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Space War (1977)

Space War game box - image of a red and orange missile alongside a b/w drawing of a family playing on their RCA Studio II Television Game.

Space War on the RCA Studio II

This black and white shoot-em-up was a separate cartridge for the RCA Studio II. As such it has been replicated as a game "ROM" file that you will need to load in separately.

To do this, simply click on the FILE drop down menu (top left of the emulator window) then click on OPEN. This should open up a filing-system window where you should see the file "SPACEW~1.ST2". This is the Space War game cartridge "ROM" file. Double click on this to begin.

Game Variations

Space War features two game variations. The first, started by pressing "1", is "Horizontal Intercept" for one player. Here you try to launch then crash a rocket into as many asteroids as you can within a 20 missile limit. Faster asteroids tend to score more highly as they pose a more difficult shot.

Space War: Horizontal Intercept screen shot.

The second is "Vertical Intercept" for two players, started by pressing "3". This is perhaps the first ever home one-switch game, released in 1977. Here you compete against a friend to hit a vertically moving asteroid as many times as you can within a 30 second time limit. Hold your UP button to keep your rocket climbing, release to see it drop.

Space War: Vertical Intercept screen shot. The first home one-switch game.

Horizontal Intercept Controls

Press "1" to begin. Use "2" to launch your rocket then steer left and right using "4" and "6" on the Numeric Keypad. Press "F1" to reset the console at the end of a game.

Vertical Intercept Controls

Press "3" to begin. Player 1 uses "2" and Player 2 uses Numeric Keypad "8" to fire their rockets. Hold to climb, release to drop. Press "F1" to reset the console at the end of a game.RCA Studio II: Emulator Controls

Accessibility suggestions

One Switch play:

Vertical Intercept is a one-button game for two players so is ideal for play with an accessibility switch or two. Simply set Player One's switch to "2" and Player Two's to Numeric Keypad "8".

For your convenience JoyToKey has a "RCA Studio II" configuration that will work straight away with Playstation compatible controllers on Vertical Intercept. Here you should be able to connect a switch to the UP joystick socket for player 1 and the TRIANGLE socket for player 2.

More advanced users may like to try setting up a new configuration for Horizontal Intercept so that you can steer and launch your rocket from a Joystick or switches.

LEGAL NOTICE: Many game ROMs remain the copyright of the original owners who may or may not be happy for them to be played under emulation. Put in the context of these games impossible to play in their original format for some disabled gamers and I would hope that attitudes would be more relaxed. Support developers by letting them know why you can't play their games and offer some solutions.

 
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