Image via Atari
Missile Commandevidently played a huge role during your young adulthood.
What was it that drew you into Ataris arcade phenomenon?
It was a mix of a few things, I think.
Image via Atari
The main one was the subject matter.
It was rather cathartic, in fact.
Missile Commands controls were something unique at the time also.
Image via Atari
And of course, Missile Command just happened to be the new game to arrive at my local arcade.
And how long was it after you first foundMissile Commandthat you targeted a spot inthe Guinness World Records?
Well, in fact, it was many years later.
Image via Atari
Looking at recorded scores mostly set in the USA, I figured I had a shot.
This led me to the opportunity to get into the Guinness World Record book.
What was the most challenging part of the journey?
Tony Temple (left), andMissile Commandcreator Dave Theurer (right)
I was good at the game, but only as a casual gamer.
It was clear to me that simply wasnt going to get me the world record.
You couldnt learn this stuff from YouTube because no one else was doing it!
Image via Atari
It really was hard work it was like learning to walk again.
What made you want to return to the cabinet after breaking the first?
I was keen to put some distance between myself and the guy in second place.
Image via Arcade Blogger
It is significantly higher than anyone else has officially scored, and still stands to this day.
But I fully expect someone will come along one day and beat it.
I get asked this a lot.
The answer is I really dont know.
I dont play seriously these days, but I still have my cabinet, so who knows?
Twitch streaming is popular these days, so that could be an option.
Ive thought about streaming gameplay and sharing tips and strategies, which could lead to something.
I do get people emailing me asking if Im going to come out of retirement and play again.
It’s hard to believe that score was done 12 years ago.
But whats interesting is you never know when youre going to get a great score.
IfMissile Commanddidnt take the lions share of youryouth, what game(s) would have?
I mean, you literally have thousands of early 80s games to choose from.
I would say Robotron and Tempest are the two classic arcade games that appeal to me.
Omega Race, Aztarac, and Tac-Scan are three that spring to mind.
The game could have been much more complex had those ideas remained in the game.
Many features were cut from the game after playtesting both at Atari and out in the field.
Railroads and submarines are one example.
If the railroads carrying the missiles were hit, your ability to defend yourself was significantly compromised.
But it was all too complex.
This was intended to provide the player with information about the status of their game at any one point.
Fine-tuning Missile Command was its greatest strength.
The recent re-release of the game on the 2600 as anAtari XPcollectible is probably a testament to that.
Do you have plans to collaborate with Atari in the future?
If so, what can we expect?
I really enjoyed doing that.
It’s always good to share some of the history surrounding the development of Missile Command.
Theres plenty to choose from!
What elsecan its readers expect from Tony Temple, curator of retro tales?
I packed it full of supporting documents and images, many of which have never been published before.
It was a labor of love, but Im so pleased with how it came out.
At least thats what readers tell me!
I do too much!
Image via Arcade Blogger
What are your thoughts on arcade games today?
Are there any titles that youdrecommend to a new player?
Great multiplayer fun that reminds me of the classic arcade games of the early eighties.
Lastly, will you be doing anything to commemorate Ataris 50th anniversary?
Or, dare we say,anotherworld record?
I hope to release it before the end of the year.
Looking forward to it!
you’ve got the option to visit Tony Temples blog atwww.arcadeblogger.com, and podcast atwww.tdepodcast.net.
Signedcopies of Missile Commander can be ordered via Tonys blog, or directly from Amazon.
Jord is acting Team Leader at gaming.net.
