Video game:Atari Computer Joust

In 1982, Williams Electronics released a game with a unique theme that was an innovative and risky departure from the popular maze-chase and space shooting games. Joust is a collaborative game in which players control a medieval knight riding an ostrich. Platforms suspended in the air, a red lava pool, and a large island in the middle compose the setting of the game. The objective of Joust is to knock enemy knights from their buzzard mounts with your lance. When an enemy is defeated, he turns into an egg that rests on one of the rocky platforms. Players must fly from platform-to-platform picking up the eggs before they regenerate into new enemy knights. They must not fly too close to the lava pool or it will grasp you in a glowing hand.

Although a one or two player game, Joust was intended to be a cooperative game. The collaborative aspect of Joust is highlighted by the two color-coordinated joysticks and buttons of the arcade cabinet. Two players each control a mounted knight and must work together to defeat the enemy knights. A flaw of the game allowed the players to run into and kill each other. This often led to the players battling each other rather than their opponents.

The superior graphics and imaginative concept of Joust made it a successful and memorable game. Joust was ported to a variety of home computer and gaming systems including: the Atari 2600, 5200, and 7800. In 1986, Williams Electronic released an arcade sequel: Joust 2: Survival of the Fittest. With its ostriches, knights, and lava pools, Joust is a game that is not easily forgotten.