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The Atari 2600 was first released in North America in September 1977 and featured 9 launch titles: Air-Sea BattleBasic MathBlackjackCombatIndy 500Star ShipStreet RacerSurround and Video Olympics. The final licensed Atari 2600 game released in North America was Secret Quest in 1989, and the final licensed game released in Europe was Klax and Acid Drop in 1990 and 1992. Even with their 1980s limited colors and block graphics these games are still entertaining to play today! We have over 500 Atari 2600 games for you to play online for free using our Atari 2600 Javascript Emulator.

This game is mobile device friendly and Iphone compatible. Enjoy!

Instructions and Keyboard Controls towards bottom of page.
Click “Game Reset” or F12 to Start Game

Robot Tank

INSTRUCTIONS:
If you grew up in the 80’s you shouldn’t need instructions!! You might find some help at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Atari_2600_games and look up the game you need assistance playing.

CONTROLS:
Click “Game Reset” or F12 to Begin/Restart Game
Arrow Keys – Move
Space bar to fire/action button


TRANSCRIBED ORIGINAL ATARI GAME MANUAL AND INSTRUCTIONS
ROBOT TANK

by Activision
c 1983

Designed by Alan Miller


Warning..
Official Orders
Code Name: Robot Tank


FROM THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
--------------------------------

Greetings.  As you well know, sophisticated enemy Robot Tanks are quickly
advancing cross country, firing at will and stopping at nothing.  You must
command your own Robot Tanks to stop their charge of chaos.  Avoid being
hit by enemy fire, or your Robot Tanks may be destroyed.  The rebels are
currently headed towards downtown Santa Clara.  Only you can stop them.

Good luck!



Game Play
---------

1. Hook up your video game system.  Follow manufacturer's instructions.

2. With power OFF, plug in the game cartridge.

3. Turn power ON.  If no picture appears, check connection of your game
   system to TV, then repeat steps 1-3.

4. Plug Joystick into left controller port only.  This is a solo mission.

5. The game select switch and difficulty switches are not used.

6. Use of Joystick Controller.

   * Hold Joystick Controller with red fire button in the upper left        
     position.

   * Move Joystick left to maneuver and/or aim your Robot Tank left.

   * Move Joystick right to maneuver and/or aim your Robot Tank right.

   * Push Joystick forward to roll your Robot Tank forward.

   * Pull Joystick back to retreat

   * Press the red fire button to shoot your Robot Tank cannon at 
     rampaging enemy Robot Tanks.  Hold button down to continuous fire.

7. To begin play.  Press game reset switch.

8. Scoring.  A small tank appears at the top of your screen for each enemy
   Robot Tank you destroy.  A square with the number 12 appears at the top of
   your screen each time a squadron of twelve enemy Robot Tanks are 
   destroyed.

9. Reinforcements.  You begin with one active Robot Tank and three
   reserves.  Reserve Robot Tanks begin operation in perfect condition.  You
   earn one bonus Robot Tank for every enemy squadron destroyed.  The maximum
   number of bonus Robot Tanks allowed at any one time is 12.

10. End of Game.  You may lose your Robot Tank when it is hit by enemy
    rocket fire.  Your video scrambles with static interference when this
    happens.  Some hits may only damage your tank. (See "Damage Sensors" in
    "Special Features").  Game ends when all of your Robot Tanks are 
    destroyed or all 12 enemy squadrons are destroyed.

[Image of the screen.  The military clock is the time centered at the very
top of the screen.  The enemy robot tanks are the tanks you see on the
screen.  There are four damage sensors.  The radar damage sensor is
represented by a "R".  The treads damage sensor is represented by a "T". 
The video damage sensor is represented by a "V".  The cannons damage sensor
is represented by a "C".  The reinforcement takes are on the bottom left
corner of the screen.  The radar scan is the circular thing on the bottom
center of the screen.  The destroyed enemy tanks are the black tanks at the
top of your screen.]



SPECIAL FEATURES OF ROBOT TANK
------------------------------

YOUR ELECTRONIC EYE

Your Robot Tank's electronic eye lets you view the battlefield from a
remote control station.  Perspectives are real.  The size of enemy Robot
Tanks and their fire increase on your remote screen as they get dangerously
close.


TWENTY-FOUR HOURS A DAY

>From the first glimmer of sunrise, beyond the grey dusk and into darkened
night, the enemy attacks relentlessly.  For you, sleep becomes a distant
memory.  The military clock counts the hours and the days and can be used
as a tool for strategy (see "Tips from Alan Miller").  How long can you go
on?


WEATHER ALERT

Fog, rain and snow are reported to you through pre-dawn computer updates. 
In the snow, your tank will slip and slide.  Rain significantly impedes
your tanks mobility.  In blanketing fog, enemy Robot Tanks are only visible
when they are right in front of you.  So, take advantage of bright sunshine
while it lasts.


RADAR SCAN

The circular radar scan at the bottom of your screen is your window on the
entire battlefield.  Your tank is at the center of the scan, and the moving
dot describes location, distance and directional movement of the enemy
Robot Tank.  Enemy tanks only fire rockets when they are in FRONT of your
tank.  Your tank is safe when the enemy tank is behind you--when the moving
dot is below the center of the scan.


DAMAGE SENSORS

Video, cannons, radar and treads can be damaged by an enemy hit.  Sensors
report the damage by flashing on your control panel:

V: Video, your view on the battlefield, blacks out periodically.

C: Cannons will never go completely out, but when damaged, don't count on
   them firing all the time.

R: Radar scan inoperative.  You must depend on your video to fix enemy
   position.

T: Treads damaged.  Mobility is brought to a crawl.  Movement is almost
   entirely frozen in the snow.

Be forewarned!  Damaged tanks can NEVER be repaired.


GUIDING YOUR CANNON FIRE

Your tank's cannon fire is continuously targetable while it's in-flight. 
It will follow the direction of your cross hairs.  Also, enemy rocket fire
can be prematurely detonated by intercepting it with your own cannon 
fire.  Destroying an enemy Robot Tank automatically explodes its in-flight
rockets.



GETTING A READING ON YOUR ROBOT TANK
------------------------------------

To successfully stop the rampage of enemy Robot Tanks, you must first
become completely at ease with your own machine.  There will be enough
tension in the throes of battle.

Start out by practicing simple maneuvers.  Roll your tank in all
directions--forward, back, left and right.  Pay strict attention to your
tank's speed.  It is important to know how quickly it can advance on enemy
Robot Tanks or retreat from them.

Dodging enemy fire is a vital defensive move.  Find out how close you can
get to an enemy Robot Tank and still have time to avoid on-coming rocket
fire.

The radar scanner is a very important monitoring device.  It is the only
consistent way to know where the enemy is located at night or in
unforgiving fog.  Practice using the scanner by firing your cannon when an
enemy tank is directly above the center.  It's the only time you can make a
hit.



HOW TO JOIN ACTIVISION'S TANK CORPS
-----------------------------------

For service beyond the call of duty, you are eligible to join Activision's
Tank Corps.  If you destroy at least 48 enemy Robot Tanks (4 squadrons),
then you've earned the Medal of Merit patch.  Succeed in destroying 60
enemy Robot Tanks (5 squadrons), and you proudly deserve the Cross of
Excellence patch.  Distinguish yourself by destroying 72 enemy Robot Tanks
(6 squadrons), and your meritorious achievement decorates you with the Star
of Honor patch.

Please send us a picture of your tour-de-force (TV screen), and we'll issue
you the appropriate Tank Corps patch, along with our salute and
congratulations.

Be sure to write "ROBOT TANK" and the number of enemy Robot Tanks you
destroyed on the bottom left-handed corner of the envelop.



BECOME A HIGHLY DECORATED VETERAN OF ROBOT TANK
-----------------------------------------------

TIPS FROM ALAN MILLER, DESIGNER OF ROBOT TANK

Alan Miller is an award-winning senior designer at Activision.  One of the
"giants" in the field, he's created Checkers, Tennis, Ice Hockey,
StarMaster and now, Robot Tank.

"Once you're locked in electronic battle, there's only one thing you can be
sure of-nothing ever stays the same.

"Enemy Robot Tanks continually sneak up on you.  You'll frequently end up
losing visibility for one reason or another.  So, practice aiming at enemy
tanks using only the radar scan.  If you can master this, you will have
better battling success at night or in fog.

"When there's no visibility, I suggest constantly maneuvering your Robot
Tank to keep the enemy behind you, so that the vulnerable front of your
tank is safe.  Then, you can wait until conditions improve.

"If your tank is damaged, and it's night, keep track of the time using the
military clock.  If it's close to 0500 hours, then you may decide to wait
for the weather alert.  Conditions may improve from the previous day, and
your next offensive may prove more successful.

"Remember that you can neutralize enemy fire by shooting into it.  But,
it's a risky tactic.  Your miss could backfire and become a hit for your
attacker."

Alan Miller [signed]

"P.S. When you've put plenty of distance between your Robot Tanks and the
enemy, and all robotic communication has normalized, issue me a battle
report.  I'd love to know how you and your machines are doing."

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED



And of course, this game was made by Activision in 1983.  This game manual
was typed in by me!  Who am I?  I am Eddie Beiles.  I can be reached at
beiles@lambada.oit.unc.edu if you have any questions about this game
manual.  Or you can email me and thank me for typing it in.  Anyway, enjoy
the game and this wonderfully typed in manual. 3/25/95



REQUIRMENTS:
Our Atari 2600 emulator utilizes Javascript to run in your browser. No plugin is required, but a fast modern web browser will enhance the game play.

image 4
SAMPLE IPHONE GAMEPLAY SCREENSHOT

Emulation on mobile devices will drain your battery quite fast. I recommend playing while device is plugged into charger.


KEYBOARD CONTROLS

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RobotTank Arcade Game Emulated on the Atari 2600. Play RobotTank in your web browser or mobile phone. This Atari 2600 console emulator provides very accurate RobotTank gameplay. RobotTank is a classic 1980s Atari 2600 video game.