Starhawk (1979 video game)

Starhawk is a 1979 vector arcade game designed and programmed by Tim Skelly and manufactured by Cinematronics.[3] Starhawk is a shoot 'em up unofficially based on the Star Wars: Episode IV trench run, one of the first arcade games to blatantly use concepts from Star Wars.[4] The game was unique at the time for its pseudo-3D graphics. It was distributed in Japan by Sega, and was later ported for the Vectrex home system in 1982.

For the PlayStation 3 game, see Starhawk (2012 video game).
Starhawk
Cover art
Developer(s)Cinematronics
Publisher(s)
Designer(s)Tim Skelly
Platform(s)Arcade, Vectrex
ReleaseArcade
Vectrex
Genre(s)Rail shooter
Mode(s)Up to two players, simultaneously
Arcade systemCCPU cpu @ 5 MHz
Mono sound

The arcade cabinet had a cinder block placed inside of it, to prevent it from tipping onto the player.[4]

Plot

According to the Vectrex manual, the story involves "protecting your comrades from alien ships trying to infiltrate your culture" and "defending the sovereignty of your planet."

Gameplay

Various ships, reminiscent of TIE fighters, appear on the horizon of the trench and the player has to shoot them before they destroy the player's ship. The player is given initially sixty seconds, but additional twenty seconds is awarded for every 10,000 points scored. The player continues flying down the trench towards a target similar to the Star Wars Death Star target. The game gets progressively more difficult as the player advances. Similar to the flying saucer from Space Invaders, a command ship periodically appears and shoots at the player. If the command ship is not destroyed quickly, the player loses 800 points.

Besides the firing button, there are three buttons that control the speed of the crosshairs.

Scoring
  • Command ship: 800
  • Starship: 500
  • Rocket: 300
  • Missile: 100
  • Bomber: 100

Reception

Starhawk was the fifth highest-earning arcade video game of 1979 in the United States, below Space Invaders, Football, Sprint 2 and Head On.[5]

See also

References
  1. "Star Hawk". Media Arts Database. Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  2. Akagi, Masumi (October 13, 2006). アーケードTVゲームリスト国内•海外編(1971–2005) [Arcade TV Game List: Domestic • Overseas Edition (1971–2005)] (in Japanese). Japan: Amusement News Agency. p. 114. ISBN 978-4990251215.
  3. Hague, James. "The Giant List of Classic Game Programmers".
  4. Wirtanen, Josh. "The First Star Wars Arcade Game Wasn't Officially a Star Wars Game". Retrovolve. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
  5. "Video Games". RePlay. November 1979.
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