1978 · Puzzle · Rhythm

Brain Games

Atari exclusive

In Brain Games one or two players attempt to earn as many points as possible by solving various puzzles presented by the computer.

Released: 1978
Platforms: Atari 2600
Genres: Puzzle Rhythm
Developers: —
Publishers: —
Themes: Educational
Country: United States

About

Brain Games is a 1978 puzzle video game programmed by Larry Kaplan and published by Atari for the Atari 2600. It is a compilation of six memory games in which the player is tasked with outwitting an opponent, controlled either by another player or artificial intelligence, in sound and picture puzzles. The game is played using a 12 button keypad, as opposed to the Atari 2600’s traditional CX40 joystick controller.

Brain Games was suggested in the 1984 book Clinical Management of Memory Problems as an effective clinical device for memory retraining exercises. Noted for having a variety of useful games, patients would be faced with auditory and visual cues that may improve spatial reasoning.

Keywords

blocks
abstract
music and rhythm

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Gameplay

Featuring a total of six games, the catalog of Brain Games includes a variety of memory games where the player must focus on a series of ciphers, symbols, and musical notes. Each game has several options for altering the "difficulty switches", which add different aspects of challenge and have the following progression:

"Touch Me", which is the video version of the 1974 arcade game of the same name, was the precursor for the handheld game Simon, in which the player must match a sequence of tones, and the computer would add a new note upon each successive turn. This continues up until the player completes a 32 consecutive note execution. In "Find Me", the player must detect subtle differences in the figures as they are flashed on the screen; in "Picture Me", the player must memorize the placement of the picture sets, which the computer then rearranges. "Count Me" requires the player to match a sequence of digits played by the computer; upon correctly ordering the digits, the computer adds a new digit to the sequence.

Reception

In his 2011 book, Classic Home Video Games, 1972-1984: A Complete Reference Guide, Brett Weiss said of Brain Games that "Despite the variety of options, Brain Games is limited in scope".