''Space Duel'' is an

arcade game An arcade game or coin-op game is a coin-operated entertainment machine typically installed in public businesses such as restaurants, bars and amusement arcades. Most arcade games are presented as primarily game of skill, games of skill and in ...

released in 1982 by Atari, Inc. It is a direct descendant of the original ''

Asteroids An asteroid is a minor planet—an object larger than a meteoroid that is neither a planet nor an identified comet—that orbits within the Solar System#Inner Solar System, inner Solar System or is co-orbital with Jupiter (Trojan asteroids). As ...

'', with asteroids replaced by colorful geometric shapes like cubes, diamonds, and spinning pinwheels. ''Space Duel'' is the first and only multiplayer vector game by Atari. When '' Asteroids Deluxe'' did not sell well, this game was taken off the shelf and released to moderate success.

Gameplay

The player has five buttons: two to rotate the ship left or right, one to shoot, one to activate the thruster, and one for force field. Shooting all objects on the screen completes a level. ''Space Duel'', ''Asteroids'', ''Asteroids Deluxe'', and ''

Gravitar ''Gravitar'' is a color vector graphics multidirectional shooter arcade video game released by Atari, Inc. in 1982. Using the same "rotate-and-thrust" controls as ''Asteroids (video game), Asteroids'' and ''Space Duel'', the game was known for ...

'' all use similar 5-button control system.

Legacy

''Space Duel'' is included within the '' Atari Anthology'' for

Windows Windows is a Product lining, product line of Proprietary software, proprietary graphical user interface, graphical operating systems developed and marketed by Microsoft. It is grouped into families and subfamilies that cater to particular sec ...

Xbox Xbox is a video gaming brand that consists of four main home video game console lines, as well as application software, applications (games), the streaming media, streaming service Xbox Cloud Gaming, and online services such as the Xbox networ ...

, and

PlayStation 2 The PlayStation 2 (PS2) is a home video game console developed and marketed by Sony Interactive Entertainment, Sony Computer Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on 4 March 2000, in North America on 26 October, in Europe on 24 Novembe ...

and the

PlayStation is a video gaming brand owned and produced by Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE), a division of Japanese conglomerate Sony. Its flagship products consists of a series of home video game consoles produced under the brand; it also consists ...

version of '' Atari Anniversary Edition''. A port of ''Space Duel'' was released on the

Atari Flashback 2 The Atari Flashback is a line of dedicated video game consoles produced since 2004, currently designed, produced, published and marketed by AtGames under license from Atari SA. The Flashback consoles are " plug-and-play" versions of the 1970s ...

, reproducing only the single-player mode. A ''Space Duel'' cabinet is pictured on the cover for

The Who The Who are an English Rock music, rock band formed in London in 1964. Their classic lineup (1964–1978) consisted of lead vocalist Roger Daltrey, guitarist Pete Townshend, bassist John Entwistle and drummer Keith Moon. Considered one of th ...

's 1982 album '' It's Hard''.

High scores

David Plummer holds the official world record for 1 single Player, Single Ship version with 623,720 points. Sam McNear holds the official world record for 1 single Player, Double Ship Style version with 403,610 points. John McAllister and Sam McNear holds the official world record for Double Players, Double Ship Style version with 263,890 points.

References

External links

*
''Space Duel''
at the Arcade History database
Owen Rubin's website
{{Asteroids series 1982 video games Arcade video games Arcade-only video games Atari arcade games Multidirectional shooters Vector arcade video games Video games developed in the United States