Games of TRON

[NeoZeedeater]

Video games and movies have had a long history together, dating back as far as the 1968 Kubrick classic 2001: A Space Odyssey which had a video version of chess in it.

The first movie that was built completely around the concept of video games was Disney's 1982 release TRON. While I don't think the movie has aged particularly well, it was revolutionary for its time in terms of theme and computer graphics. As a kid, I was in awe of it when I first saw it in theatres. Naturally, such a movie was destined for video game adaptations.

Mattel released a handful of home versions for their Intellivision console and the Atari 2600. The first two were in development simultaneously with the movie.

TRON Deadly Discs - This is my favourite console game from the early '80s. The object is to launch discs at oncoming enemies. I'm not a big fan of the Intellivision controller but I must say that it is perfect for this game. The different numbers on the keypad shoot in different directions. Emulation can't do this game justice unfortunately since modern controllers don't resemble the Intellivision's.
http://www.videogamecritic.net/images/intel/tron_deadly_discs.png

The 2600 port was simplified due to the controller limitations and isn't as good as the InTV version. Still, the 2600 version is much faster than the InTV original. I definitely recommend this game, even to those who own the InTV version as it's a different experience and one of the best games on the 2600.
http://www.atariguide.com/sss/mini-trondeadlydiscs.gif

There's also an Aquarius version of Deadly Discs.
http://emul8.xlabs.sk/emulators/aquarius/tron-1-aqs.gif

TRON Maze-A-Tron - This was the second Intellivision TRON game. I honestly don't know how to play this one. I bought it used without the instruction book. It doesn't seem very fun anyway.
http://www.3gcs.com/tron/games/console/ss-maze-a-tron.jpg

Adventures of TRON - Not a bad platform/dodging game for the 2600. An Intellivision port was completed but never released.
http://www.atariguide.com/sss/mini-adventuresoftron.gif

TRON Solar Sailer - This one used the Intellivoice adapter for voices. A voice tells you codes which you have to enter to get past certain parts. It's basically an action game with a voice gimmick.
http://www.intellivision-forever.de/B5393.jpg

Tomy released a table-top TRON game. I haven't played it.
http://users2.ev1.net/~rik1138/Tomy/Tomy-Tron.jpg

On the arcade front, Midway released two excellent TRON games.

TRON - This game has four different modes: light cycle(where you avoid your opponent), bugs(shoot and escape), tank(take out the other tanks), and a Break Out-ish level.

http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?letter=T&game_id=10204

http://www.chimenti.org/arcade/images/comps/s3-tron.jpg

http://www.hut.fi/~eye/videogames/tron1.gif

It should be noted that the light cycle level and TRON light cycles in general were inspired by early video games like Gremlin's 1976 arcade game Blockade.
http://images.webmagic.com/klov.com/screens/B/wBlockade.png

Blockade had many imitators such Atari's VCS game Surround and Mattel's Intellivision/Aquarius game Snafu.

Discs of TRON - This was originally supposed to be one of the games in the first TRON arcade game but it wasn't completed in time. Not only does Discs stand on its own, I think it's superior to TRON. It consists of disc-throwing duels. It's a brilliant game, possibly the best one ever based on a movie.
http://www.madocowain.com/Arcade/Discs/sDiscs_Of_Tron.jpg

http://www.iespana.es/jesuson/discs.jpg

The TRON 2.0 games are the recent revival of the franchise. The first is the PC FPS game by Monolith which was also ported to Xbox. I wasn't very impressed with it myself as I found the action kind of dull and the light cycle levels awkward. It's too bad as Monolith has made excellent first-person shooters in the past like Blood and No One Lives Forever.
http://bonusweb.idnes.cz/obrazek/tron20_scrn05.jpg

TRON 2.0 Killer App is also on Game Boy Advance in an isometric action game developed by Digital Eclipse. I have yet to play it but I plan on picking it up for the inclusion of Midway's arcade games in it.
http://gbamedia.gamespy.com/gba/image/tron1_1091057546.jpg

Those are all the offical Disney-licensed TRON games I know of. There are plenty more homebrew games. What are your thoughts on the TRON games? I know there must be fans here.

[Virtualboy]

i think the tron 2.0 game for xbox is great. It's like a FPS

[98PaceCar]

I'm a huge fan. To the point of owning both an upright Tron and an enviromental Discs of Tron. The edot is by far my fav, but the regular seems to get a lot of play from my friends.

[SoulBlazer]

The Blue Sky Rangers website has more information on Tron games, including the one that was ported over to the Atari 2600 but ended up as a totally different game. There were two other Tron games made that were not released or unfinished, and have only recenly seen the light of day.

Was'nt there a card game or a board game also?

[Arcade Antics]

The two arcade games are my personal faves, followed closely by Intellivision Tron Deadly Discs.

Some lesser-known first Tron arcade game nuggets of info:

The Recognizers replace the tanks (for a round) on the tank level after a certain point. And on the "bugs" wave, a Solar Sailer occasionally flys by and drops off Bit. :)

Surprisingly, the Tomy Tron tabletop isn't half bad! The presentation of the game is really it's selling point, but that alone makes it worth a purchase IMO.

[Jorpho]

If nothing else, it can at least be said that Tron 2.0 went to some lengths to maintain the same visual style as the movie.

(I went to some lengths to upgrade my PC for the original purpose of playing this game, and I haven't gotten around to it yet. Sigh...)

[calthaer]

Tron 2.0 for the PC (also Xbox) = complete and total awesomeness. It's the only game in the past 5 years that's non-multiplayer that I've gone back and played through twice.

[ktulu]

Tron 2.0 is one of the best SF FPS ever :). I'm glad monolyth got their hands on it. Gotta get started with killer app... :)

[ClubNinja]

Surprisingly, the Tomy Tron tabletop isn't half bad! The presentation of the game is really it's selling point, but that alone makes it worth a purchase IMO.

I find the Tomy Tron to be one of the most playable tabletops I've ever owned. Really nifty stuff.

[Tron 2.0]

Video games and movies have had a long history together, dating back as far as the 1968 Kubrick classic 2001: A Space Odyssey which had a video version of chess in it.

The first movie that was built completely around the concept of video games was Disney's 1982 release TRON. While I don't think the movie has aged particularly well, it was revolutionary for its time in terms of theme and computer graphics. As a kid, I was in awe of it when I first saw it in theatres. Naturally, such a movie was destined for video game adaptations.

Mattel released a handful of home versions for their Intellivision console and the Atari 2600. The first two were in development simultaneously with the movie.

TRON Deadly Discs - This is my favourite console game from the early '80s. The object is to launch discs at oncoming enemies. I'm not a big fan of the Intellivision controller but I must say that it is perfect for this game. The different numbers on the keypad shoot in different directions. Emulation can't do this game justice unfortunately since modern controllers don't resemble the Intellivision's.
http://www.videogamecritic.net/images/intel/tron_deadly_discs.png

The 2600 port was simplified due to the controller limitations and isn't as good as the InTV version. Still, the 2600 version is much faster than the InTV original. I definitely recommend this game, even to those who own the InTV version as it's a different experience and one of the best games on the 2600.
http://www.atariguide.com/sss/mini-trondeadlydiscs.gif

There's also an Aquarius version of Deadly Discs.
http://emul8.xlabs.sk/emulators/aquarius/tron-1-aqs.gif

TRON Maze-A-Tron - This was the second Intellivision TRON game. I honestly don't know how to play this one. I bought it used without the instruction book. It doesn't seem very fun anyway.
http://www.3gcs.com/tron/games/console/ss-maze-a-tron.jpg

Adventures of TRON - Not a bad platform/dodging game for the 2600. An Intellivision port was completed but never released.
http://www.atariguide.com/sss/mini-adventuresoftron.gif

TRON Solar Sailer - This one used the Intellivoice adapter for voices. A voice tells you codes which you have to enter to get past certain parts. It's basically an action game with a voice gimmick.
http://www.intellivision-forever.de/B5393.jpg

Tomy released a table-top TRON game. I haven't played it.
http://users2.ev1.net/~rik1138/Tomy/Tomy-Tron.jpg

On the arcade front, Midway released two excellent TRON games.

TRON - This game has four different modes: light cycle(where you avoid your opponent), bugs(shoot and escape), tank(take out the other tanks), and a Break Out-ish level.

http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?letter=T&game_id=10204

http://www.chimenti.org/arcade/images/comps/s3-tron.jpg

http://www.hut.fi/~eye/videogames/tron1.gif

It should be noted that the light cycle level and TRON light cycles in general were inspired by early video games like Gremlin's 1976 arcade game Blockade.
http://images.webmagic.com/klov.com/screens/B/wBlockade.png

Blockade had many imitators such Atari's VCS game Surround and Mattel's Intellivision/Aquarius game Snafu.

Discs of TRON - This was originally supposed to be one of the games in the first TRON arcade game but it wasn't completed in time. Not only does Discs stand on its own, I think it's superior to TRON. It consists of disc-throwing duels. It's a brilliant game, possibly the best one ever based on a movie.
http://www.madocowain.com/Arcade/Discs/sDiscs_Of_Tron.jpg

http://www.iespana.es/jesuson/discs.jpg

The TRON 2.0 games are the recent revival of the franchise. The first is the PC FPS game by Monolith which was also ported to Xbox. I wasn't very impressed with it myself as I found the action kind of dull and the light cycle levels awkward. It's too bad as Monolith has made excellent first-person shooters in the past like Blood and No One Lives Forever.
http://bonusweb.idnes.cz/obrazek/tron20_scrn05.jpg

TRON 2.0 Killer App is also on Game Boy Advance in an isometric action game developed by Digital Eclipse. I have yet to play it but I plan on picking it up for the inclusion of Midway's arcade games in it.
http://gbamedia.gamespy.com/gba/image/tron1_1091057546.jpg

Those are all the offical Disney-licensed TRON games I know of. There are plenty more homebrew games. What are your thoughts on the TRON games? I know there must be fans here.
Nice read there i'm also a fan of the 'arcade originals by Midway.
Fun stuff for sure back in the early 80's ;)

Can't say i've played just about every, Tron game ever made for home use.
Just these 2 nothing more \^_^/

The Adventures of Tron(Atari 2600)
Tron 2.0(PC)

PS: i still need to pick up Tron 2.0 Killer App for the GBA.

[digitalpress]

Somehow I missed this thread the first time around and just caught it now while doing a search for Tron here.

Nice post and free bump!

[scooterb23]

I nearly cried the day a forgotten battery leaked inside my Tomy Tron game, and I had to throw it away :(

One of the few old handhelds I had, and by far the most fun one to play...

[Flack]

I nearly cried the day a forgotten battery leaked inside my Tomy Tron game, and I had to throw it away :(

One of the few old handhelds I had, and by far the most fun one to play...

What is this "throwing away" you speak of? LOL

I can't believe I missed this thread either.

TRON, Wargames, and Cloak and Dagger all greatly influenced my childhood. I saw TRON for the first time at a drive-in. I spent the majority of the next day building Recognizers and Light Cycles out of Legos. Whenever my old computer would lock up sometimes I wouldn't turn it off right away because I would imagine the battles of TRON taking place inside and I wanted to give the good guys a chance to win before powering it off. ;)