1980 · Adventure · Shooter

Stellar Track

Atari exclusive

Stellar Track is a text- and turn-based strategy game where the player controls a Terran Super Warship that must clear out alien ships from all quadrants of a galaxy. It was a conversion of a college mainframe Star Trek game released by Sears in 1981. It is a suitably primitive game where you have to run scans to locate enemies and starbases on a 6 x 6 galactic map. You run scans to find the enemies then must warp to their quadrant to confront them with either phasers or photon torpedoes. You use the joystick to determine the numerals of where you intend you to travel to.

Released: 1980
Platforms: Atari 2600
Genres: Adventure Shooter Simulation Strategy Turn-based strategy
Developers: —
Publishers: —
Perspective: Third person Text
Themes: Science fiction
Country: United States
Languages: English

About

Stellar Track is a 1981 turn-based strategy video game developed by Atari, Inc. and published by Sears under its Tele-Games label for the Atari 2600 (originally known as the Atari VCS). The game, which was programmed by Rob Zdybel, was one of three games for the console that were released exclusively through Sears. Stellar Track is a text-based game based on the 1971 mainframe computer game Star Trek.

›Story

The Terran race, even though they have high standards in art, philosophy, and science, is lacking hyperwarp drive technology, which would allow them to travel to other planets. The Terrans became discovered by extraterrestrial life, who allowed a trade of their hyperwarp technology for Terran art and science.

Tension between the aliens and Terrans begin as the two races started competing over riches, so the Terran government built an indestructible Starfleet and two Galactic Starbases to keep the aliens at bay, recruiting a commander for their Super Warship to destroy the aliens.

Media

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Gameplay

Stellar Track is a game in which the player is a commander of a warship and must destroy enough aliens before running out of stardates.

Reception

Richard A. Edwards reviewed Stellar Track for The Space Gamer in August 1982, stating that "Unless you're willing to pay a high price for a remake of an old standard, pass this one up." A January 1983 review in Joystik magazine gave the game three out of five stars, saying that "It's a good game for non-violent strategists, but most others will probably prefer a game with a bit more action, like Star Raiders."

Releases by platformdates and regions as published

Platform	Released	Regions
Atari 2600	31 December 1981	North America

Editions and related releases

Included in: Atari Greatest Hits Volume 1Atari Vault Atari: 80 Classic Games in One!Atari Flashback Classics Vol. 2Atari Flashback ClassicsAtari Flashback XAtari Flashback 6Atari Retro Handheld ConsoleAtari Flashback 4Atari Flashback X DeluxeAtari AnthologyAtari Flashback 4: 40th Anniversary - Deluxe EditionAtari Flashback 8 Gold: Activision Edition