Ballblazer [Model CX7815]

39 Years old Atari 7800 cart. Atari Corp. [CA, USA]

Ballblazer © 1987 Atari Corp.

Ballblazer: the simplest, fastest, and most competitive sport in the known universe. It grew from dark roots in ancient space wars to become king of all games among every lifeform within range of Interstellar Ethercast. In exactly three minutes, Ballblazer can make you a hero -- or destroy a lifetime of dreams.

The year is 3097, and the place is a null-gravity nexus mid-space in the binary star system of Kalaxon and Kalamar. Minutes from now, on the luminous surface of an artificial asteroid, the final round of the Interstellar Ballblazer Championship -- the greatest tournament of all time and space -- will begin, and history will be made. For the first time a creature from the planet Earth has battled through the countless qualifying rounds and eliminations, enduring and then triumphing, across vast parsecs, to win the right to compete for Earth's honor and the ultimate title any being can possess: Masterblazer.

The final round is about to begin and the competitor from Earth is YOU.

Click to enlarge
(members only)

TECHNICAL

GAME ID: CX7815

SCORING

The official Interstellar Ballblazer Competition Handbook states the following about scoring
"A player scores by blasting the Plasmorb between the Goalbeams. Goals made when the Goalbeams have disappeared behind the horizon (OTH Shots) score 3 points. Goals made closer to the Goalbeams score 2 points. Close-in goals score 1 point."
"The total score (the combined points of both players) cannot exceed 10 points for each game."
"A player scoring 10 consecutive points wins the game in a shut-out. Otherwise, the player with the most points (score circles filled in with a player's color) at the end of the game period wins. In the event of a tie the game goes into overtime and the next player to score wins."
"When all score circles are filled, a player can steal points by scoring more goals. For example, if Droid5 scores the first 9 points and the human scores the next 6 points, the human wins 6 to 4."

TIPS AND TRICKS

As you moved up through the elimination games you caught the attention of the famous Masterblazer Arboster Kipling. Arboster was so impressed with your steady nerves, timing, and devotion to the game he decided to personally supervise your advanced training. In the last training session before the Championship he gave you his most valuable tips:

"Listen kid, you're pretty good for a human. You've got a real shot at the title if you keep in mind a few little tricks."

"First, try to make your goals early in the game before the distance between the Goalbeams begins to shrink."

"Your OTH Shots will be more successful if you take aim and blast the ball just before the Goalbeams disappear over the horizon."

"Sometimes you might find yourself too close to the Electroboundary for a high-scoring OTH Shot. If you do, just blast yourself backwards and catch the ball on the rebound."

"To shake off an opponent who's tailing you closely for the ball, make sure the opponent's Rotofoil is directly behind you, then blast the Plasmorb. The force will send your opponent backwards and the ball ahead so you can get to it first."

"Here's a real classic -- the block. Simply position yourself between the Plasmorb and the Goalbeams. This will block all but the trickiest angle shots."

"I guess you're thanking me now for all the practice I put you through. Of course, you got the most out of every practice session by shooting at the Electroboundary just outside the Goalbeams. That way you got in a lot of shots without going through the whole goal-scoring sequence."

"And all those Droid demo games I made you watch gave you a chance to study technique, especially Plasmorb stealing. You've got it down now, getting in real close until the buzz of your opponent's Rotofoil is loudest and you have the power to blast the Plasmorb as far as possible. We pros call it 'maxing the buzz.'"

"Oh, and don't let the Rotosnaps disorient you. Listen for the snap when you rotate so you can keep your sense of direction."

"Let's see. Anything else? Oh yeah. Nobody ever scored any points by sitting still. Keep moving!"

"Well, I guess that's it. When it's all over I hope it's the other guy's Rotofoil I see spinning out in defeat. Go get 'em, kid."

STAFF

👥

Ballblazer was created by the Lucasfilm Games Division.

Project Leader: David Levine
Concept, design and programming: Peter Langston (Games Group Leader)
Design and programming: David Riordan, Garry Hare (Search and Design)
Contributions and support: Charlie Kellner, Gary Winnick, David Fox
Special thanks to: George Lucas

SOURCES

🔗

ROM dump (MAME).