asteroids-missile-command | archive-date = February 23, 2014 | url-status = live | df = mdy-all}}</ref> and included in the 1993  ''[[Microsoft Arcade]]'' compilation.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/1994/11/11/pc-game-review-microsoft-arcade/|author=Chris Nashawaty|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|issue=248|title=PC Game Review: 'Microsoft Arcade'|date=November 11, 1994|publisher=[[Time Inc.]]|access-date=January 8, 2014}}</ref>
[[Activision]] published an enhanced version of ''Asteroids'' for the [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]] (1998), [[Nintendo 64]] (1999), [[Microsoft Windows]] (1998), [[Game Boy Color]] (1999), and [[Mac (computer)|Mac]] (2000).<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.ign.com/articles/1998/11/14/asteroids-3 | work=IGN | title=Asteroids | author=Doug Perry | date=November 13, 1998 | access-date=December 27, 2013 | publisher=[[Ziff Davis]] | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222211817/http://www.ign.com/articles/1998/11/14/asteroids-3 | archive-date=February 22, 2014 | url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Atari Flashback]] series of dedicated video game consoles have included both the 2600 and the arcade versions of ''Asteroids''.<ref>{{Cite magazine | url=https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,1887136,00.asp | magazine=[[PC Magazine]] | title=Atari Flashback 2 | author=Lance Ulanoff | date=November 16, 2005 | access-date=January 3, 2014 | publisher=Ziff Davis | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103144945/http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,1887136,00.asp | archive-date=January 3, 2014 | url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.polygon.com/2012/11/12/3637034/atari-flashback-4-channels-2600-nostalgia-with-a-75-game-bundle | work=[[Polygon (magazine)|Polygon]] | title=Atari Flashback 4 channels 2600 nostalgia with a 75 game bundle | author=Dave Tach | date=November 12, 2012 | access-date=December 27, 2013 | publisher=[[Vox Media]] | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131227130303/http://www.polygon.com/2012/11/12/3637034/atari-flashback-4-channels-2600-nostalgia-with-a-75-game-bundle | archive-date=December 27, 2013 | url-status=live}}</ref>
Published by [[Crave Entertainment]] on December 14, 1999, ''Asteroids Hyper 64'' made the ship and asteroids 3D, and added new weapons and a multiplayer mode.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.ign.com/articles/1999/12/18/asteroids-hyper-64 | work=IGN | title=Asteroids Hyper 64 | author=Matt Casamassina | date=December 18, 1998 | access-date=December 26, 2013 | publisher=Ziff Davis | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222211820/http://www.ign.com/articles/1999/12/18/asteroids-hyper-64 | archive-date=February 22, 2014 | url-status=live}}</ref>
A technical demo of ''Asteroids'' was developed by iThink for the [[Atari Jaguar]] but was never released. Unofficially referred to as ''Asteroids 2000'', it was demonstrated at E-JagFest 2000.<ref>{{cite web|last=Turner|first=Richard |url=http://justclaws.atari.org:80/devcats/protos/ithink/|title=Asteroids by iThink|website=justclaws.atari.org|access-date=2018-08-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070915094500/http://justclaws.atari.org/devcats/protos/ithink/|archive-date=September 15, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Hieronymus|first=Lars|url=http://www.e-jagfest.de:80/english/ejf2000/pics_2000.html|title=Photos of the first €-JagFest|website=e-jagfest.de|date=November 12, 2000|access-date=2018-08-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050923123359/http://www.e-jagfest.de/english/ejf2000/pics_2000.html|archive-date=September 23, 2005|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Baranski|first=Björn|url=http://ejagfest.de/european-atari-jaguar-festival-2000/?lang=en|title=European Atari Jaguar Festival 2000|website=ejagfest.de|date=March 25, 2015|access-date=2018-08-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618075657/http://ejagfest.de/european-atari-jaguar-festival-2000/?lang=en|archive-date=June 18, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> An updated version of the game was announced in 2018 for the [[Intellivision Amico]].<ref>{{cite web |date=October 22, 2018 |title=Intellivision Reveals Initial Details For The Upcoming Amico Home Video Game Console! |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/intellivision-reveals-initial-details-for-the-upcoming-amico-home-video-game-console-300734998.html |website=PR Newswire}}</ref>
Different versions of ''Asteroids'' were included in several Atari games compilations, such as ''[[Atari Anniversary Edition]]'' (2001) for the Dreamcast, PlayStation, and Microsoft Windows, ''[[Atari Anthology]]'' (2003) for both [[Xbox (console)|Xbox]] and [[PlayStation 2]],<ref>{{Cite web |author=Kristan Reed |date=January 26, 2005 |title=Atari Anthology Review |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_atarianthology_x |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108094253/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_atarianthology_x |archive-date=January 8, 2014 |access-date=January 8, 2014 |work=[[Eurogamer]] |publisher=Gamer Network}}</ref> ''[[Atari Greatest Hits]] Volume 1'' (2010) for the [[Nintendo DS]],<ref name="IGN review">{{cite web |author=Craig Harris |date=November 8, 2010 |title=Atari Greatest Hits Volume 1 Review - IGN |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2010/11/09/atari-greatest-hits-volume-1-review |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223050533/http://www.ign.com/articles/2010/11/09/atari-greatest-hits-volume-1-review |archive-date=February 23, 2014 |access-date=January 7, 2014 |work=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Atari Collection 1 and 2 in 2020 for the [[Evercade]], and [[Atari 50]] (2022) for the [[Atari VCS (2021 console)|Atari VCS]], [[Nintendo Switch]], [[PlayStation 4]], [[PlayStation 5]], [[Windows]], [[Xbox One]], and [[Xbox Series X/S]].
Released in November 2007, the Xbox Live Arcade port of ''Asteroids'' has revamped HD graphics along with an added intense "throttle monkey" mode.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://gamerscoreblog.com/team/archive/2007/11/26/554786.aspx | work=Gamerscore Blog | title=Asteroids and Asteroids Deluxe on Xbox LIVE Arcade | author=Tom Eberspecher | date=November 26, 2007 | access-date=June 7, 2009 | publisher=Microsoft Games Global Marketing team | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090602224018/http://gamerscoreblog.com/team/archive/2007/11/26/554786.aspx | archive-date=June 2, 2009 | url-status=dead}}</ref> The arcade and 2600 versions were made available through [[Microsoft]]{{'}}s ''[[Game Room]]'' service in 2010.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/features/2010/jan10/01-08xboxclassics.aspx|title=Classic Arcade Games Make a Comeback on Xbox|date=January 8, 2010|access-date=January 8, 2014|publisher=Microsoft}}</ref> [[Glu Mobile]] released an enhanced mobile phone port.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/82811-asteroids-launches-game-for-mobiles |publisher=Pocket-lint Ltd. |work=Pocket-lint |title=Asteroids |author=Amy-Mae Elliott |date=September 4, 2007 |access-date=January 3, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103231419/http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/82811-asteroids-launches-game-for-mobiles |archive-date=January 3, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>
In 2005 ''Asteroids'' was released for the [[Game Boy Advance]] with ''[[Pong]]'' and ''[[Yars Revenge]]'' also being included on the same package.
A remake, ''Asteroids: Recharged'', was released in December 2021 for the [[Nintendo Switch]], [[PlayStation 4]], [[PlayStation 5]], Windows, [[Xbox One]], and [[Xbox Series X/S]], developed by Adamvision Studios and SneakyBox.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Cunningham |first1=James |title=Review: Asteroids: Recharged |url=https://hardcoregamer.com/reviews/review-asteroids-recharged/416279/ |website=Hardcore Gamer |access-date=26 September 2023 |date=13 December 2021 |archive-date=September 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230926092047/https://hardcoregamer.com/reviews/review-asteroids-recharged/416279/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Musgrave |first1=Shaun |title=SwitchArcade Round-Up: Reviews Featuring 'Asteroids: Recharged' and 'Clockwork Aquario', Plus News, Sales, and New Releases |url=https://toucharcade.com/2021/12/15/switcharcade-round-up-reviews-featuring-asteroids-recharged-and-clockwork-aquario-plus-news-sales-and-new-releases/ |website=[[TouchArcade]] |access-date=26 September 2023 |date=15 December 2021}}</ref>
===Clones===
[[Quality Software]]'s ''Asteroids in Space'' (1980) was one of the best selling games for the [[Apple II]] and voted one of the most popular software titles of 1978–80 by ''[[Softalk]]'' magazine.<ref>{{cite magazine
|url          = http://apple2history.org/history/appy/aha78.html
|title        = Most Popular Software of 1978-80
|access-date  = November 5, 2008
|year         = 1980
|magazine     = Softalk
|url-status   = dead
|archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20081210184310/http://apple2history.org/history/appy/aha78.html
|archive-date = December 10, 2008
|df           = mdy-all}}</ref> In December 1981, ''[[Byte (magazine)|Byte]]'' reviewed eight ''Asteroids'' clones for home computers.<ref name="williams198112">{{cite news | url=https://archive.org/stream/byte-magazine-1981-12/1981_12_BYTE_06-12_Computer_Games#page/n163/mode/2up | title=Battle of the Asteroids | work=[[Byte (magazine)|Byte]] | date=December 1981 | access-date=12 August 2015 | author=Williams, Gregg | pages=163–165 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160517115420/https://archive.org/stream/byte-magazine-1981-12/1981_12_BYTE_06-12_Computer_Games#page/n163/mode/2up | archive-date=May 17, 2016 | url-status=live | df=mdy-all}}</ref> Three clones for the Apple II were reviewed together in the 1982 ''Creative Computing Software Buyers Guide'': ''The Asteroid Field'', ''Asteron'', and ''[[Apple-Oids]]''.<ref name="ahl">{{cite journal |last1=Ahl |first1=David |last2=Staples |first2=Betsy |title=Games for Clods |journal=Creative Computing Software Buyers Guide 1982 |date=1982 |page=80 |url=https://archive.org/details/CreativeComputingSoftwareBuyersGuide1982/page/n83}}</ref> In the last of these, the asteroids are in the shape of apples. Two independent clones, ''Asteroid'' for the Apple II and ''Fasteroids'' for TRS-80, were renamed to ''[[Planetoids (video game)|Planetoids]]'' and sold by [[Adventure International]]. Others clones include [[Acornsoft]]'s ''Meteors'', ''Moons of Jupiter'' for the [[VIC-20]], ''[[MineStorm]]'' for the [[Vectrex]],<ref name="RetroGamerAsteroids"/> and Quicksilva's ''Meteor Storm'' for the [[ZX Spectrum]] which uses speech synthesis. A poorly implemented ''Asteroids'' clone for the VIC-20, published by [[Bug-Byte]], motivated [[Jeff Minter]] to found [[Llamasoft]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Hague |first1=James |title=Halcyon Days: Interviews with Classic Computer and Video Game Programmers |date=1997 |publisher=Dadgum Games |url=https://dadgum.com/halcyon/BOOK/MINTER.HTM}}</ref>
The [[Intellivision]] game ''Meteor!'' was cancelled to avoid a lawsuit for being too similar to ''Asteroids'' and was reworked as ''[[Astrosmash]]''. The game borrows elements from ''Asteroids'' and ''Space Invaders''.<ref name="RG-55"/><ref name="WeissCHVG">
{{cite book
| last = Weiss
| first = Brett
| title = Classic Home Video Games, 1972-1984: A Complete Reference Guide
| year = 2007
| edition = 1st
| publisher = McFarland}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://classicgaming.gamespy.com/View.php?view=ConsoleMuseum.Detail&id=17&game=9 |title=Mattel Intellivision - 1980-1984 |work=ClassicGaming |publisher=IGN |access-date=May 16, 2008 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080623232114/http://classicgaming.gamespy.com/View.php?view=ConsoleMuseum.Detail&id=17&game=9 |archive-date=June 23, 2008|url-status=live}}</ref>
===Proposed film adaptation===
In July 2009, [[Universal Pictures]] offered [[Roland Emmerich]] the option to direct the film adaptation of ''Asteroids'', with Matt Lopez writing the script and [[Lorenzo di Bonaventura]] producing the film adaptation.<ref>{{cite news|first=Borys|last=Kit|title=Roland Emmerich May Direct the Movie Version of Asteroids|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/asteroids-lands-universal-86073/#!|date=July 2, 2009|website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|access-date=April 4, 2023}}</ref> Lopez and di Bonaventura were still attached to write and produce the film adaptation, respectively,<ref>{{cite news|first=Claude|last=Brodesser-Akner|title=Roland Emmerich May Direct the Movie Version of Asteroids|url=https://www.vulture.com/2011/06/roland_emmerich_has_been_offer.html|date=June 8, 2011|website=[[Vulture (website)|Vulture]]|access-date=April 4, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Matt|last=Goldberg|title=Roland Emmerich Offered Director's Chair for ASTEROIDS|url=https://collider.com/roland-emmerich-asteroids/|date=June 8, 2011|website=[[Collider (website)|Collider]]|access-date=April 4, 2023}}</ref> but Emmerich passed on directing, while Evan Spiliotopoulos and F. Scott Frazier were hired to rewrite the screenplay.<ref>{{cite news|first=Jay|last=Fernandez|title=Universal's 'Asteroids' to Be Written By 'Snow White' Scribe (Exclusive)|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/asteroids-evan-spoiliotopoulos-259437/|date=November 9, 2011|website=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=April 4, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Borys|last=Kit|title='Asteroids' Getting Rewrite From 'Autobahn' Writer (Exclusive)|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/asteroids-getting-rewrite-autobahn-writer-770691/#!|date=February 5, 2015|website=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=April 4, 2023}}</ref>
==World records==
On February 6, 1982, Leo Daniels of Carolina Beach, North Carolina, set a [[world record]] score of 40,101,910 points. On November 13 of the same year, 15-year-old [[Scott Safran]] of Cherry Hill, New Jersey, set a new record at 41,336,440 points. In 1998, to congratulate Safran on his accomplishment, the [[Twin Galaxies]] Intergalactic Scoreboard searched for him for four years until 2002, when it was discovered that he had died in an accident in 1989.<ref name="twin">{{Cite magazine | url=https://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2008/11/dayintech_1113 | title=Nov. 13, 1982: Teen Sets Asteroids Record in 3-Day Marathon | publisher=Conde Nast Publications | magazine=Wired | date=November 13, 2008 | access-date=June 7, 2009 | author=Chris Kohler | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090712123602/http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2008/11/dayintech_1113 | archive-date=July 12, 2009 | url-status=live | df=mdy-all}}</ref> In a ceremony in Philadelphia on April 27, 2002, Walter Day of Twin Galaxies presented an award to the surviving members of Safran's family, commemorating his achievement.<ref name="SafranAsteroids2002Award">{{cite news | author=Chris Gray | title=After 20 years, master gamester finally honored | url=http://articles.philly.com/2002-04-28/news/25338220_1_samson-carpal-tunnel-syndrome-official-video-game | work=The Philadelphia Inquirer | date=April 28, 2002 | access-date=January 8, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304062621/http://articles.philly.com/2002-04-28/news/25338220_1_samson-carpal-tunnel-syndrome-official-video-game | archive-date=March 4, 2016 | url-status=dead | df=mdy-all}}</ref> On April 5, 2010, John McAllister broke Safran's record with a high score of 41,838,740 in a 58-hour Internet livestream.<ref>{{Cite magazine | url=https://www.wired.com/gamelife/2010/04/asteroids-record/ | author=Chris Kohler |  title=Asteroids Player Smashes 27-Year-Old High Score | magazine=Wired | publisher=Condé Nast Publications | date=April 5, 2010 | access-date=April 6, 2010 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100407043933/http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2010/04/asteroids-record/ | archive-date= April 7, 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref>
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
{{Commons category|Asteroids (video game)}}
{{Portal|Video games}}
* {{official website|http://atari.com/arcade#!/arcade/asteroids/}} at [[Atari, Inc. (1993–present)|Atari]]
* {{KLOV game|id=6939|name=Asteroids}}
* {{Coinop game|id=100005|name=Asteroids}}
* {{cite web |url= http://www.ataritimes.com/article.php?showarticle=174 |title= All About ''Asteroids'' |work= Atari Times |first= Gregory D. |last= George
|date= Sep 7, 2001 |url-status= dead |archive-date= September 27, 2007 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070927230614/http://www.ataritimes.com/article.php?showarticle=174}}
* {{cite web |url= http://thedoteaters.com/?bitstory=asteroids |publisher= The Dot Eaters |title= Asteroids - Rockin' the Arcade |url-status= live |archive-date= October 23, 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131023233640/http://thedoteaters.com/?bitstory=asteroids}}
* {{cite web |url= http://www.next-gen.biz/features/making-asteroids |publisher=[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]] |title= The Making Of: ''Asteroids'' |date= May 29, 2009 |url-status= usurped |archive-date= November 4, 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20111104165601/http://www.next-gen.biz/features/making-asteroids}}
{{Asteroids series}}
{{1970s Atari arcade games}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:1979 video games]]
[[Category:Arcade video games]]
[[Category:Atari 2600 games]]
[[Category:Atari 7800 games]]
[[Category:Atari 8-bit computer games]]
[[Category:Atari arcade games]]
[[Category:Atari Lynx games]]
[[Category:Cancelled Atari 5200 games]]
[[Category:Cancelled Atari Jaguar games]]
[[Category:Ed Logg games]]
[[Category:Fiction about asteroids]]
[[Category:Game Boy games]]
[[Category:Game Boy Color games]]
[[Category:Multidirectional shooters]]
[[Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games]]
[[Category:Science fiction video games]]
[[Category:Sega arcade games]]
[[Category:Taito arcade games]]
[[Category:Xbox 360 games]]
[[Category:Xbox 360 Live Arcade games]]
[[Category:Vector arcade video games]]
[[Category:Video games developed in the United States]]
[[Category:World Video Game Hall of Fame]]