History VideoGame / StarRaiders

The game was ported to the Platform/{{Atari 2600}}, Platform/{{Atari 5200}} and the Platform/AtariST; the 2600 version came with a special touchpad controller. (This controller had a removable overlay, suggesting that it could be used in other games, but none were produced.) A [[ComicBook/StarRaiders graphic novel]] loosely based on the game was released in 1983. A sequel InNameOnly, ''Star Raiders II'', was released in 1986, with Neubauer's Atari 2600 game, ''Solaris'', released the same year also serving as [[SpiritualSuccessor an unofficial sequel]]. A remake was released in 2011.

''Star Raiders'' is a video game for UsefulNotes/Atari8BitComputers developed by [[http://dougneubauer.com/ Doug Neubauer]] (also the designer of the system's POKEY sound chip) and released by Creator/{{Atari}} in 1979. Intended as an action version of the ''VideoGame/StarTrekTextGame'', it is most notable for being one of the earliest examples of the "[[SimulationGame space combat simulation]]" genre, and is a clear ancestor to later titles like ''VideoGame/WingCommander'' and ''VideoGame/XWing''. Stanford University selected it in 2007 as one of the [[http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/12/arts/design/12vide.html 10 Most Important Video Games Of All Time.]]

* SpiritualSuccessor: The UsefulNotes/{{Atari 2600}} game ''Solaris'' was developed by Neubauer as an unofficial sequel to ''Star Raiders'', and incorporated some ideas that were omitted from the original.

The game was ported to the UsefulNotes/{{Atari 2600}}, UsefulNotes/{{Atari 5200}} and the UsefulNotes/AtariST; the 2600 version came with a special touchpad controller. (This controller had a removable overlay, suggesting that it could be used in other games, but none were produced.) A [[ComicBook/StarRaiders graphic novel]] loosely based on the game was released in 1983. A sequel InNameOnly, ''Star Raiders II'', was released in 1986, with Neubauer's Atari 2600 game, ''Solaris'', released the same year also serving as [[SpiritualSuccessor an unofficial sequel]]. A remake was released in 2011.

* {{Expy}}: One of the Zylon ship designs is clearly based on [[StarWars Imperial TIE fighters]].

''Star Raiders'' is a video game for UsefulNotes/Atari8BitComputers developed by [[http://dougneubauer.com/ Doug Neubauer]] (also the designer of the system's POKEY sound chip) and released by Creator/{{Atari}} in 1979. Intended as an action version of the ''VideoGame/StarTrekTextGame'', it is most notable for being one of the earliest examples of the "[[SimulationGame space combat simulation]]" genre, and is a clear ancestor to later titles like ''VideoGame/WingCommander'' and ''VideoGame/XWing''. Stanford University selected it in 2007 as one of the [[http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/12/arts/design/12vide.html 10 Most Important Video Games Of All Time]].

The game was ported to the UsefulNotes/{{Atari 2600}}, UsefulNotes/{{Atari 5200}} and the UsefulNotes/AtariST; the 2600 version came with a special touchpad controller. (This controller had a removable overlay, suggesting that it could be used in other games, but none were produced.) A [[ComicBook/StarRaiders graphic novel]] loosely based on the game was released in 1983. A sequel InNameOnly, ''Star Raiders II'', was released in 1986, with Neubauer's Atari 2600 game, ''Solaris'', released the same year also serving as [[SpritualSuccessor an unofficial sequel]]. A remake was released in 2011.

The game was ported to the UsefulNotes/{{Atari 2600}}, UsefulNotes/{{Atari 5200}} and the UsefulNotes/AtariST; the 2600 version came with a special touchpad controller. (This controller had a removable overlay, suggesting that it could be used in other games, but none were produced.) A [[ComicBook/StarRaiders graphic novel]] loosely based on the game was released in 1983. A sequel InNameOnly, ''Star Raiders II'', was released in 1986. A remake was released in 2011.

* DolledUpInstallment / InNameOnly: ''Star Raiders II'' was originally a never-released LicensedGame based on ''TheLastStarfighter''. When the rights were lost, it was renamed to be a sequel instead.

* DifficultyLevels

** The Zylon [[Series/BattlestarGalacticaClassic basestars]] are even more blatant, and apparently the cruisers were based on a forward view of the [[Franchise/StarTrek Klingon battle cruiser]].

* KillerApp: ''Star Raiders'' was a genuine Killer App for the Atari computer line; many people bought the system just to play the game.

''Star Raiders'' is a video game for Atari8BitComputers developed by [[http://dougneubauer.com/ Doug Neubauer]] (also the designer of the system's POKEY sound chip) and released by Creator/{{Atari}} in 1979. Intended as an action version of the ''VideoGame/StarTrekTextGame'', it is most notable for being one of the earliest examples of the "[[SimulationGame space combat simulation]]" genre, and is a clear ancestor to later titles like ''VideoGame/WingCommander'' and ''VideoGame/XWing''. Stanford University selected it in 2007 as one of the [[http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/12/arts/design/12vide.html 10 Most Important Video Games Of All Time]].

* SpiritualSuccessor: The {{Atari 2600}} game ''Solaris'' was developed by Neubauer as an unofficial sequel to ''Star Raiders'', and incorporated some ideas that were omitted from the original.

The game was ported to the UsefulNotes/{{Atari 2600}}, UsefulNotes/{{Atari 5200}} and the AtariST; the 2600 version came with a special touchpad controller. (This controller had a removable overlay, suggesting that it could be used in other games, but none were produced.) A [[ComicBook/StarRaiders graphic novel]] loosely based on the game was released in 1983. A sequel InNameOnly, ''Star Raiders II'', was released in 1986. A remake was released in 2011.

The game was ported to the {{Atari 2600}}, {{Atari 5200}} and the AtariST; the 2600 version came with a special touchpad controller. (This controller had a removable overlay, suggesting that it could be used in other games, but none were produced.) A [[ComicBook/StarRaiders graphic novel]] loosely based on the game was released in 1983. A sequel InNameOnly, ''Star Raiders II'', was released in 1986. A remake was released in 2011.

''Star Raiders'' is a video game for Atari8BitComputers developed by [[http://dougneubauer.com/ Doug Neubauer]] (also the designer of the system's POKEY sound chip) and released by Creator/{{Atari}} in 1979. Intended as an action version of the ''VideoGame/StarTrekTextGame'', it is most notable for being one of the earliest examples of the "[[SimulationGame space combat simulation]]" genre, and is a clear ancestor to later titles like ''VideoGame/WingCommander'' and ''{{X-Wing}}''. Stanford University selected it in 2007 as one of the [[http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/12/arts/design/12vide.html 10 Most Important Video Games Of All Time]].

* SpaceFriction: Played ''painfully'' straight; not only is sublight travel performed by setting your engines to fire continuously (consuming energy in the process), but getting them damaged brings you to an abrupt halt, leaving you to sputter to the nearest starbase for repairs.

* SubsystemDamage: One of the earliest examples of this trope. Your ship's shields, engines, weapons, targeting computer and scanners could be damaged or outright destroyed.
** To be fair, the game would never destroy a combination of systems that left the player ''completely'' helpless; there would always be just enough systems (barely) functional to allow the ship to limp back to a starbase. Of note, the Hyperspace Drive couldn't be damaged, and even with the engines destroyed you could still sputter along at sublight. A clever player could also blip the hyperspace drive to get docked. Good lucking accurately hyperspacing to a starbase sector without the crosshairs, though.
* VideogameCrueltyPotential: Yes, you ''can'' shoot your own starbases. It takes just one hit to destroy them, too...
** There was an important strategic use to this though - if the enemies surrounded and destroyed a starbase, new enemies were generated from the debris. If you were running out of time and didn't think you could save the base, you're better off destroying it yourself to avoid adding more enemies

** To be fair, the game would never destroy a combination of systems that left the player ''completely'' helpless; there would always be just enough systems (barely) functional to allow the ship to limp back to a starbase. Of note, the Hyperspace Drive couldn't be damaged, and even with the engines destroyed you could still sputter along at sublight. A clever player could also blip the hyperspace drive to get docked.

** To be fair, the game would never destroy a combination of systems that left the player ''completely'' helpless; there would always be just enough systems (barely) functional to allow the ship to limp back to a starbase.

''Star Raiders'' is a video game for Atari8BitComputers developed by [[http://dougneubauer.com/ Doug Neubauer]] and released by {{Atari}} in 1979. Intended as an action version of the ''VideoGame/StarTrekTextGame'', it is most notable for being one of the earliest examples of the "[[SimulationGame space combat simulation]]" genre, and is a clear ancestor to later titles like ''VideoGame/WingCommander'' and ''{{X-Wing}}''. Stanford University selected it in 2007 as one of the [[http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/12/arts/design/12vide.html 10 Most Important Video Games Of All Time]].

** The Zylon [[BattlestarGalactica basestars]] are even more blatant, and apparently the cruisers were based on a forward view of the [[Franchise/StarTrek Klingon battle cruiser]].

** The Zylon [[BattlestarGalactica basestars]] are even more blatant, and apparently the cruisers were based on a forward view of the [[StarTrek Klingon battle cruiser]].