The Attack
| The Attack | |
|---|---|
 The Attack (Front Cover) | |
| Publisher(s) | Milton Bradley (Distributed by Texas Instruments (TI) |
| Original Retail Price | $39.95 |
| Programmer(s) | Tom Pettingill & Kevin Kenney |
| Part# | PHM 3031 |
| Format(s) | Solid State SoftwareTM Command Module |
| Release | 1980 (1st quarter) |
| Genre(s) | Action, Shooter, Space |
The Attack is a video game programmed by Tom Pettingill with music and play-balancing programmed by Kevin Kenney. [1] It was produced by Milton Bradley, and distributed by Texas Instruments (TI). It was released in the first quarter of 1980 and retailed for $39.95. It is an Action Space Shooter game that was distributed via Solid State SoftwareTM Command Module.
Contents
Gameplay
The player controls a spaceship with its weapons that he/she uses to blast apart "spores" that connect together to form dangerous aliens. Once formed, the aliens must be obliterated, else, they will destroy the player. Incubators, black boxes with countdown numbers on them, continually release new spores as the game progresses, or, in later levels, give birth to aliens.
Advertising Blurbs
Front Cover of Manual
You and your ship have been given a mission. Destroy the aliens before they destroy you!
Back Cover of Manual
With The Attack Command Module, you command a ship that is cruising the far limits of outer space. The region is infected by spores. Suddenly, an alien emerges. You, as commander, are the only one who can maneuver your shop to avoid the clutches of an alien and fire your missiles.
Fun Facts
- The Attack was initially to be called Alien®, after the 1979 movie of the same name. It's not entirely known why, but it's possible the name was changed to avoid licensing fees or lawsuit. [2]
- A prototype version of the game exists with different theme music and some variations in play. [3]
Manual
Introduction
The report that outer space is being overrun by aliens has been verified. You, equipped with ten ships and your skill as a commander, are assigned to rid the cosmos of these menaces.
Activate all systems.
Texas Instruments brings you The Attack• Solid State SoftwareTM Command Module, developed by the Milton Bradley Company. This one-player, four-skill-level game challenges your ability to plan and carry out a successful attack against the onslaught of the aliens. You maneuver your ship through space with the arrow keys or the Wired Remote Controllers. When you are ready to fire, press ENTER or the FIRE button on the handheld controllers. Every time you successfully attack a spore or an alien, you score points. The object of the game is to score as many points as possible by ridding outer space of the aliens. The game ends when the aliens deplete your ship supply.
•trademark of Milton Bradley Company
Activating All Systems
After you have selected the module, the title screen appears. Press any key to continue. You have just completed the initial stages of activation.
The screen now displays the skill level options and tells you to press SHIFT A (AID) for an explanation of the rules and scoring system.
As commander, it is necessary for you to check out all systems prior to final activation. Press SHIFT A (AID) to display this vital information.
As indicated on the display, you maneuver your ship through space with the arrow keys, 
(E), 
(S), 
(D), and 
(X), or the lever on the Wired Remote Controllers. When you are ready to fire, press the ENTER or SHIFT key on the console (or the FIRE button on the controllers).
Each black square box or incubator ( 25px ) houses spores ( 
) or an alien ( 
). No points are scored
if you fire on the incubators. However, each time
you destroy a spore or an alien, points are added
to your score. Spores are worth 50 points each,
and aliens are worth 100 points.
Once you are familiar with the information on the
display, you have completed the second stage of
activation. Now you are ready to select the skill
level for your mission. Press SHIFT z (BACK) to
return to the selection screen.
