Space Mission

[BassGuitari]

In the Extras section of "Atari 80 classic games" for PC, there is a very, very early advertisement for the Atari system, probably predating the actual release of the system. It shows Combat, Air-Sea Battle, and Space Mission (which was renamed Star Ship)...weird joysticks were also shown, with a round stalk instead of hexagonal. Also, the stalk was fatter on the top half, the rubber boot was flat, and the colored rings around the boot where different colors.

 

Are any copies of Space Mission known to exist, or was the one shown in the ad just a mock-up? In any case, does anyone know why did Atari changed the name to Star Ship?

 

Also, what's the deal with the daffy joysticks? Mock-ups, prototypes?

[NovaXpress]

Star Ship is the actual name of the arcade game on which it was based..

 

I notice that they changed the names of their other translations though. Maybe they decided to use the correct name on Star Ship for some reason. Tank became Combat. Ani-Aircraft became Air-Sea Battle. Pong became Video Olympics. Avalanche became Kaboom . . . wait, wrong company.

[MegaManFan]

Not like Activision != Atari to most people. 4 out of 5 auctions I ever look at for "Atari Checkers" end up being the Activision version.

[AtariYoungin]

for those who don't know != means not equal too.

[BassGuitari]

Tank became Combat.  Ani-Aircraft became Air-Sea Battle.  Pong became Video Olympics.

 

I don't think they actually changed the names. On the text-label games and in manuals, the tank game is still Tank, and the anti-aircraft game is still Anti-Aircraft, etc.

 

That does seem like the best arguement though, that Atari would change Space Mission to Star Ship to align with the arcade game.