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Illustration of Atari Basketball

Atari Basketball

Overview

Basketball is an arcade video game released in May 1979 by Atari, Inc. It was the first basketball video game with a trackball for player movement and the first to use the angled side view, which became a commonly used perspective in the basketball video games that followed.

Basketball supports one and two player modes and uses a trackball to control each player's movement. At the start of each game, the song "Sweet Georgia Brown" is played. Players must first gain possession of the ball and move towards their opponent's goal. When in position for a shot, the pushbutton is held until the player's arm is at a suitable height and the button is released. Shots can be blocked by an opponent, and, when dribbling, an opponent can steal the ball. The winner is the player with the highest score when the clock runs out.

Developers
Atari
Publishers
Atari
Platform
Arcade
Genre
Sports
Alternate Names
  • Basketball

Media

Advertisement Flyer - Back

Atari Basketball - Advertisement Flyer - Back (North America) - 1280x1653
North America -  1280 x 1653

Advertisement Flyer - Front

Atari Basketball - Advertisement Flyer - Front (North America) - 1280x1653
North America -  1280 x 1653

Arcade - Cabinet

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286 x 558
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503 x 1102
Atari Basketball - Arcade - Cabinet (null) - 865x1657
865 x 1657
Atari Basketball - Arcade - Cabinet (null) - 1197x2304
1197 x 2304

Arcade - Circuit Board

Atari Basketball - Arcade - Circuit Board (null) - 599x392
599 x 392

Arcade - Control Panel

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2371 x 848

Arcade - Controls Information

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996 x 497

Arcade - Marquee

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4000 x 1216
Atari Basketball - Arcade - Marquee (null) - 3840x1167
3840 x 1167

Box - 3D

Atari Basketball - Box - 3D (North America) - 582x889
North America -  582 x 889

Clear Logo

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400 x 130

Screenshot - Game Over

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256 x 224

Screenshot - Game Title

Atari Basketball - Screenshot - Game Title (null) - 256x224
256 x 224

Screenshot - Gameplay

Atari Basketball - Screenshot - Gameplay (null) - 256x224
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