Cyberball  is a video game released in arcades in 1988 by Atari Games. The game is a 7-man American football using robotic avatars of different speeds, sizes, and skill sets set in the year 2022. Originally released for arcades, Cyberball was ported to several home consoles and computers.

In 1988, Atari released the original Cyberball arcade game as a large cabinet with two monitors, each with two sets of controls for one or two players. Players on each side could play against computer opponents or head-to-head on opposing monitors for a maximum of four players. In 1989, Atari Games released a sequel to the original Cyberball in both the same large dual-monitor cabinet titled Tournament Cyberball 2072 as well as a stand-alone two-player cabinet titled Cyberball 2072. The sequel included improved game play, which included refined player movements and many more offensive plays and defensive formations, and changed its setting to 2072. Also shipped in 1989 were several conversion kits to modify existing cabinets to Tournament Cyberball 2072 or the 2-player-only Cyberball 2072.

Gameplay

The game replaces the standard downs system with an explosive ball that progresses from “cool” to “warm”, “hot”, and “critical” status as it is used. Players can only defuse the ball, resetting it from its current state back to “cool” by crossing the 50 yard line or by change of possession, whether through touchdown, interception, or fumble. A robot holding a critical ball while being tackled is destroyed along with the ball. The robots also possess finite durability. As offensive units are tackled, they wear down, finally issuing smoke and then flames after a number of hits.

Reception

Publication	Score
AllGame	(Arcade)[2]  (NES)[3]
Console XS	76/100 (Genesis)[4]
MegaTech	80% (Genesis)[5]

In a retrospective review, Brett Alan of Allgame praising the arcade version calling it “A highly influential futuristic sports game”. He also praised the fast paced hard hitting gridiron action although gave criticized the gameplay being erratic concluding: “however, the game is undeniable fun for arcade-style sports enthusiasts.”^[6] on the same website, Skyler Miller gave a negative review for the NES version writing: “The NES isn’t able to handle the detailed graphics found in the arcade version of Cyberball, so this adaptation ironically ends up feeling more like a primitive version of football than a futuristic one.”^[7] Megatech praised the Genesis version being a decent conversion from the arcade version and praised the graphics.^[8]

References

1. ^ “Cyberball (Registration Number PA0000428027)”. United States Copyright Office. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
2. ^ Brett Alan Weiss. “Cyberball (Arcade) Review”. Allgame. Archived from the original on November 15, 2014. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
3. ^ Miller, Skyler. “Cyberball (NES) Review”. Allgame. Archived from the original on November 15, 2014. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
4. ^ “A-Z Software”. Console XS. Paragon Publishing (1): 128. June 1992. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
5. ^ “Game Index”. MegaTech. EMAP (1): 77. December 1991. Retrieved June 8, 2022.