Atari Football (revision 2)

Atari Football (revision 2) delivers a simple yet engaging sports experience from 1978. Two players face off in an American football contest represented with minimalist graphics; player characters are depicted as ‘X’s and ‘O’s moving across the screen. Gameplay revolves around selecting offensive or defensive plays, then utilizing a large trackball to control one athlete on each team. This unique controller allows for directional movement as you attempt to advance the ball and score. The game's straightforward design emphasizes strategic play selection and precise trackball manipulation. Touchdowns are worth six points, while field goals award three and safeties two. Conversion attempts following a touchdown can earn either one or two points depending on whether they’re kicked or run/passed. Designed by Steve Bristow and completed by a team including Ed Logg, Atari Football marked an early entry into the sports video game genre and pioneered the use of trackball controls in Atari arcade titles. A total of 10,405 two-player units of this version were produced; it shares its distinctive trackball controller with other classic Atari games such as Baseball, Basketball, Soccer, and Missile Command. The game's simple black and white graphics are displayed on a twenty-three inch monitor, offering a glimpse into the early days of arcade video gaming.