Lunar Lander

Gameplay

The player controls a lunar module descending toward the Moon's surface. A thrust lever (unique among arcade controls) determines engine power. The goal is to land gently on one of several flat landing pads — larger pads are easier but worth fewer points, smaller pads are harder but more rewarding. Fuel is limited, and gravity is relentless. Landing too fast destroys the lander in a satisfying vector explosion.

Historical Significance

Lunar Lander was Atari's first vector arcade game. The concept originated from a text-based mainframe game from the 1960s, and graphical versions had appeared on various university computers. Atari's coin-op version, with its vector display and innovative thrust lever, turned the simulation into an accessible arcade experience. While modestly successful, its real legacy is that the hardware platform — the Digital Vector Generator (DVG) — was then repurposed for Asteroids, which became a phenomenon.

Fun Facts & Legacy

The game's thrust lever was unusual for arcades — a large handle that moved up and down to control engine power, giving it a tactile, simulation-like feel. Some operators found that Asteroids was so much more popular that they converted their Lunar Lander cabinets to run Asteroids instead. Lunar Lander was based on a concept that MIT students had been programming since the late 1960s.