M.A.D. cover art

M.A.D.

M.A.D. (which stands for Missile Attack and Defense) is an arcade action game somewhat similar to Missile Command. You control a photon cannon at the bottom of the screen, and your goal is to protect six…

1 January 1983

M.A.D. is an arcade developed by Western Technologies Inc., released 1 January 1983 on Atari 2600.

Verified Sources: IGDB

What M.A.D. is

M.A.D. is an arcade game developed by Western Technologies Inc. and released in 1983. It was published by U.S. Games. It is available on Atari 2600 only.

The premise, in the publisher's words

M.A.D. (which stands for Missile Attack and Defense) is an arcade action game somewhat similar to Missile Command. You control a photon cannon at the bottom of the screen, and your goal is to protect six energy stations located to your left and right. Waves of rockets and other ships will fly by on the screen, and occasionally one will drop in an attempt to destroy one of the stations (as a warning on most levels, the enemy will turn white just before it drops). You need to make sure you shoot it before your energy station is destroyed! When all six energy stations are gone, the game is over. A two player variation is also included; one player will control the photon cannon, and the second…
Description from the publisher · source

How it plays

It is played from a side view perspective. Its themes are action and science fiction. It is a single-player game with no multiplayer component. Available modes: Co-operative, Single player and Split screen.

What it launched against

M.A.D. launched on 1 January 1983, within three weeks of Trashman, King Kong, Evolution and Grand Prix.

Released around the same time: Trashman, King Kong, Evolution, Grand Prix.

Official trailer

Gameplay Video thumbnail

Sourced from the publisher’s YouTube channel.

Screenshots

All media

Quick answers

M.A.D. — frequently asked questions

When did M.A.D. come out?
M.A.D. was released on 1 January 1983 for Atari 2600.

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