Rip-Off is a top-down vector shoot 'em up

Shoot 'em up

Shoot 'em up is a subgenre of shooter video games. In a shoot 'em up, the player controls a lone character, often in a spacecraft or aircraft, shooting large numbers of enemies while dodging their attacks. The genre in turn encompasses various types or subgenres and critics differ on exactly what...

 arcade game

Arcade game

An arcade game is a coin-operated entertainment machine, usually installed in public businesses such as restaurants, bars, and amusement arcades. Most arcade games are video games, pinball machines, electro-mechanical games, redemption games, and merchandisers...

 released by Cinematronics

Cinematronics

Cinematronics Incorporated was a pioneering arcade game developer that had its heyday in the era of vector display games. While other companies released games based on raster displays, early in their history, Cinematronics and Atari released vector-display games, which offered a distinctive look...

 in 1980

1980 in video gaming

-Notable releases:* May 22, Namco releases Pac-Man, which is their biggest selling game of all time* December, Nintendo releases the Radar Scope arcade game...

. It is the first shoot 'em up arcade game to feature cooperative gameplay

Cooperative gameplay

Cooperative gameplay is a feature in video games that allows players to work together as teammates. It is distinct from other multiplayer modes, such as competitive multiplayer modes like player versus player or deathmatch...

and to exhibit flocking behavior.

Gameplay

The objective of Rip-Off is to prevent computer-controlled enemies from stealing eight canisters set in the center of the screen for as long as possible. One or two players control tank-like vehicles while enemies rush onto the field and attempt to drag the canisters off the edge of the screen. Enemies can be defeated by shooting or colliding with them. The game is over when all the canisters are removed from the playfield.

External links

• Rip-Off: A Description of Programmed Behavior in a Video Game