Rumble with "River Raid" Trivia Quiz

Answer: Carol Shaw

Carol Shaw (born 1955) was a video game designer who worked at Atari and Activision in the 1970s and1980s. Other games that she designed were "3-D-Tic-Tac-Toe" (1979) and "Video Checkers" (1980). The other choices were other designers who worked at Activision, where "River Raid" was designed.

Answer: Fighter jet

The player guides a fighter jet down "The River of No Return". While the player might encounter a helicopter during the game, it would be under enemy control. The river in the game scrolls indefinitely and has no actual ending. The goal of the game is to destroy enemy fighters, et. al.

Answer: Satellite dish

The bridges and fuel depots in the game would be stationary. Blowing up enemy fuel depots was actually how the player refuelled. Relatively speaking, depots were less common in later stages of the game. Helicopters would be considered moving targets.

There were no satellite dishes in the game. When the player lost a life in the game, the most recently destroyed bridge would be where the player would restart the game.

Answer: Backwards

The jet continually moves in a forwards direction. Pulling forward on the joystick is used to accelerate the jet and pulling back would decelerate the jet. The jet then continues to use fuel. Additional fuel can be gathered by flying over fuel tanks.

Answer: The on-screen clock runs out

The player is trying to earn as many points as possible. The game ends if the player crashes or runs out of fuel. Otherwise, there is no limit to how long the player takes.

Answer: There is no end

The setting of the game is the aptly named "River of No Return". The game was set up on a vertical scroll. Early attempts by designer Carol Shaw to lay out the game on a horizontal scroll created a game design that looked "very jerky". The River just meandered endlessly.

Answer: Missiles

The jet is outfitted with guided missiles. Although presumedly, the missiles take up room, the jet seems to be equipped with an endless supply. These missiles are the only type of weapon that you have in the game.

Answer: Bridge

The starting position for a player on later turns is based upon the last bridge destroyed by the player in the previous turn. The player looses a life by colliding with the river bank or another object. If the player did not destroy a bridge they restarted approximately where they collapsed.

Answer: West Germany

The ban was on playing of the game in public locations such as video arcades as opposed to playing it on a private system. It was based on the 1985 version of the Law for the Protection of Youth. The Federal Department for Works Harmful to Young People banned the game for "military-themed content."

Answer: The Mission of No Return

It is interesting that the original game was so popular yet little has been done in the way of sequels. "River Raid: The Mission of No Return" was previewed in 1991 at the Computer Electronics Show. Reception for the game was poor.