Typo Attack
{{short description|1982 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
|title = Typo Attack
|image = Typo_Attack_Cover_Art.jpg
|publisher = Atari Program Exchange
Atari, Inc.
|designer = David Buehler{{cite web |last1=Hague |first1=James |title=The Giant List of Classic Game Programmers |url=https://dadgum.com/giantlist/}}
|released = 1982: APX (disk, tape)
1984: Atari (cartridge)
|genre = Typing, fixed shooter
|modes = Single-player
|platforms = Atari 8-bit
}}
Typo Attack is an educational typing game for Atari 8-bit computers designed to improve keyboard skill. It was written by David Buehler and published by the Atari Program Exchange in 1982. Buehler was seventeen years old when the game won the {{US$|25,000|1982|about|round=-2}} Atari Star Award for the best APX program of 1982.{{citation |url=http://www.atarimagazines.com/v2n1/insideatari.html |journal=Antic |title=Inside Atari: Star Award Winner |date=April 1983}} In 1984, Atari, Inc. moved Typo Attack into its official line as a cartridge.
After writing Typo Attack, Buehler had two action games published by the Atari Program Exchange in 1983: Wyzle!{{cite web |title=Wyzle! |url=http://www.atarimania.com/game-atari-400-800-xl-xe-wyzle_5872.html |website=Atari Mania}} and Impact.{{cite web |title=Impact |url=http://www.atarimania.com/game-atari-400-800-xl-xe-impact_2558.html |website=Atari Mania}}
Gameplay
The game takes place on a single screen, divided into multiple columns. At the bottom of each column is a letter or punctuation symbol and various enemies appear randomly at the top of the columns. Players must press the corresponding letter in a column in order to make the letter fire at the advancing enemies. If an enemy reaches the bottom of the screen they will remove part of the shield around the letter, and if it is eaten away completely the player will lose a life. Depending on the level, the letters assigned to each column will change at irregular intervals.
Ports
A version was planned for the unreleased Atari CX-3000 Graduate, an add-on to turn the Atari 2600 into a home computer.{{cite web|url=http://www.atarimuseum.com/videogames/consoles/2600/a3000.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180817062435/http://www.atarimuseum.com/videogames/consoles/2600/a3000.html | archive-date=August 17, 2018 | title=The Atari CX-3000 "Graduate" Computer | access-date=February 18, 2023}}
Atarisoft advertised a VIC-20 version in 1984.{{Cite magazine |date=September 1984 |title=ATARISOFT. All the hits your computer is missing. |url=https://archive.org/details/BYTE_Vol_09-10_1984-09_Computer_Graphics/page/n26/mode/1up?view=theater |magazine=BYTE |page=25}}
Reception
InfoWorld's Essential Guide to Atari Computers recommended the game among educational software for the Atari 8-bit.{{Cite book |last=Mace |first=Scott |url=https://archive.org/details/InfoWorlds_Essential_Guide_to_Atari/page/n55/mode/2up?view=theater |title=InfoWorld's Essential Guide to Atari Computers |publisher=Harper & Row |year=1984 |isbn=978-0-06-669006-3 |pages=46-53}}