Spider-Man (1982 video game) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Spider-Man |
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| Developer(s) | Parker Brothers |
| Publisher(s) | Parker Brothers |
| Programmer(s) | Laura Nikolich |
| Series | Spider-Man |
| Platform(s) | Atari 2600 |
| Release date(s) |
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| Genre(s) | Action |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
Spider-Man is an exciting action game released in 1982 for the Atari 2600 game console. It was created by Laura Nikolich and published by Parker Brothers. This game holds a special place in history because it was the very first video game to feature the amazing superhero, Spider-Man! It was also the first video game ever based on Marvel Comics characters.
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Stopping the Green Goblin's Superbomb Plot
The story of the game begins with Norman Osborn, also known as the evil Green Goblin. He has escaped and plans to cause big trouble. The Green Goblin wants to use a powerful "Superbomb" to blow up the famous Empire State Building in New York City.
Spider-Man quickly learns about this dangerous plan. He swings into action to stop the Green Goblin. Along the way, Spidey must face the Goblin's helpers. His main goal is to reach the top of the building, defuse the Superbomb, and save the city!
How to Play: Swinging and Saving the City
In Spider-Man, you control Spider-Man as he tries to climb a tall building. Your mission is to defuse bombs that the Green Goblin has planted. Spider-Man moves by shooting his web lines. He can swing straight up or diagonally across the building.
As you climb, you will see criminals moving around in the building's windows. Spider-Man has a limited amount of web fluid. A meter at the bottom of the screen shows how much you have left. If the web fluid runs out, Spider-Man will fall, and you will lose a life. If you lose all your lives, the game is over.
You can get more web fluid by catching criminals or defusing small bombs. To catch a criminal, Spider-Man just needs to touch them. But be careful! If a criminal touches your web line, they will cut it. This makes Spidey fall, but you can quickly shoot another web to save him.
Near the top of the building, the layout changes. You will find many small bombs planted on metal beams. These bombs are black, but they turn red when they are about to explode. Defusing a red bomb gives you more points!
Once you reach the very top, you will face the Green Goblin. He has planted the "Superbomb" there. The bomb's fuse starts counting down after you defeat enough enemies or defuse enough small bombs. You must reach the Superbomb and defuse it before it explodes. After you stop the Goblin and defuse his bomb, the game starts over on a new, harder level. Each new level might have faster enemies, taller buildings, or less web fluid.
Creating the Game: Behind the Scenes
Parker Brothers started making video games in June 1982. They hired Laura Nikolich, a talented programmer. She impressed them with her coding skills. Laura was given the exciting task of creating a game based on the Spider-Man comic series. She had a lot of freedom to design the game herself.
The game's design was a team effort at Parker Brothers. They first planned for the game to scroll sideways. However, the technical limits of the Atari 2600 console made it better to have the game scroll vertically (up and down). Because of these limits, Spider-Man could only swing from his webs to climb the building, not crawl directly on the walls.
Laura Nikolich chose the Green Goblin as the main villain. She picked him because it was easier to make him fly around the tower. The game could use a similar way of moving him as they used for Spider-Man's swinging.
Spider-Man's Place in Gaming History
Laura Nikolich was proud of her work on Spider-Man. She felt she did the best she could with the technology available at the time. She said, "You can't hold it up against the games of today, but it was the first pass at home videogames, and I'm very proud of it."
This Spider-Man game was a big deal. It was the second superhero game ever released, after a Superman game from 1979. It helped pave the way for many superhero games that came after it.
Interestingly, a version of the Green Goblin from this game made a special appearance. He was seen in the animated movie Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023). In the film, he was shown as a prisoner in Miguel O'Hara's Spider-Society. This shows how even classic games can still be remembered and celebrated today!
