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Overview

Rip Off is a classic arcade game released in 1980, developed by Cinematronics, Inc. It was one of the early games to feature cooperative gameplay, providing players with the opportunity to team up to defend their resources from attacks.

Gameplay

The game is set in outer space, where players control tanks tasked with defending fuel canisters from a relentless onslaught of enemy pirates. The objective is to protect these canisters at all costs, as the pirates aim to “rip off” the player’s supplies. The game features vector graphics, typical for the time, and is known for offering a challenging experience with its increasing difficulty over time.

Historical Significance

This game stands out in history as one of the first to implement cooperative play, encouraging players to work together rather than compete against one another. This aspect significantly influenced the development of future multiplayer games. Furthermore, its vector graphics were cutting-edge for the era, contributing to its visual appeal despite the simplicity due to technological limitations of the time.

Curiosities and Fun Facts

• The use of cooperative play was quite innovative at the time, setting Rip Off apart from many other competitive arcade games.
• Though not as famous as some of its successors, the game is remembered fondly by classic arcade enthusiasts and remains a noteworthy example of early cooperative gameplay design.
• Being a vector graphics game, it required special displays capable of handling this type of visualization, differentiating its look from raster-based games.

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