Cyberball


Cyberball (サイバーボール, Saibābōru) is a video game released in arcades in 1988 by Atari Games. The game is 7-man American football using robotic avatars of different speeds, sizes, and skill sets set in the year 2022. Originally released to arcades, Cyberall was ported to several home consoles.

Cyberball
NES box art
Developer(s)Atari Games
Publisher(s)Atari Games
Designer(s)John Salwitz
Composer(s)Brad Fuller
Hal Canon
Don Diekneite
Byron Sheppard
Platform(s)Arcade, NES, Genesis, Atari ST, Atari Lynx, Amiga, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum
Release1988
Genre(s)Sports
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

In 1988, Atari released the original Cyberball arcade game as a large cabinet with two monitors, each with two sets of controls for one or two players. Players on each side could play against computer opponents or head-to-head on opposing monitors for a maximum of four players. In 1989, Atari Games released a sequel to the original Cyberball in both the same large dual-monitor cabinet titled Tournament Cyberball 2072 as well as a stand-alone two-player cabinet titled Cyberball 2072. The sequel included improved game play which included refined player movements and many more offensive plays and defensive formations. Also shipped in 1989 were several conversion kits to modify existing cabinets to Tournament Cyberball 2072 or the 2-player-only Cyberball 2072.

Gameplay
Gameplay screenshot

The game replaces the standard downs system with an explosive ball that progresses from "cool" to "warm", "hot", and "critical" status as it is used. Players can only defuse the ball, resetting it from its current state back to "cool" by crossing the 50 yard line or by change of possession, whether through touchdown, interception or fumble. A robot holding a critical ball while being tackled is destroyed along with the ball. The robots also possess finite durability. As offensive units are tackled, they wear down, finally issuing smoke and then flames after a number of hits. A flaming robot will explode when hit, thereby fumbling the ball. Players can upgrade robots with faster and more durable units using money bonuses they earn during play. Players select from run, pass or option plays on offense, after which the computer presents four individual plays from which to choose. On defense, a player can select short, medium or long defenses, and then select a specific defensive scheme.

The standard configuration allows single player, two player cooperative, two player head-to-head or four player head-to-head play. Playing with two teams of two persons opened up a new dimension of gameplay. Computer-controlled avatars ran offensive patterns in very specific ways before reaching their assigned passing spots. Human players, however, could exploit the fact that a number of offensive plays started with identical formations. By choosing one play, but moving their avatars in imitation of a similar but different play, the offensive team could disguise their intentions before suddenly breaking for their assigned pass locations. This offensive flexibility forced defending players to quickly recognize plays and move to break them up by rushing to what they guessed was the intended passing spot. Most often, the timely use of the defender's turbo, a short-term speed boost usable once per play, would determine whether the play resulted in a missed pass, an interception, a long gain, or a score. This ability to improvise in four player mode built the popularity of Cyberball, leading to many tournaments across the United States for a period of time.

Arcade Sequels

Native Atari Cabinets

In 1989, Atari Games released the four-player Tournament Cyberball 2072, as well as the 2-player Cyberall 2072, which included the following changes from the original Cyberball:

  • New "Game Breakers" mode
  • Added Rookie mode
  • Bugfixes, in particular the onside kick
  • Added 100 additional plays
  • Introduced the powerback

Conversion Kits

Also released in 1989 were several conversion kits. These included:

  • Kit to upgrade Cyberball cabinet to Tournament Cyberball 2072
  • Kit to upgrade Nintendo Dual System cabinet to Tournament Cyberball 2072
  • Kit to upgrade 2-player JAMMA cabinets to Cyberball 2072

Note, the conversion kit for the original Cyberball cabinet required a technician to modify the original game PCB by adding several jumper wires as well as a ROM daughter board. Other conversion kits included a full dedicated game PCB.

Ports

Cyberball was released for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1992 by Jaleco. Tengen intended to release it unlicensed, but Jaleco purchased rights to publish it first. Ports were also published for the Sega Genesis, Atari ST, Amiga, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, and ZX Spectrum.

Lynx Tournament Cyberball
Tournament Cyberball
Atari Lynx box art
Publisher(s)Atari Games
Platform(s)Arcade, Lynx
Release

A Tournament Cyberball 2072 port for the Atari Lynx was released by Atari Corporation in 1991.

References
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