QB-3 (prototype)

QB-3 is a unique vector shooter from Rock-Ola, created in 1982 by designer Robin Mueller. Players control a character positioned on a rotating cube and must destroy enemies that appear on its faces. Movement is achieved by walking off one face of the cube, triggering a rotation that transports the player to an adjacent side – creating a constantly shifting battlefield. Collecting bonus dollar signs adds points to the score, and advancing through levels requires clearing all visible enemies from each cube face. This prototype version never saw widespread release, with only advanced versions made available for testing. The game utilizes a distinctive control scheme consisting of two eight-way joysticks and four buttons for player input, paired with sound processing powered by a Zilog Z80 processor and General Instrument AY8910 chips. QB-3 offers a challenging single-player experience that stands apart from contemporary shooters, demanding quick reflexes and spatial awareness to navigate the rotating cube environment and eliminate its adversaries. Allan Jackson has established a high score of 175,380 points in the game’s ‘Factory’ setting, showcasing the level of mastery achievable within this unusual arcade title.