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4,675 Videogames: 0-9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Manufacturers | Top 100 Videogames | See All 18,125 International Arcade Museum coin-operated listings
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Defender
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4,675 Videogames: 0-9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Manufacturers | Top 100 Videogames | See All 18,125 International Arcade Museum coin-operated listings
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Manufacturer:
Williams Electronics, Inc. (1967-1985) Year: 1980 Class: Wide Release Genre: Shooter Type: Videogame Monitor:
Number of Simultaneous Players: 1 Maximum number of Players: 2 Gameplay: Alternating Control Panel Layout: Single Player Controls:
Sound: Amplified Mono (one channel) |
 Photo contributed by: Lutorkhan
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Defender DescriptionDefend the human population from swarms of attacking aliens. Extremely popular even though it was deemed a flop at a 1981 Chicago arcade machine trade show because of its difficulty. The attract mode for the game was programmed in just five hours.Cabinet InformationThe machine shown at the top of the page is the classic cabinet that the majority of US players have seen. The machine to the right, however, is believed to be a prototype or an early production model that contains side art very much inspired by the film Star Wars. Perhaps Williams changed the production side art designs upon advice from legal counsel This type of machine is also pictured on Williams IDefenderI flyers. Oddly enough, a number of these machines have been seen in various countries throughout Europe.Game IntroductionYour mission, as captain of the Defender, is to protect the humanoids stranded on the planet from their alien abductors. The scanner will help you determine a strategy to shoot down the alien ships before they reach the humanoids. If you destroy the aliens after they have captured their prey, you must return the humanoids to the safety of the planet or they will fall to their death. If an alien carries its victim out of your range, the humanoid will mutate, join the alien force, and take to assault with deadly vengeance!The challenge becomes ever more intense as the action progresses. Fighter ships (Bombers) and mines will test your skills. A direct hit will destroy the mother ship (Pods) but smash it into a swarming mass of mini-ships (Swarmers) which then must be wiped out! If you do not act quickly, the cosmic Baiter will attack! Use your two escape options only if all else fails! Your "smart bomb" power is limited and "hyperspace" puts you into an unknown space warp. But beware! If all the humanoids are abducted, the entire planet will explode in a blinding flash! Game PlayTips:
MiscellaneousPlay the game online requires Shockwave at httpwww.shockwave.comswcontentdefenderPThis is one of many games that has been bootlegged or copied. Some of these versions have added improvements to the game but others are direct copies. Examples of these games are IMaydayI, IDefence CommandI, IDefense CommandI and IMirageI.PIDefenderI was licensed to Taito for Japanese manufacture and distribution.VAPS Arcade CensusThere are 6,975 members of the Video Arcade Preservation Society / Vintage Arcade Preservation Society, 4,013 whom participate in our arcade census project of games owned, wanted, or for sale. Census data currently includes 65,105 machines (3,796 unique titles).Very Common - There are 367 known instances of this machine owned by Defender collectors who are members. Of these, 327 of them are original dedicated machines, 6 of them are conversions in which game circuit boards (and possibly cabinet graphics) have been placed in (and on) another game cabinet, and 34 of them are only circuit boards which a collector could put into a generic case if desired. For Sale - There are 28 VAPS members with Defender machines for sale. There is one VAPS member with an extra Defender circuit board for sale. VAPS members are totally independent of VAPS and the International Arcade Museum, and we are unable to recommend, endorce, or guarantee any person or company selling games or game parts. Wanted - Very Popular - There are 32 VAPS members currently looking for Defender. This game ranks a 95 on a scale out of 100 (100 = most often seen, 1=least common) in popularity based on census ownership records. This game ranks a 68 on a scale out of 100 (100 = most often wanted, 1=least common) in popularity based on census want list records.
TechnicalAll the game settings are configured in software on the screen. This is the Williams way of doing things. In IDefenderI, they used the rudimentary system used on their pinball machines no notations except in the manual. After IDefenderI made it, they started clearly labeling the onscreen adjustment menus. The board sets use a 6809 processor for game play and a 6800 for sound on a separate board.TriviaThis game shares the title of Highest Grossing Video Game of All Time along with IPacManI. To date it has earned more than one billion dollarsPAccording to Midway, the geneology of the games is as follows IDefenderI, IStargateI, IRobotron2084I, IBlasterI.PThis game was included in the Williams Arcades Greatest Hits game for PCs and the PlayStation game console. The release also included IStargateI as Defender II, IBubblesI, IJoustI, ISinistarI and IRobotron 2084I.Legacy
Manuals
Foto-Finder™ (books)
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