Rocket Patrol, being a built-in game, didn’t exactly represent a step up in competition in the traditional sense. But compared to Boxing, it did feel like more of a challenge. Timing your shots required more attention, and the AI seemed a bit sharper. The changing speed of the enemies added a tiny bit of unpredictability, which made it more engaging. I was very young at the time, but I seem to remember my older cousins-who always bought the latest consoles as soon as they were released-hosting a Rocket Patrol tournament at their house. They were kind enough to pass down most of their consoles to me when they moved on to newer ones, but sadly, I was never gifted this one. It’s one of those systems I wish I’d had the chance to own!
The only time I experienced this system was as an APF Imagination Machine (the home computer expanded version), displayed in the LSU CEBA computer science building in one of the rooms during an "open house" night. I had no idea what it was, just that this computer looked really weird. The game, Rocket Patrol, was not impressive, but it left me wondering for years what it was that I saw. The graphics and text sort of have a TRS-80 CoCo feel.
I can see why the graphics and text might remind you of the TRS-80 CoCo. Both systems had that slightly rough, minimalist aesthetic, which was pretty common back then. When I asked my older cousins why they ended up buying the APF, they said it was the game case artwork that won them over. They thought the colorful, friendly images on the covers meant the games themselves would be just as inviting. They weren’t entirely wrong-this console probably has some of the easiest games ever. lol.
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A game included in the machine, with graphics less "alpha-numeric" than "Boxing"...and to which we can challenge "the A.I.".. well :)
Rocket Patrol, being a built-in game, didn’t exactly represent a step up in competition in the traditional sense. But compared to Boxing, it did feel like more of a challenge. Timing your shots required more attention, and the AI seemed a bit sharper. The changing speed of the enemies added a tiny bit of unpredictability, which made it more engaging. I was very young at the time, but I seem to remember my older cousins-who always bought the latest consoles as soon as they were released-hosting a Rocket Patrol tournament at their house. They were kind enough to pass down most of their consoles to me when they moved on to newer ones, but sadly, I was never gifted this one. It’s one of those systems I wish I’d had the chance to own!
The only time I experienced this system was as an APF Imagination Machine (the home computer expanded version), displayed in the LSU CEBA computer science building in one of the rooms during an "open house" night. I had no idea what it was, just that this computer looked really weird.
The game, Rocket Patrol, was not impressive, but it left me wondering for years what it was that I saw.
The graphics and text sort of have a TRS-80 CoCo feel.
I can see why the graphics and text might remind you of the TRS-80 CoCo. Both systems had that slightly rough, minimalist aesthetic, which was pretty common back then. When I asked my older cousins why they ended up buying the APF, they said it was the game case artwork that won them over. They thought the colorful, friendly images on the covers meant the games themselves would be just as inviting. They weren’t entirely wrong-this console probably has some of the easiest games ever. lol.