UFO! — Mediated Wiki

{{Infobox video game | title = UFO! | image = File:UFO! Odyssey2.jpg | caption = | developer = Ed Averett | programmer = Ed Averett<ref name=adventure1>{{cite magazine|magazine=Odyssey² Adventure|title=Behind the Workings of the Mind|date=Winter 1982|volume=1|number=1|page=4|publisher=Ceco Publishing Company|editor=Gaydos, Jeff}}</ref> Linda Averett<ref name=adventure1 /> | publisher = {{vgrelease|NA|Magnavox|PAL|Philips N.V.}} | engine = | released = '''Odyssey²''' {{vgrelease|NA|May 1981<ref>{{cite web |last=Bunch|first=Kevin|title=Magnavox Odyssey2 Game Release Dates|url=https://www.atariarchive.org/magnavox-odyssey2-game-release-dates/|website=Atari Archive|access-date=January 9, 2026}}</ref>|PAL|1981<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/35311/Philips-Videopac-34-Satellite-Attack/ |title=Philips Videopac 34 - Satellite Attack |website= Centre for Computing History| location=Cambridge, UK| url-status=live| access-date=May 11, 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260123194228/https://www.computinghistory.org.uk/sec/22055/Philips-G7000-Videopac/ |archive-date=January 23, 2026 }}</ref>}}'''Videopac+''' {{vgrelease|PAL|1983<ref name=tiltplus>{{cite magazine|magazine=Tilt|publisher=Editions Mondiales S.A. |title=300 Cartouches|issue=8|date=November–December 1983|page=110|language=fr|url=https://archive.org/details/Tilt008/page/n109/mode/2up}}</ref>}} | genre = Multidirectional shooter | modes = Single-player | platforms = Odyssey²/Videopac Philips Videopac+ }}

'''''UFO!''''', released in Europe as '''''Videopac 34 - Satellite Attack''''', is a 1981 multidirectional shooter video game created by Ed Averett for the Magnavox Odyssey² otherwise known as the Philips Videopac G7000. Players take control of a flying saucer tasked with destroying swarms of enemy unidentified flying objects in outer space. It was published by Magnavox in North America and Philips in Europe and Brazil. It was also later released for the Philips Videopac+ G7400 in 1983. The game is frequently compared to Atari's 1979 video game ''Asteroids''.

== Gameplay == Players assume control of a robot piloted space ship sent into space by an organization called the Earth Federation.<ref name=aaReview /> The player is tasked with destroying an endless swarm of attacking UFOs which come in three varieties: random moving UFOs which wander the screen randomly, hunter-killers which track the player's movement, and light-speed ships which can fire missiles at the player.<ref name=games>{{cite magazine|magazine=Games|publisher=Playboy Enterprises, Inc.|title=UFO!|volume=6|number=8|date=December 1982|page=52}}</ref> The player's space ship, called the battle cruiser, has a laser cannon which can be fired in fifteen different directions to destroy enemies.<ref name=aaReview /> When enemies are destroyed they launch three more missiles in different directions, leaving open the potential for chain reactions.<ref name=kubey />

Fifteen dots surrounding the battle cruiser deplete every time the laser cannon is used and recharge slowly over time. The dots also serve as a shield that destroys enemies and absorbs enemy missiles on contact. The shield deactivates briefly upon use or after all fifteen shots have been fired, leaving the player vulnerable. The player also moves half as fast while shields are depleted.<ref name=kubey /> The goal is to acquire as many points as possible by destroying enemy ships. Random moving ships earn one point, hunter-killers earn three points, and light-speed ships earn ten points.<ref name=aaReview />

== Development & release == ''UFO!'' was developed by Ed Averett with programming assistance from his wife Linda.<ref name=adventure1 /> Ed Averett created the work for Magnavox in exchange for royalties as a freelance developer.<ref name=halcyon>{{cite web|last=Hague|first=James|website=Halcyon Days: Interviews with Classic Computer and Video Game Programmers|date=March 1997|title=Ed Averett|url=https://dadgum.com/halcyon/BOOK/AVERETT.HTM|access-date=March 16, 2026|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260214174214/https://dadgum.com/halcyon/BOOK/AVERETT.HTM|archive-date=February 14, 2026}}</ref>

In 1983, the game was rereleased for the Philips Videopac+ G7400 with enhanced graphics.<ref name=tiltplus />

== Reception == {{Video game reviews |rev1=''JoyStik'' |rev1Score=3/5<ref name=joystik>{{cite magazine|magazine=JoyStik: How to Win at Video Games|title=New Games '83: Games for Odyssey2|volume=1|number=4|date=January 1983|publisher=Publications International, Ltd.|page=61}}</ref> |rev2=''Electronic Fun with Computers & Games'' |rev2Score= C<ref name="funroundup">{{cite magazine|magazine=Electronic Fun with Computers & Games|publisher=Fun & Games Publishing|title=Video Game Explosion!|date=December 1982|volume=1|number=2|page=15|url=https://archive.gamehistory.org/item/f1a2a3f6-4bc1-4c75-83c6-33058369a1e4}}</ref> |rev3=''Electronic Games 1983 Software Encyclopedia'' |rev3Score=9/10<ref name=egEncyclopedia>{{cite magazine|magazine=Electronic Games 1983 Software Encyclopedia|publisher=Reese Publishing Company, Inc.|title=Odyssey²|date=January 25, 1983|page=43|url=https://archive.gamehistory.org/item/26488984-1df9-4c0e-b956-4b3628e395d6}}</ref> |rev4=''Tilt'' |rev4Score=3/6<ref name=tilt>{{cite magazine|magazine=Tilt|publisher=Editions Mondiales S.A. |title=Les Satellites|issue=2|date=November–December 1982|page=16|language=fr|url=https://download.abandonware.org/magazines/Tilt/tilt_numero002/TILT%20002%20(Novembre%20-%20Decembre%201982)%20-%20Page%20016.jpg}}</ref> }}

''Video'' magazine column Arcade Alley, written by Bill Kunkel and Arnie Katz, said ''UFO!'' "sparkles with audio and visual effects".<ref name=aaReview>{{cite magazine|first1=Bill|last1=Kunkel|first2=Arnie|last2=Katz|magazine=Video|title=Arcade Alley: Three New Games - A Space Odyssey|date=October 1981|volume=5|number=7|page=24|issn=0147-8907|publisher=Reese Publishing Company, Inc.}}</ref> In their third Annual Arcade Awards, they pronounced the game as the "Best Science Fiction Game" of 1981.<ref name=aaAward>{{cite magazine|first1=Bill|last1=Kunkel|first2=Arnie|last2=Katz|magazine=Video|title=Arcade Alley: The Third Annual Arcade Awards|date=January 1982|volume=5|number=10|page=28|issn=0147-8907|publisher=Reese Publishing Company, Inc.}}</ref> ''Electronic Games'', also edited by Kunkel and Katz, thought the game would be well loved by fans of on-screen explosions.<ref name=eg>{{cite magazine|magazine=Electronic Games|publisher=Reese Publishing Company, Inc.|title=Odyssey² Emphasizes|date=Winter 1981|volume=1|number=1|page=44}}</ref> ''UFO!'' was voted the "Best Odyssey Game" by a community poll ran by ''Videogaming Illustrated''. It won over half the votes and was praised by voters for the variety of methods for destroying ships.<ref name=illustratedAward>{{cite magazine|magazine=Videogaming Illustrated|publisher=Ion International Inc.|title=Supergaming: Best Odyssey Game|volume=1|number=5|date=April 1983|page=58|url=https://archive.gamehistory.org/item/c914ef20-51b5-4e2d-8cc3-42621b238178}}</ref>

Craig Kubey the author of ''The Winner's Book of Video Games'' agreed with his technical advisor that the game was the best of the ten Odyssey² games that they played.<ref name=kubey>{{cite book | last1=Kubey | first1=Craig | title=The Winners' Book of Video Games | date=1982 | publisher=Warner Books | isbn=0-446-37115-7 |location=New York, NY|page=210}}</ref> ''JoyStik'' magazine called it a "well-done version of ''Asteroids''" but thought the graphics were lackluster.<ref name=joystik /> British magazine ''Computer and Video Games'' and French magazine ''Tilt'' both considered ''Satellite Attack'' to be highly derivative of ''Asteroids''.<ref name=cvg3>{{cite magazine|magazine=Computer & Video Games|title=Video Screen|issue=3|date=January 1982|page=78|location=UK|publisher=EMAP National Publications, Ltd.}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

== External links == * [https://odyssey2.info/db/game/ufo-49 ''UFO!''] at The Odyssey² Homepage

Category:1981 video games Category:Magnavox Odyssey 2 games Category:Magnavox Odyssey 2-only games Category:Multidirectional shooters Category:Video games developed in the United States Category:Video games set in outer space Category:Science fiction video games