Codebreaker (video game)

Codebreaker is a video game released in 1978 by Atari, Inc. for the Atari VCS (later renamed the Atari 2600).[1] It was in the first wave of Atari VCS games to follow the original nine launch titles. It was one of three cartridges to accompany the introduction of the Atari keyboard controller, an add-on launched in response to claims of false advertising that the VCS is a "computer" (the other two were Hunt & Score and Brain Games).[2]

Codebreaker
Developer(s)Atari, Inc.
Publisher(s)Atari, Inc.
Platform(s)Atari 2600
Release
Genre(s)Puzzle
Mode(s)Single-player, two-player

The cover art for the game is by Chris Spohn, who created the cover art for many early Atari games.[3][4]

Gameplay

There are three games, each with six variations: Bagels, Nim, and Mastermind.[5] In each game the player must take turns to guess a numerical code and enter it using the keyboard controller.[3]

The games may be played in single-player mode, or in a two-player mode where the players play together.[1]

Reception

Contemporary reviewers were relatively positive about the game but all mentioned its similarity to Mordecai Meirowitz's Mastermind. The British computer games magazine TV Gamer, described it as "not the most original game" but also described it as an enjoyable brain-teaser.[6] Personal Computing Magazine described it as "[b]ased on the Mastermind concept".[7]

References
  1. Weiss, Brett (2011). Classic Home Video Games, 1972-1984: A Complete Reference Guide. McFarland. p. 45. ISBN 978-0786487554. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  2. Lendino, Jamie (2018). Adventure: The Atari 2600 at the Dawn of Console Gaming. Ziff Davis. p. 46. ISBN 978-1732355200. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
  3. Lapetino, Tim (2016). Art Of Atari. Dynamite Entertainment. p. 77. ISBN 978-1524101060. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
  4. Guins, Rayford (2014). Game After: A Cultural Study of Video Game Afterlife. MIT Press. p. 188. ISBN 978-0262320184. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
  5. Ahl, David H. (July 1978). "Atari Video Computer System". Creative Computing Magazine. 4 (4): 37–38. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
  6. "Codebreaker" (PDF). TV Gamer (2): 22. Autumn 1983. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
  7. "Codebreaker". Personal Computing Magazine. 7: 367. 1983. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
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