Word Zapper
Word Zapper is an Atari 2600 game written by Henry Will IV and published under the Vidtec label of U.S. Games in 1982. Zapper combines spelling exercises with action gaming, as the player must shoot letters that scroll across the top of the screen to complete words.
Word Zapper
- Date
- 1982
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
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Documentary summary
Word Zapper is an Atari 2600 game written by Henry Will IV and published under the Vidtec label of U.S. Games in 1982. Zapper combines spelling exercises with action gaming, as the player must shoot letters that scroll across the top of the screen to complete words.
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wikidata · Q60755168 · wikipedia · Word Zapper
In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Title — Word Zapper • Developer — James Wickstead Design Associates • Publisher — U.S. Games • Designer — Henry Will IV • Platforms — Atari 2600 • Released — August 1982 • Modes — Single-player
Gameplay
Gameplay
• Illustration — Word Zapper on Atari 2600 The player controls a spaceship-like "Zapper" which can move about the screen and shoot up, left, and right. The objective is to shoot the letters that spell the current word, in order, while shooting or avoiding asteroids in the lower portion of the screen. There are four types of asteroids, and each has a different effect if it comes into contact with the Zapper. The "Doomsday" asteroid ends the game. The "Scroller" asteroid mixes up the scrolling letters for five seconds. The "Zonker" and "Bonker" asteroids knock the Zapper to the side. The game ends after being hit by a doomsday asteroid, after the 99 second timer runs down, or the ultimate goal of completing three words.
Development
Development
The movement of the asteroids is based on Space Jockey, also from James Wickstead Design Associates.
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- United States
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Word Zapper is associated with United States.
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Reception
Richard A. Edwards reviewed Word Zapper in The Space Gamer No. 59. Edwards commented that "It is difficult to make a statement concerning recommendation. Word Zapper is innovative enough to draw attention at first, but it will depend on the individual gamer whether another arcade shooting match with letters is worth the price tag." In the 1983 Arcade Awards, Word Zapper was one of two runners-up for the "Most Innovative Videogame" category.
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 20 August 2026.
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