Editing Robotron: 2084 (section)

{{About|the video game|other uses|Robotron (disambiguation)}}
{{short description|1982 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
|title = Robotron: 2084
|image = Robotron flyer.png
|alt = An orange advertisement featuring a blue arcade cabinet and reads "The ultimate conflict between man and machine. Robotron: 2084"
|caption = Arcade flyer
|developer = [[Vid Kidz]]<br />Shadowsoft (Lynx)
|publisher = [[WMS Industries|Williams Electronics]]<br />'''Ports'''<br />[[Atarisoft]]<br />[[Atari, Inc.]]<br />[[Atari Corporation]]
|designer = [[Eugene Jarvis]]<br />[[Larry DeMar]]
|programmer = Eugene Jarvis<br />[[Larry DeMar]]<br />'''Ports'''<br />Judy Bogart (Atari 8-bit)<ref name="giantlist"/><br />David Brown (7800)<ref name="giantlist"/><br />Tom Griner (C64)<ref name="giantlist"/><br />Dave Dies (Lynx)<ref name="giantlist"/>
|released = '''1982:''' Arcade<br />'''1983:''' Apple II, Atari 8-bit, 5200, C64, IBM PC, VIC-20<br />'''1985:''' BBC Micro<br />'''1986:''' Atari 7800<br />'''1987:''' Atari ST<ref>{{cite web|title=Atari ST Robotron: 2084|url=http://www.atarimania.com/game-atari-st-robotron-2084_10418.html|website=Atari Mania}}</ref><br />'''1991:''' Lynx<ref name="aalynx">{{cite web|title=Atari Lynx - Robotron: 2084|url=https://atariage.com/software_page.php?SoftwareLabelID=1925|website=AtariAge}}</ref>
|genre = [[Multidirectional shooter]]
|modes = 1-2 players alternating turns
|arcade system = 
|platforms = [[Arcade video game|Arcade]], [[Apple II]], [[Atari 8-bit]], [[Atari 5200]], [[Atari 7800]], [[Atari ST]], [[BBC Micro]], [[Commodore 64]], [[Atari Lynx|Lynx]], [[IBM PC]], [[VIC-20]]
}}

'''''Robotron: 2084''''' (also referred to as '''''Robotron''''') is a [[multidirectional shooter]] developed by [[Eugene Jarvis]] and [[Larry DeMar]] of [[Vid Kidz]] and released in arcades by [[WMS Industries|Williams Electronics]] in 1982. The game is set in the year 2084 in a fictional world where [[AI takeover|robots have turned against humans]] in a cybernetic revolt. The aim is to defeat endless waves of robots, rescue surviving humans and earn as many points as possible.

Jarvis and DeMar drew inspiration from ''[[Nineteen Eighty-Four]]'', ''[[Berzerk (video game)|Berzerk]]'' and ''[[Space Invaders]]'' for the design of ''Robotron: 2084''. A two-joystick control scheme was implemented to provide the player with more precise controls, and enemies with different behaviors were added to make the game challenging. Jarvis and DeMar designed the game to instill panic in players by presenting them with conflicting goals and having on-screen projectiles coming from multiple directions.

''Robotron: 2084'' was critically and commercially successful. Praise among critics focused on the game's intense action and control scheme. Though not the first game with a twin joystick control scheme, ''Robotron: 2084'' is cited as the game that popularized it. It was ported to numerous home systems - most of which are hampered by the lack of two joysticks - Jarvis used the same control scheme in ''[[Smash TV]]'' (1990). The game is frequently listed as one of Jarvis's best contributions to the [[video game industry]].