Kotaku: asteroids

Atari Adds An Arcade To Its Web Page

Mike Fahey — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:20:00 MST

Why sit at your computer working all day long when you can head over to the new Atari.com and play Yars Revenge all day long?

The new Atari.com represents phase one of the company's internet re-launch, allows fans of the company's works to browse the latest Atari titles, buy games from the Atari Store, enter contests, and most importantly, play six classic Atari games for free as long as you;d like, unless your boss is watching. The six games currently on the site include Asteroids, Adventure, Battlezone, Crystal Castles, Lunar Lander and Yars Revenge, each retro-fitted with leaderboards so players can keep track of how much they suck at Crystal Castles and how many times they blame it on the lack of a trackball.

"Today commences the first stage in Atari's ongoing commitment to growing its online business with the re-launch of Atari.com," said Jim Wilson, President and CEO of Atari, Inc. "Our online roadmap contains a multitude of enhancements and exciting new features which over time will redefine how people play and connect with Atari."

Yes, yes Jim, whatever you say. More Yars Revenge please.

Kotaku's Fall Fashion Special

AJ Glasser — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 16:00:00 MDT

Fall is here and that means two things: Prices are rising and temperatures are dropping. But you can still score a nerd-tinged wardrobe without breaking the bank, thanks to this handy save-splurge gamer apparel guide.

We tracked down gamer-made gamer apparel from all across the Internet, some with game publisher licenses and some without. Between our price listings and some choice advice from a few specialists, you'll pwn gamer fashion this fall.

Here's what our experts on gamer fashion have to say...

Meg Horner, private seller, aka sunshineravioli:
"I shoot for a pretty chill look— if you're not looking closely, they just look like any other knit hat. It's like wearing a secret on your head that only other gamers will understand."

Chris Birch, founder, Joystick Junkies:
"The main thing is our clothing has to be commercial, it's got to sell to people who want really cool t-shirts whether they ‘get it' or not, whether they recognize the inspiration for the design or not. The bonus is if you see one of our t-shirts and think ‘oh my god that's the quote from my favorite game'."

Tashica Taylor, private seller, aka urbanprincess:
"I try to make thinks that are fun and things I think people will love! If I won't wear it I won't make it and try to sell it to someone."

Note: The gallery is sorted by game, so some "saves" will still be pricey. Sorry, Atari fans!

Asteroids Movie is About Relationships; Also, Blowing Up Crap

Owen Good — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 16:45:00 MDT

The Asteroids movie will deliver a "really strong, deep mythology," for "this big thing in space," says the guy ~~blamed~~ credited as the film's producer.

IGN talked to Lorenzo di Bonaventura, also responsible for such tours de force as Transformers, G.I. Joe and Doom, and asked why a 1979 vector-graphics shooter starring a space fighter, two different UFOs and three different sizes of rocks was worth a four-way bidding war.

I was attracted to Asteroids, plain and simple, because I think what it tells you is that there's going to be this big thing in space.

Yes. Go on.

We've crafted a really strong, deep mythology for the thing. Without divulging too much about it, it's two lead characters - two brothers - who have to go through a seminal experience to figure out their relationship, against this huge backdrop.

Come on, goddammit, this is fucking Asteroids, not "My Dinner With Andre" in space.

Well you'd better have some guys in spaceships blowing stuff up or else you haven't honored the fun of Asteroids.

Well, of a story of two brothers, versus explosions and visual effects, which one do you think is going to form the bulk of this film's raison d'etre.

Asteroids Movie Exclusive [IGN via Shacknews]

Universal Wins Rights To Produce An...Asteroids Movie

Luke Plunkett — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 06:30:00 MDT

This should be a hoot. Seems Universal Pictures have won a bidding war against three other studios for the right to produce a movie based on Asteroids. Yes. The 1979 game Asteroids.

Disney writer Matthew Lopez is writing the script, while Lorenzo di Bonaventura - who has been credited on movies like Transformers, GI Joe and Doom - is producing.

On the bright side, at least there's no plot for them to screw up! Unless, you know. The movie somehow doesn't involve a spaceship and at least one asteroid.

'Asteroids' lands at Universal [THR, via superannuation]

Tomatoes Can Play Asteroids Too, You Know

Luke Plunkett — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 22:30:00 MDT

From the same people that brought you the history of gaming (in Sauerkraut) comes this: a game of asteroids. Played with tomatoes. Don't ask why. Just ask "Zaxxon with celery next, please".

[via GameSniped]

Asteroids High Score Unbroken For 25 Years

Stuart Houghton — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 15:20:00 MST

It was 25 years ago today, Scott Safran taught the world to play... Asteroids. On this day in 1983, 15-year-old Scott Safran began playing Asteroids at an arcade in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.

Three days later, his last ship was crushed by a vector rock and he staggered back from the cabinet with a record-breaking score of 41,336,440 points. A record that has remained unbroken ever since.

So how about it, readers? Did they just make 'em a lot harder back in the olden days or is Asteroids just out of fashion? Has coping with inertia and splitting space rocks just become one of those lost skills - like long division, scrimshaw or making fire with a bow?

Nov. 13, 1983: Teen Sets Asteroids Record in 3-Day Marathon [Wired]

Commercial Shredder vs An Asteroids Cabinet

Luke Plunkett — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 03:30:00 MDT

Will it blend? OLD NEWS. So 2007. This year, it's all about will it shred. That's the question SSI are asking. SSI make commercial-grade shredders. These things don't shred incriminating tax documents. They shred machines. Watch, then, as one of their units goes up against a genuine Asteroids arcade cabinet, in an effort to see which of the two will come out on top. Just...don't put your money on Asteroids walking away from this one.

Watch a commercial shredder devour an Asteroids cabinet [Boing-Boing]

Asteroids Coffee Table, Helloooo Compromise

Mark Wilson — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 12:00:05 MST

All those gaming figurines are neat and everything, but the last thing I want to be doing is explaining who Cloud is and how he carries such a large sword without his arm falling off during a dinner party. And multiply that statement times a thousand for my wife.

Items like this Asteroids coffee table balance that gaming yin with having a house that doesn't look straight out of a Pokemon episode yang. It's subtle, classy and will match just about any couch you can throw at it. But only 50 will be produced in a limited run this year, proving once again that anyone who says happiness comes free is a fucking delusional bastard. Check out the "Invasion" version after the jump.

Brand New, Your Retro [Mostly This: via Wonderland]

Asteroids Landing On XBLA This Week

Michael McWhertor — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 14:40:15 MST

This week's newcomer to the Xbox Live Arcade service is actually a bundled pair of virtually identical games, as Asteroids and Asteroids Deluxe will hit Xbox 360s this Wednesday, November 28th. The original versions of each, a strictly black and white, low-fi affair, will be joined by "evolved" versions of the game, retaining the same gameplay but spit-shined with pretty sparks and lighting effects that we've come to expect from things that are evolved. There's even a hyperspeed "Throttle Monkey" mode that will hopefully help you justify the 400 Microsoft Points required to buy in. As a side bonus, your purchase of Asteroids and Asteroids Deluxe comes with free bitter tears from Jeff Minter. That's value.

Asteroids & Asteroids Deluxe [Xbox]

Free Game: Echoes

fdemarco — Sun, 20 May 2007 16:00:00 MDT

The folks at Binaryzoo have a new game to unleash on the PC world. Echoes is a sort of cross between Geometry Wars and Asteroids with lots of flashing lights and pretty colors. Fortunately, for those of you apt to have seizures during long strobe sections, there is a non seizure setting that can be implemented.

Echoes is currently a PC only game, but it is available for free on Binaryzoo's website and for a free game, it's very well put together. Online leaderboards are currently in development so you can show off your hot shot score to the world, or at least to anyone who cares to look. Flynn De Marco

Echoes [Binaryzoo]
[via JayisGames]

Asteroid Shoes In The House

Mike Fahey — Thu, 17 May 2007 09:20:15 MDT

Remember the Pro-Keds Arcade Series shoes I posted back in late April? I wasn't kidding when I said I was desperately trying to find a pair for sale. Seemed like the Pac-Man shoe was the only one widely available, until a reader sent me a link to Designer Athletic, who had the Asteroids model in size 8, 8.5, 10, and 13. Now they are out of 13's *grins*.

Behold, the first of many gaming shoe conquests. Fueled by Vault and guarded by Crappy Movie Preview Starscream, the Asteroid shoes are now mine.

Yes, I drink a lot of Vault, and yes, I am wearing black socks. They make me feel sexy. Michael Fahey

Pro Keds Arcade Series

Mike Fahey — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 14:20:42 MDT

Like many of you, I used to laugh whenever Crecente would start going on about his love for gaming shoes. Until I saw these beauties from Pro Keds, of all places. When I was a young lad, Keds were those plain white shoes your mother would always buy and try to pass off as sneakers. These are definitely not my mother's Keds. Crecente and I have been killing ourselves trying to find these for sale, since the Pro Keds site's Buy Them Online button isn't working. Bastards. I must have your Centipede shoes!

Thanks Invaderbacca for helping me develop yet another gaming-based obsession. Michael Fahey

Hot Flashes: Asteroid's Revenge

Michael McWhertor — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 21:20:37 MST

Those son of a bitch triangles have been terrorizing our great asteroid fields for years. Exact your revenge against those three sided heretics and honor our rocky space wandering brothers! Asteroid's Revenge!! It's free, it's fun, it's strangely satisfying to smash spaceships. Michael McWhertor

Asteroid's Revenge [via Waxy]

Worst Halloween Costume Ever: Asteroids

kotaku.com — Wed, 11 Oct 2006 11:40:12 MDT

What the hell is that? Only the worst gaming-themed Halloween costume of all time: the Atari's Asteroids costume. God knows I have absolutely no idea how you wear the frickin' thing. It looks like the costume is basically to wrap yourself in a gigantic plastic baggie and then slide a rubber mask resembling a giant, throbbing brain over your head.

Courtesy of the always excellent Vintage Computer and Gaming blog. Florian Eckhardt

Play Multi-Player Asteroids With Me

Michael McWhertor — Sun, 09 Jul 2006 15:54:53 MDT

Guys, I'm really bored. Play some Multiplayer Asteroids with me, okay? I promise I'm really, really bad and I hardly know what any of the power ups do, so you can beat up on me for hours while I shirk my Kotaku duties. I'll be KotakuMike and I'll just sit there for a few rounds so you can up your kill ratio.

Did I mention it's free? It is! Play some Multiplayer Asteroids with me. Don't make me beg. It's really fun! Michael McWhertor

[Update] Clearly the Kotaku readership has answered the call for some MP Asteroids. We've been putting some strain the server, resulting in some serious lag. I'll be sitting out for a bit to help keep the numbers down. Asteroids with 20+ simultaneous players is nuts!

Multiplayer Asteroids [via 4CR]

Burton's Asteroids Jacket

Michael McWhertor — Sun, 12 Mar 2006 16:33:01 MST

Oh, that's HOT. For a mere $250 American, you can hit the slopes with your nerd flag flying proudly in this Asteroids inspired, but most likely not endorsed, softshell jacket.

The technical details:
* Storm-lite 5.0-A Fabric (20,000MM, 20,000G)
* Flatlocked Stitching Details
* Welded Pockets and Zippers
* Fulltime Contour Hood
* Stash Pocket on Sleeve
* Pit Zips
* Printed Softshell in One Colorway
* Fleece-Lined Handwarmer Pockets
* Chest Pocket
* Maximum Geek Credibility

AK Softshell Jacket in War Games Print

Attention Kotaku Metros: Penguins In Space

Michael McWhertor — Sun, 05 Feb 2006 10:56:38 MST

So what if I was doing some online shopping on a Saturday night? I have a good excuse! Really! But lucky me, while searching for new t-shirts, I stumbled upon this new Penguin Asteroids tee. Fashionable, yet won't get strange looks at the arcade.

Karmaloop has it in stock right now, for a mere $25 American. Cheap!

Asteroid Tee By Penguin