Space Encounters
| Industry | Video game development and publishing |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1980 |
| Products | Space Encounters (arcade video game) |
Space Encounters is an arcade video game launched by Bally Midway in 1980. The gameplay recreates the trench run sequence from Star Wars, placing the player in control of a TIE fighter. Players face successive waves of enemies descending from above, with scrolling background graphics generating an isometric 3D effect, although the gameplay itself remains two-dimensional and operates as a fixed shooter.
This title marked Midway's first release in a compact, cabaret-style cabinet, part of their "mini myte" product line.
Gameplay
The game unfolds within a U-shaped "Space Channel," a trench design inspired by the Death Star. The trench walls and floor display black horizontal stripes that scroll downward to create the sensation of rapid forward movement. Most editions feature a color gel overlay to produce color visuals, accompanied by a red lamp and strobe light mounted atop the cabinet for enhanced visual stimulation.
Players maneuver the "Assault Ship," which begins near the bottom of the display. Enemy craft enter from the top in small formations and become active once inside the trench. While foes shoot downward, players fire upward; shots can eliminate enemies or intercept incoming fire. Destroyed enemy ships tumble downwards, bouncing off trench walls; these tumbling ships must be avoided or shot again to gain additional points. Occasionally, a bonus target resembling the Death Star’s thermal exhaust port appears briefly, offering extra scoring chances.
The game operates on a timer adjustable between 45 and 90 seconds. If the player's ship is hit or collides with trench walls, it tumbles but quickly regains control and resumes play. Extra bonus ships extend gameplay beyond the timer until all are lost. Points are awarded based on destroyed enemies, bonus targets hit, and a speed score determined by how far up the screen the player advances. Bonus ships are granted at fixed score milestones—commonly 4,000; 8,000; and 16,000 points. The speed score is tallied at the end but does not influence bonus ship awards.
Development
Space Encounters utilizes an Intel 8080-based hardware platform that Midway had employed since 1975, beginning with Gun Fight.
Release
The initial cabinet design included an aircraft-style control yoke equipped with fire buttons on its right grip. Horizontal movement was controlled by moving the yoke side-to-side, while pushing it forward moved the player's ship upward and increased game speed. Later, Midway introduced a smaller model replacing the yoke with a large joystick, initiating their "mini myte" series of cabaret-sized arcade machines that could fit three games into the space usually occupied by two full-sized cabinets.
Reception
When released alongside full-color shooters such as Galaxian, Space Encounters did not achieve strong commercial success. Following this, Midway transitioned to color-capable hardware platforms, frequently adopting a Zilog Z80-based system licensed from Namco, which was used in U.S. versions of Rally-X and Pac-Man.