Missile Command
• A PAL prototype version has been found, even though there was never a PAL 5200 console!
• Unlike the versions for the home computers, the initial screen on the 5200 version is missing the “COPYRIGHT 1981 ATARI” text (picture #4). This version is automatically configured to work with analog controls. There are at least 3 different versions for the home computers. The original (brown) cart version works with either a joystick or trak-ball, but not with a mouse. The version built in to the XEGS works with all 3. A compilation of 5 different games (one being Missile Command) on cassette was released in 1987 in the UK. This version of Missile Command is lacking the onscreen title (picture #2) that’s the on original cartridge (picture #1). It also has “STICK” instead of “SKIP0”. There’s no level select with this version, but if you change the controller to a Trak-Ball, it will change to “TBALL” (picture #3). It’s rumored this version was from a later production run of the original carts.
• BUG: Occasionally a base will disappear but you’ll still have shots left. The problem was, as the first wave of missiles grow, they lay down a graphic and the graphic is erased, so the terrain gets “erased” when the 2nd wave of missiles come down, and the 2nd missiles would collapse and erase the base, but the base would be replaced just before the missiles collapse routine went into effect. {Rob Zdybel}
