Classic Game Room - MISSILE COMMAND arcade game review

[@steverakes6182]

In 1981 I was nineteen and managed a game room called Capital games in Logan Utah. We had a Missile command upright. Now I did not normally play many of the games there, but for whatever reason, dominating Missile Command simply came naturally to me. I swear on all that's holy, that what I'm about to say is 100% true, and after 41 years I believe there are still a couple of people here in town out of dozens who were there to see this event. On one of my days off, I went in to the arcade and started a game of Missile Command, after 15 or 20 minutes the missiles began coming down to fast to pick off individually, and even though I had only played the game less then 20 times, I knew that the left and right firing buttons were slow shooters and that the center button fired about two times faster, so it seemed natural to me that knowing there are two waves of missiles per screen, I began to swing my right hand from left to right across the trac-ball smacking it as I went. At that exact moment I made contact with the ball, I would completely unload all ten missiles using only the left or number one button. The result was a almost complete row of defensive missiles which normally killed all but maybe one in-coming. Then using the center (fast) shooter, I would just pick off the last one and get ready for wave two, there by using the same method of defense. Most of the time I would be left with five or so missiles in the end. After an hour or so (yes, an hour or so) I began to attract a crowd. By this time, the screens were changing to these amazing almost neon like colors and I swear that the missiles began falling so fast that if you blinked you would almost miss them. Now here's where the people I tell this to begin to wonder if I'm exaggerating this story, but I swear this is the truth. Time went by and I was getting hungry but didn't want to stop playing because I knew something special was happening so I had a buddy go over to the cafe side and get me a corn dog, which I chowed down. At that point I was into the 3rd hour of playing and had a large crowd behind me watching the crazy screen colors and lightning fast missiles. This went on for three more hours and by this time I had to pee so bad that I was debating just leaving the game so I could relieve my self and that's about when something uncanny happened. The screen began to twitch and act funny, then it simply blinked out and I swear to god up above, that a small puff of smoke came out of that machine and it just gave up the ghost. That happened at roughly the six hour and fifteen minute mark. I don't know if that's a record or not, I couldn't even tell you what my score was because I couldn't have cared less about beating other scores. I'll tell you that I never dropped another quarter into a missile command game, I could not have seen another screen of missiles coming down without getting nauseous. Even trying to get to sleep for the next week or so I would see those crazy colors in my mind. That all happened over 41 years ago and it almost seems like yesterday to me.

[@andrewschannel4259]

That is an insane story! Thanks for sharing!

[@DeuceClubs]

How to check if you've been transported to the 80s. -Aliens -Nuclear Weapons -Duran Duran If any one of these three things are around, be weary. The Ruskies could be among you!

[@DrummingMoose]

While Missile Command was being created, one of the designers had a nightmare that 3 major American cities got pulverized by nuclear weapons

[@kellychuang8373]

Well it was during the days of the Cold War and MAD (Mutually Assured Destruction) was on everybody's mind. So yeah that really is a possibility.

[@The_Ballo]

@@kellychuang8373 We still live under MAD

[@kellychuang8373]

@@The_Ballo Yes it really is and with that Russia vs Ukraine conflict in which we're also helping since we're part of the US along with many other countries against Russia it's really increasing the danger.

[@wildbilltexas]

A classic game perfect for the Cold War era - it has the best ending scene in video game history. But I was also a lousy player with the arcade version. I did better with the 2600 version and a good joystick.

[@iago71]

Me too. I was useless in the arcade but the 2600 version was a different story. Much easier I think. I loved that game!!! :)

[@andrewschannel4259]

The trak ball in the arcade version makes it much harder.

[@knoxmickey1]

MOTHER Fallout..

[@azweapon]

I'm a few years late... You don't move the trackball by small hand movements, you use your whole arm to move the ball, fingertip to elbow and back. Setup a high shield with outer bases - the faster the missiles, the more effective a shield can become (but it is all about timing and spacing). A good shield can cause a cascade effect that can stop a whole wave of missiles. They you just pucker up and hope you can survive the rest of the attack with at least a city (or enough points for a new one). It was possible to play for hours on a single quarter if you are willing to consider sacrificing your entire college career in the early eighties, like 1981 in the University of North Dakota Memorial Union.

[@Mr.Everything]

Some entrepreneurs flip houses, others flip cars but the great Lord Carnage rakes in that moolah with re-uploads!

[@bsgtrekfan88]

Well if Skynet does indeed take over, we know who will lead the uprising against the machines ;) Now all you need to do is get an Afterburner arcade system!

[@cliffemall666]

Lord Karnage, king of re-uploads!

[@BBQDanTheMan]

I wonder why he deleted this review yesterday?

[@Blummineck]

Meh, I could never get into this game. I said the same yesterday when this video was first posted, I still feel the same.

[@ecrradio7620]

One of if not my favorite retro-arcade games!

[@Blahde]

Played this so much in the day. Was really good, clocked it so often just to see the next colours ! Sad right! Folks used to watch and they even left the chip shop open one night cos I wasn't stopping for nothing ;-) Love it!

[@puekawNEpuyrruh]

I had so much fun playing this on my Atari 2600

[@arfolc]

I have it, Battlezone, Centipede and Super Breakout on PlayStation 1, and they're all on one disk. Your local retro games store probably has it for around 11 dollars. :)

[@strx.artventure]

If I could have one cabinet in my house this would be it.

[@theultimatehunt]

I got this on Atari. LOVE THIS GAME!

[@aza1479]

I have this machine in cabaret form. Love it. One of my favorite.

[@robertharrold4214]

Possibly the best of the era. Use to play this when it came out in the bell hotel pub Norwich. Asteroids and galaxians in the same room. Roy Dashwood,Theakstons old peculiar ,stronger then, jaw breaker sandwiches and bell fruit machines. Motorbikes and parties.... oh yes , it was great.

[@electricadventures]

Fantastic game that it would be great to have an original arcade cabinet of. The Atari 8-bit version is my favourite home port, played best with a Wico track ball.

[@Metal-Possum]

So, not only do you fail miserably, thus responsible for entire cities and their population, if you fail in a less sudden manner than others, they put your failing ass in charge of yet another city. I'm loving the logic here. Also, those controls look notoriously inefficient specifically so it can suck your quarters in.

[@it_rocks]

Fuckin love CGR and missile command. CGR is what started me on my retro gaming quest! THANKS CGR!!!

[@christianfrazier6202]

Atari is amazing. I love Missile Command. It sucks that today's dumb generation ain't aware of things like Sega and Atari (etc.) I'm only 15 but I love retro everything, so Atari is definitely something I've been looking forward to owning lately

[@tartuffethesprywonderdog5883]

Wow, you're so cool! Teach me how to be cool like you.

[@l337g0g0]

ohh god i loved this game when i was a kid and it was in the arcades.

[@stet1965]

Fav video game ever.

[@winkwest7166]

I saw this on terminator 2 and niw im here😎 Arcade control layouts in the 80's: make the controls as complex especially Defender.

[@DDRFreak410]

Keep the arcade review coming Mark

[@swsephy]

That's a big-ass trackball. Déjà vu

[@andy86i]

This arcade machine was in Ghostbusters

[@074nathan]

Re-upload?

[@treedeblue]

this dude is high as drones balls, thumbs up!

[@nightelf5007]

I could've sworn I saw this video last night, maybe I was in the future at the time!

[@VBond004]

oh there is the cold war in 1980 and this is cool

[@fernandosalas8589]

Kids today have cheat sheets, in the 80s arcades had no cheat sheets, either you were the best or you just watch the better players because you suck you loose too quickly.

[@8bittimemachine47]

I'm so tired of people thinking "youngsters" as you call us are dumb enough to not know what a button that says FIRE! for example or jump.I still like your channel that was just an FYI for you.

[@daveygivens735]

Far from the record but I am proud to say I turned the score over on this game.

[@UltimaJC]

Didn't you guys post this yesterday?

[@SERVER1992]

i am 22 years old i since i was a kid i wanted this arcade machine

[@Jetset906]

I miss Video Arcades, oh sure a few are still around but not to the extent back in the 80's.

[@PrinceWatercressXadara]

Heh, had the feeling that this would be re-uploaded when the Official Lord Karnage Review Approval Screen wasn't in the beginning.

[@mllarson]

But it was.

[@PrinceWatercressXadara]

mllarson Really? Hmm. Don't seem to remember it being on there the one time I watched it. I could have sworn it wasn't there, though.

[@mllarson]

I remember watching it during a bout of insomnia and it had Lord Karnage. I remember because I hadn't watched a CGR video in a few days.

[@PrinceWatercressXadara]

Well, crap...I wonder why he re-uploaded it, then?

[@mllarson]

Granted the tiredness at the time could have lead me wrong but I'm pretty sure it was there.

[@clydemarshall8095]

Do you still have to use money to play in the Intergalactic Space Arcade?

[@TheLWebb100]

Just watched an episode of Chuck where he played this.

[@loosekarrott]

motherfallout.

[@MaximRecoil]

I have one of these, serial number 980, in good condition. It is a fun game, but painful to play. The downward slope of the control panel combined with those raised "volcano buttons" makes it hard on the wrist and fingers after just a few minutes. I'm not very good at this game either. My highest score is 55,125.

[@sanicyouth6540]

+MaximRecoil That actually sounds like a pretty good score. The best I've gotten so far is 12,360.

[@surroundsister]

remember from my youth that you'd have to accumulate bonus cities (every 10k) early on in order to get a good score. As mentioned the tactics later on was to hold on to one city close to the ´central base and make sure your score got close to a new bonus city before a new level started

[@seanspear6224]

I own this game in my Atari collection. Iconic!

[@SK-le1gm]

This was the first cartridge I got, along with the console itself. I think it was the main reason I wanted the console, to get good at missile command 🚀 what was that, 1981?! 🤣

[@Deep_wolf]

WAR never been so much fun...~

[@quinby3852]

best way to play is Atari.

[@SK-le1gm]

Dude how are you so good 🤣 This game was invented by Rob Fulop. I met him once when I interviewed at his company PF Magic, which had released the hit inane software novelties Dogz and Catz 🐕🤣🐈 anyway you can defend the nation so effectively I want you to report to NORAD HQ at 6am sharp tomorrow !!

[@blueluny]

QUESTION: what are the "lyrics" to the openining titles?

[@Nov-5062]

Vanished from earth, Classic Game Room broadcast from the inter-galactic space arcade, on his neverending mission to review EVERYTHING.

[@R33Racer]

Re-upload?

[@trevgauntletneu_gaming]

Whoops wrong button!

[@TheSerpentsEye]

Shall we play a game?

[@peppers1758]

What a fun video

[@BlaMurda]

I am pretty sure that there is a "story" to this, not the Russians, but an Alien Armada or something.

[@Martin.]

Great👍👍liked

[@Martin.]

Great👍👍liked

[@i-a-g-r-e-e-----f-----jo--b]

You've got to watch the film Chasing Ghosts and Mr Awesome who proclaimed to have the record at Missile Command (big debate in the film). That is one over the top, strange dude. BTW, This was the only arcade game on the Navy ship I was on in the 80's and I dropped a ton of coin in it when at sea for weeks at a time. Hard game, why did I play that so much? Damn commies took my money and killed my cities!

[@johnconnor6221]

there was a fault on that game if you got over 800.000 points it went into a never ending loop

[@surroundsister]

yep, I recall that. In my hometown there were a couple of guys who reached that level, endless bonus cities. I dont think I ever managed that, but heck I played long enough to get some people around me watching as I reached some really hardcore levels. This was my absolute favorite!

[@BobfishAlmighty]

Didn't we just leave this party?

[@Locut0s]

The world record is 81 million D:

[@mixtapesforever1765]

Good game for atari

[@acidpurewarrior]

I want a missile command

[@jennifergaringer630]

1980

[@boody-fg4hb]

1980

[@CastleFsUczN5nnK]

Something tells me I've seen this before...

[@SERVER1992]

btw mark i am jealous of your garage

[@frankonabigon180]

First comment ha hello mark fromclassic game room

[@carolinaswagger7425]

This is my first time ever being first to comment on a video.

[@danielcrocker]

Congratulations, carolinaswagger

[@zeyfuller]

Do you feel accomplished?

[@GreenSoap]

FullerxspectruM I know I'd be.

[@iKarnageV]

Another family friendly review, I see.

[@TheBadFred]

Didn't he was one of the "arseholes" (a relative of Major Arsehole) on the ship?

[@Briggie]

Technically all the workers on the ship were arseholes. Winslow was the radar guy.

[@madbug1965]

This game is not the same with out the arcade track ball and three fire buttons.

[@tartuffethesprywonderdog5883]

It's much better on Atari.

[@n64isit45]

One day I will make it to 800 000 points

[@thearcadeproductions1140]

click outside the video, and type 1980.

[@thearcadeproductions1140]

***** didn't think about that. whoops.

[@boody-fg4hb]

type 1980

[@NJVINYLCORP]

Mother Fallout... Classic.

[@TJae1]

...............

[@FutureTrunks801]

lol take your pokemon

[@jenniferparker9280]

1337

[@jekblom123]

yeah that was a thing...

[@tartuffethesprywonderdog5883]

Atari version is much better, it isn't impossible.