From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Air-Sea Battle is a game developed by Atari, Inc. for the Atari 2600, and was one of the nine original launch titles for that system when it was released in October 1977. It was also released by Sears as Target Fun and was the pack-in game with the original Sears Tele-Games version of the Atari 2600.

Gameplay

There are six basic types of game available in Air-Sea Battle, and for each type, there are one or two groups of three games, for a total of twenty-seven game variants. Within each group, variant one is the standard game, variant two features guided missiles which can be directed left or right after being fired, and variant three pits a single player (using the right gun) against a computer opponent, which simply fires continuously at the default angle or speed. In every game, players shoot targets (enemy planes or ships, shooting gallery targets, or each other, depending on the game chosen) competing to get a higher score. Each round lasts two minutes and sixteen seconds; the player with the higher score after time expires is the winner, unless one player wins (and ends the game) by reaching 99 points before the time is up.

Anti-aircraft games

Variants 1-6 are anti-aircraft games, in which the player uses a stationary anti-aircraft gun that can be positioned at a 30, 60, or 90-degree angle to shoot down four different types of aircraft. The planes typically appear in groups of three to five, and once every plane in a formation has been destroyed, a new formation appears. There are two groups of anti-aircraft games: in variants 1-3, each target hit is worth 1 point, while in 4-6, the various types of aircraft have different point values. Additionally, zero-point blimps are added as obstacles in games 4-6.

Torpedo games

The torpedo games (7-12) are essentially the same as the anti-aircraft games, except that each player mans a submarine and fires at ships instead of planes. As with the anti-aircraft games, in games 7-9, all targets are worth one point, while games 10-12 have variable point values for targets and additional zero-point obstacles, this time in the form of mines.

Shooting gallery games

The shooting gallery games (13-15) differ from the previous variants in that, in addition to setting the gun angle, the player can move the gun left and right. Instead of planes or ships, clowns, ducks, and rabbits are the targets, with point values of 1, 2, and 3 respectively.

Polaris games

The polaris games (16-18) put the player in control of a boat which moves back and forth across the bottom of the screen automatically. Instead of controlling the gun angle, the player controls the speed at which the ship moves, attempting to shoot the same fleets of planes as in the anti-aircraft variants, with the point values of games 4-6.

Bomber games

In the bomber games (19-21), the player-controlled vehicle is a plane flying near the top of the screen dropping bombs on the ships from the torpedo games. As in the polaris games, the plane's speed is controlled by the player, and the point values are identical to those in games 10-12.

Polaris vs. Bomber games

In the polaris vs. bomber games (22-27), one player controls the ship from the polaris games while the other controls the plane from the bomber games, with the goal being to destroy the other player's craft. Games 25-27 feature zero-point mines as obstacles.

Legacy

Air-Sea Battle appears on the Atari Anthology collection for Xbox and PlayStation 2 and the Atari Flashback dedicated console.

See also

• Anti-Aircraft (arcade game)

External links

• Air-Sea Battle at AtariAge
• Target Fun at AtariAge
• Air-Sea Battle guide at StrategyWiki

From StrategyWiki, the free strategy guide and walkthrough wiki

Air-Sea Battle
Developer(s)	Atari
Publisher(s)	Atari
Release date(s)	1977
Genre(s)	Shooter
System(s)	Atari 2600, GameTap
Players	1-2

Air-Sea Battle was one of the nine Atari 2600 titles that launched with the system in 1977. In most versions of the games in Air-Sea Battle, the player is in control of a gun that is mounted on the bottom of the screen, and must take shots at targets that pass above. In other versions, the player may be a bomber firing down on ships, or a submarine launching missiles at planes. For two minutes and sixteen seconds, the player must try to score and many hits as possible before time runs out.

Air-Sea Battle is an expanded presentation of an Atari arcade game, Anti-Aircraft, that was available before the time of the 2600s release. In addition to the use of color to simulate the appearance of the sky or water, the concept was expanded to included water vessels, and even a carnival shooting gallery.

If a second player was not available, the player could compete against the computer which fired at a constant rate. The difficulty switches could be set to make the game harder by shrinking the size of either player's projectile. As a first generation game on a first generation console, Air-Sea Battle looks noticeably primitive, but it is still fun to play in short durations. It was released as Target Fun under the Sears Telegames label.

Controls

Console

• Color/BW: Switch between color display and black & white display. (This feature made the game look better on black & white TVs that were still prominent at the time of the game's release.)
• Left/Right Difficulty Switch: If set to A, the left/right player will have a smaller projectile, making it more difficult to hit the targets, than when set to B.
• Game Select: Select a game variation. The variations cycle from 1 to 27 and start back over at 1. See the Game Variation chart below.
• Game Reset: Starts a new game in whatever game variation is currently selected. Both players' scores are reset to 0, and the timer starts over.

Note:Unlike many Atari 2600 games, the first player is intended to use the right side controller, as the computer uses the left side during a computer-competition game.

Anti-Aircraft

Joystick: Use the joystick to change the angle at which your stationary gun is fired. You may also use it to control the flight of your missile in a Guided Missile game. Up: Fire the bullet at a shallow 30 degree angle from the floor. Neutral: Fire the bullet at a 60 degree angle from the floor. Down: Fire the bullet straight up (90 degrees from the floor). Button: Press the button to fire a missile into the air. Only one missile per player can occupy the screen at one time.
	747	Helicopter
	Large Jet	Small Jet

Torpedo

Joystick: Use the joystick to adjust the position from which your gun is fired. Your gun can only occupy your half of the screen. You may also use it to control the flight of your torpedo in a Guided Torpedo game. Left: Slide your gun to the left. Right: Slide your gun to the right. Button: Press the button to fire a torpedo up to the surface. Only one torpedo per player can occupy the screen at one time.
	Freighter	Pirate Ship
	Aircraft Carrier	PT Boat

Shooting Gallery

Joystick: Use the joystick to change the angle at which your mobile gun is fired. Your gun can only occupy your half of the screen. You may also use it to control the flight of your missile in a Guided Missile game. Up: Fire the bullet straight up (90 degrees from the floor). Left: Slide your gun to the left. Neutral: Fire the bullet at a 60 degree angle from the floor. Right: Slide your gun to the right. Down: Fire the bullet at a shallow 30 degree angle from the floor. Button: Press the button to fire a bullet into the air. Only one missile per player can occupy the screen at one time.
	Clown
	Duck
	Rabbit

Polaris/Bomber

Joystick: Use the joystick to change the speed at which your craft travels. You may also use it to control the flight of your bomb or missile in a Guided Missile game. Up: Direct your craft to travel at high speed. Neutral: Your craft will travel at normal speed. Down: Direct your craft to travel at low speed. Button: Press the button to fire a bomb from a bomber, or a missile from a battleship. Only one bomb or missile per player can occupy the screen at one time.

Game Variations

Anti-Aircraft

Anti-Aircraft

The Anti-Aircraft games (game variations 1 through 6) feature stationary anti-air missile launchers that can be fired at three different angles at aircraft that fly through the sky. The options for each game include:

• Guided or unguided missiles.
• Computer or human opponent.
• Obstacles present or absent.

Guided Missiles: In this mode, you and your opponent have guided missiles. After firing, you control the angle of flight of your missile by moving your joystick from up to down. As a result, you can make last minute corrections to the flight path of your missile to increase the accuracy of your shots.
Computer Games: During a computer game, the left gun is fired continuously by the computer. You must attempt to outscore the computer within the time limit.

Blimp

Obstacles: When obstacles are present, two blimps fly low through the air, potentially blocking your shots. Blimps, when hit, are worth 0 points. However, there are a lot more differences between the normal and Obstacle versions of Anti-Aircraft. In a normal game, all of the planes that appear per set are identical, moving in the same direction, and worth 1 point each. In an Obstacle game, each set can be composed of multiple types of planes, traveling in any direction, and are worth different points depending on the type. 747s are worth 1 point, Helicopters are worth 2, Large Jets are worth 3, and Small Jets are worth 4.

Torpedo

Torpedo

The Torpedo games (game variations 7 through 12) feature mobile turrets on a submarine that may only be fired straight up to the surface of the water. The options for each game include:

• Guided or unguided missiles.
• Computer or human opponent.
• Obstacles present or absent.

Guided Missiles: In this mode, you and your opponent have guided missiles. By pushing your joystick to the left, you can guide your torpedo to the left. Push the joystick right to guide it to the right. As a result, you can make last minute corrections to the path of your torpedo to increase the accuracy of your shots.
Computer Games: During a computer game, the left gun is fired continuously by the computer. You must attempt to outscore the computer within the time limit.

Mine

Obstacles: When obstacles are present, two mines float low through the water, potentially blocking your shots. Mines, when hit, are worth 0 points. However, there are a lot more differences between the normal and Obstacle versions of Torpedo. In a normal game, all of the ships that appear per set are identical, moving in the same direction, and worth 1 point each. In an Obstacle game, each set can be composed of multiple types of ships, traveling in any direction, and are worth different points depending on the type. Freighters are worth 1 point, Pirate Ships are worth 2, Aircraft Carriers are worth 3, and PT Boats are worth 4.

Shooting Gallery

Shooting Gallery

The Shooting Gallery games (game variations 13 through 15) pit two players against one another at a carnival stand. Unlike Anti-Aircraft and Torpedo games, you gun can both alter the angle of fire, and move left or right. Also unlike those games, the targets in the gallery can change direction at any time, making them a little harder to predict. Each Clown hit is worth 1 point, ducks are worth 2, and rabbits are worth 3. The options for each game include:

• Guided or unguided missiles.
• Computer or human opponent.

Guided Missiles: In this mode, you and your opponent have guided missiles. After firing, you control the angle of flight of your bullet by moving your joystick from up to down. You can not adjust the path of the bullet by pushing the joystick left or right. This comes in especially handy when a target turns around at the last second.
Computer Games: During a computer game, the left gun is fired continuously by the computer. You must attempt to outscore the computer within the time limit.

Polaris

Polaris

The Polaris games (game variations 16 through 18) cast you and another player in the roles of the captains of two battleships. You give the command when to fire your anti-air missiles and attempt to destroy more aircraft than your opponent. Scoring is dependent on the type of plane you hit: 747s are worth 1 point, Helicopters are worth 2, Large Jets are worth 3, and Small Jets are worth 4. The options for each game include:

• Guided or unguided missiles.
• Computer or human opponent.

Guided Missiles: In this mode, when you change the speed of your ship, you will affect the speed at which your missile flies forward through the air. Use this to catch up with a fast plane, or correct a missile that might overshoot your target. (Note that in a non-guided missile game, you can not change your speed while a missile is still in the air.)
Computer Games: During a computer game, the green battleship is fired continuously by the computer. You must attempt to outscore the computer within the time limit.

Bomber

Bomber

The Bomber games (game variations 19 through 21) cast you and another player in the roles of the captains of two bomber airplanes. You give the command when to fire your bombs and attempt to destroy more sea-faring vessels than your opponent. Scoring is dependent on the type of ship you hit: Freighters are worth 1 point, Pirate Ships are worth 2, Aircraft Carriers are worth 3, and PT Boats are worth 4. The options for each game include:

• Guided or unguided missiles.
• Computer or human opponent.

Guided Missiles: In this mode, when you change the speed of your plane, you will affect the speed at which your bombs fall forward through the air. Use this to catch up with a fast ship, or correct a bomb that might overshoot your target. (Note that in a non-guided missile game, you can not change your speed while a bomb is still in the air.)
Computer Games: During a computer game, the green bomber drops bombs continuously by the computer. You must attempt to outscore the computer within the time limit.

Polaris vs. Bomber

Polaris vs. Bomber

The Polaris vs. Bomber games (game variations 22 through 27) cast you and another player in the roles of the captains of opposing vehicles. One player mans a bomber, while another commands a battleship. Each player must try to hit the other more times for the win. The options for each game include:

• Guided or unguided missiles.
• Computer or human opponent.
• Obstacles.

Guided Missiles: In this mode, when you change the speed of your ship or plane, you will affect the speed at which your weapon moves forward through the air. Note that in order to hit your opponent, you must align yourself vertically with your opponent, making you vulnerable to your opponent's attack.
Computer Games: During a computer game, the computer takes control of the green bomber, dropping bombs continuously. You must attempt to destroy the bomber more than the bomber hits you within the time limit.
Obstacles: During an Obstacle game, two mines float between the plane and the ship. They will explode when hit, granting no points to the player that hit them, and will be instantly replaced by another mine.