Battlezone
1980 · Tank Shooter · Arcade
Overview
Battlezone (1980) is Atari's first-person tank game, built in 3D vector graphics and viewed through a periscope — one of the first true 3D video games.
Deep Dive
Battlezone put players inside a tank on a wireframe battlefield, hunting enemy tanks and missiles while watching the radar, all seen through a periscope-style viewer on the cabinet. Designed by Ed Rotberg, its 3D vector world was one of the earliest the arcade had seen, and its first-person perspective points directly toward later 3D games. The US Army commissioned a training version, the Bradley Trainer — work Rotberg later said he was uncomfortable doing.
Developer Story
Battlezone was designed by Ed Rotberg at Atari and released in 1980. It used vector graphics to create a first-person 3D tank combat game — one of the earliest 3D games ever made. The US Army became interested in the technology and contracted Atari to create a military training version called the Bradley Trainer, which Rotberg worked on reluctantly. He later said the military application was the part of his career he was least comfortable with.
Did You Know?
- Battlezone was one of the first true 3D games — its vector graphics created genuine three-dimensional space that players navigated.
- The US Army commissioned a military training version called the Bradley Trainer, based on Battlezone's hardware and engine.
- Designer Ed Rotberg was uncomfortable with the military contract and has spoken publicly about his reluctance to work on it.
- A periscope-style viewfinder in the cabinet gave players the impression of looking through a tank sight.
- Battlezone's first-person 3D perspective directly influenced the entire FPS genre, from Wolfenstein 3D to Doom and beyond.
Sources & further reading
- Battlezone (1980 video game) — Wikipedia
