Missile Command
• At least 3 different versions exist. The original (brown) cart version works with either a joystick or trackball, but not with a mouse. The version built in to the XEGS works with all 3 controllers. Compilation A is a 1987 release on cassette in the UK and features 5 different games (one being Missile Command). This version of Missile Command is lacking the onscreen title (picture #2) that’s the on original cartridge (picture #1). There’s no level select with this version; it has “STICK” instead of “SKIP0”, but if you change the controller to a Trak-Ball, it will change to “TBALL” (picture #3). The 5200 version is different again, with the initial screen missing the “COPYRIGHT 1981 ATARI” text (picture #4). This version is automatically configured to work with analog controls.
• A fixed XL-compatible version by Greg Riker and dated 4-7-83 was made for the 1200XL. Atari had planned to release this version in late 1983 in a silver box. The source code for this version was recovered in 2026.
• The game is on an 8K cartridge but it’s only 6K in size. The last 2K is empty.
• It’s not mentioned in the manual, but pressing CONTROL+T allows you to use a trackball controller! This is all the more impressive when you realize Atari didn’t release a trackball controller until 2 years later.
• 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}
• BUG: The first time you power up and play the game, the first sound f/x that plays is wrong. As soon as another sound effect plays, all the sound f/x are correct from that point on, and in subsequent games. {Michael Current}
• BUG: The level select option doesn’t work on XL/XE computers unless you use a Translator disk; the 1-9 keys don't do anything. {Michael Current}
• RUMOR: The version of Missile Command on Compilation A is rumored to be from a later production run of the original carts.
