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Space Shuttle: A Journey into Space
Developer(s) Activision
Publisher(s) Activision
Designer(s)Steve Kitchen
Programmer(s)Atari 2600
Steve Kitchen
Atari 8-bit/5200
Bob Henderson
Platform(s) Atari 2600, Atari 8-bit, Atari 5200, ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, MSX
Release1983: 2600
1984: Atari 8-bit, 5200, C64, Spectrum
1985: Amstrad, MSX
Genre(s) Flight simulator
Mode(s) Single-player

Space Shuttle: A Journey into Space is a space flight simulator game designed by Steve Kitchen for the Atari 2600 and published by Activision in 1983. [1] It is one of the first realistic spacecraft simulations available for home systems. Space Shuttle was adapted to the Atari 8-bit family and Atari 5200 by Bob Henderson (1984), [2] [3] then ported to the ZX Spectrum (1984), [4] Commodore 64 (1984), [5] Amstrad CPC (1986), and MSX (1986). [6] The 1984 Activision Software catalog also mentions an Apple II version. [7]

The player controls the most critical flight phases of the Space Shuttle such as launch, stabilizing orbit, docking, deorbit burn, reentry, and landing, each with its own set of instructions to follow. [1] The original Atari 2600 version came with an overlay since it made use of all the switches. [8]

Reception

In an April 1984 review for Video Games magazine, Dan Persons wrote:

Space Shuttle is not a game for everybody. It requires a considerable amount of patience and, perhaps not too surprisingly, a considerable amount of brainpower. Players who seek the visceral thrills of the standard shoot'em-up may ultimately find this simulation's complexity frustrating. But those of you who are ready for a richer, more sophisticated experience will probably recognize Space Shuttle for the monumental achievement it is. [9]

References

  1. ^ a b "Space Shuttle: A Journey Into Space magazine ad". archive.org. 1983.
  2. ^ Atarimania, Atari 8-Bit Box and Instructions, complete scans
  3. ^ Atariage Atari 5200 Space Shuttle Information
  4. ^ Space Shuttle: A Journey into Space - World of Spectrum
  5. ^ Lemon - Commodore 64, C64 Games, Reviews & Music!
  6. ^ Space Shuttle - A Journey into Space (1986, MSX, Activision) | Generation MSX
  7. ^ Activision Software Catalog 1984, page 2
  8. ^ AtariProtos.com - All Your Protos Are Belong To Us!
  9. ^ Persons, Dan (April 1984). "Space Shuttle". Video Games. 2 (7): 58–59.

External links