Atari Showcase: Yars' Revenge (Atari 2600)

Played on the Atari 2600+
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Yars' Revenge is a 1982 video game developed by Howard Scott Warshaw for the Atari 2600. Set in the Razak solar system, it focuses on the conflict between the Yars, a fly-like humanoid alien race, and the Qotile, who have destroyed their habitable planets. The player controls a Yar tasked with destroying the Qotile's energy shield, and finishing off the enemy with the Zorlon cannon.

Initially tasked with developing a port of the arcade game Star Castle, Warshaw developed it at first focusing on graphics and taking in feedback from co-workers to develop its gameplay. He was also responsible for the backstory of the game, which was adapted as a comic book that was included with the game.

Howard Scott Warshaw felt coming up with a name was difficult. He felt an action word would be appropriate for an action game and opted for "Revenge". This was followed by a character name, and he chose the then CEO of Atari Ray Kassar and spelled his name backwards feeling "Yar" was an appropriate science fiction styled name. He then wrote a 10-page story called The Yarian Revenge of Razak IV. A comic titled Yars' Revenge: The Qotile Ultimatum was included with the game based on Warshaw's story treatment. Within the comic release, Warshaw was credited as the game's programmer, making him the first Atari programmer to have his name publicly credited and printed within a release.

Yars' Revenge became the best-selling original game for the Atari 2600.

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