Games of TRON

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05 Jun 2003, 11:41 PM
NeoZeedeater

Games of TRON

Video games and movies have had a long history together, dating back as far as the 1968 Kubrick classic 2001: A Space Odyssey which had a video version of chess in it.

The first movie that was built completely around the concept of video games was Disney's 1982 release TRON. While I don't think the movie has aged well, it was revolutionary for its time in terms of theme and computer graphics. As a kid, I was in awe of it when I first saw it in theatres. Naturally, such a movie was destined for video game adaptations.

Mattel released a handful of home versions for their Intellivision console and the Atari 2600. The first two were in development simultaneously with the movie.

TRON Deadly Discs - This is my favourite console game from the early '80s. The object is to launch discs at oncoming enemies. I'm not a big fan of the Intellivision controller but I must say that it is perfect for this game. The different numbers on the keypad shoot in different directions. Emulation can't do this game justice unfortunately since modern controllers don't resemble the Intellivision's.
http://uvlftp.arteh.com/teran/intv/t...discs_intv.gif

The 2600 port was simplified due to the controller limitations(only one button) and isn't as good as the InTV version. Still, the 2600 version makes good use of the speedier processor and is much faster than the InTV original. I definitely recommend this game, even to those who own the InTV version as it's a different experience and one of the best games on the 2600.

There's also an Aquarius version of Deadly Discs; I assume it's pretty much identical to the Intellivision one.

TRON Maze-A-Tron - This was the second Intellivision TRON game. I honestly don't know how to play this one. I bought it used without the instruction book. It doesn't seem very fun anyway.
http://www.tron-movie.com/games/cons...aze-a-tron.jpg

Adventures of TRON - Not a bad platform/dodging game for the 2600. An Intellivision port was completed but never released.

TRON Solar Sailer - This one used the Intellivoice adapter for voices. A voice tells you codes which you have to enter to get past certain parts. It's basically an action game with a voice gimmick.
http://www.intellivision-forever.de/B5393.jpg

Tomy released a table-top TRON game. I haven't played it.
http://www.tron-movie.com/games/tomytron.jpg

On the arcade front, Midway released two excellent TRON games.

TRON - This game has four different modes: light cycle(where you avoid your opponent), bugs(shoot and escape), tank(take out the other tanks), and a Break Out-ish level.
[thumbnail]http://www.tron-movie.com/games/tron/screen5.jpg[/thumbnail]
[thumbnail]http://www.tron-movie.com/games/tron/screen11.jpg[/thumbnail]
[thumbnail]http://www.tron-movie.com/games/tron/screen9.jpg[/thumbnail]
[thumbnail]http://www.tron-movie.com/games/tron/screen7.jpg[/thumbnail]

Discs of TRON - This was originally supposed to be one of the games in the first TRON arcade game but it wasn't completed in time. Not only does Discs stand on its own, it is superior to TRON. It consists of disc-throwing duels. It's a brilliant game, probably the best one ever based on a movie.
http://www.tron-movie.com/games/dotr...ironmental.jpg
http://www.tron-movie.com/games/dotron/t_screen1.jpg

TRON 2.0 - Almost two decades have passed since the last TRON game was released. The franchise will soon be resurrected with Monolith's PC FPS TRON 2.0. Let's hope this game's quality is closer to No One Lives Forever than Blood 2.
[thumbnail]http://www.computerandvideogames.com/screenshots_library/dir_102/vortal_pic_51000.jpg[/thumbnail]

Those are all the offical Disney-licensed TRON games I know of. What are your thoughts on the TRON games?
05 Jun 2003, 11:43 PM
Joust Williams

Yeah...Deadly Discs and DoT were awesome. CAn't say I was a big fan of the original TRON game, though...
05 Jun 2003, 11:47 PM
Diff-chan

1 Attachment(s)

While I respect and enjoy all those games, this is easily my favorite:
05 Jun 2003, 11:49 PM
NeoZeedeater

Heh, yes that is indeed the best one. ;)
06 Jun 2003, 12:59 AM
Roufuss

Someone should send this thread to Tommy Tallerico from G4, he'd probably bust about three nuts over it.
06 Jun 2003, 01:52 AM
teenwolf

Discs of Tron owned. Had the chance to buy the cab around 6 years ago but waited and the arcade went out of business and the owner liquidated all the assets. Called like 2-3 weeks after it happened too... :/
06 Jun 2003, 02:12 AM
StriderKyo

Somehow, Deadly Discs is the only one I;ve ever played, and it did indeed rock the cazbah. Although that one diff has looks totally badass.
06 Jun 2003, 03:54 AM
sedition

my next door neighbor used to have discs of tron... that game is hard... ugh... it rules so much when you get to the harder levels and start to throw the discs on the verticle axis...

the only thing that was rough for me was no continue... and with limited play... didn't get to get very good at it.
06 Jun 2003, 08:53 AM
adol

That Tomy tabletop game friggin' rules. I wish I still had it.

And the Discs of Tron cabinet is a fucking work of art.
06 Jun 2003, 01:51 PM
MonsterMash

What's the name of the Intellvision light cycle-ish game? When did that come out in relation to the TRON one? I've never played the TRON light cycle game, but this one (which I have played) is very fun.
06 Jun 2003, 01:59 PM
DarkCrow676

I have never played a Tron game before, not poible where I live, but the new Tron game is looking good.
06 Jun 2003, 02:11 PM
FirstBlood

There's also the official half-life mod called ricochet, which is basically an online-multiplayer Discs of Tron

... I think it comes with the latest Half-Life update, so anyone who plays CS or TFC should already have it.
06 Jun 2003, 02:11 PM
FirstBlood

1 Attachment(s)

Quote:

Originally posted by FirstBlood
There's also the official half-life mod called ricochet, which is basically an online-multiplayer Discs of Tron

... I think it comes with the latest Half-Life update, so anyone who plays CS or TFC should already have it.
06 Jun 2003, 02:29 PM
NeoZeedeater

MonsterMash, is Snafu the game you're thinking of?
http://www.thelogbook.com/phosphor/mattel/snaf-int.jpg

The year on it is 1981 although the style of game originated with the 1976 UPL/Gremlin arcade game Blockade.
http://images.webmagic.com/klov.com/.../xBlockade.png
06 Jun 2003, 02:36 PM
DArque Bishop

Quote:

Originally posted by adol
That Tomy tabletop game friggin' rules. I wish I still had it.

And the Discs of Tron cabinet is a fucking work of art.

Heh, I nearly croaked when I saw the Tomy tabletop game in the original post, and I realized I still have it in a closet at home...

I also had the two Atari 2600 Tron games. In fact, I think I still have them, although they're certainly in storage now.

Many fun hours were had playing those games.

(Little fun fact: almost ALL of the music from the first Tron video game can be found in the first minute or so of ONE track in the soundtrack called the "Tron Scherzo". It still amazes me that they were able to squeeze that much use out of it, from victory music, to defeat music, etc. And it all FIT, too!)
06 Jun 2003, 04:03 PM
MonsterMash

Quote:

Originally posted by NeoZeedeater
MonsterMash, is Snafu the game you're thinking of?

The year on it is 1981 although the style of game originated with the 1976 UPL/Gremlin arcade game Blockade.

SNAFU! Yeup. I like that name too, I'm surprised I forgot it. Thanks NZ, I'm glad I know where the style comes from now.