An Atari Breakout surprise is being offered by Google as an Easter egg game. By typing “Atari Breakout” into a search for images on Google, users will be presented with the classic arcade game presented by Atari.
The game utilizes images from the performed search, compacted into game bricks. Breakout requires users to move a bar along the bottom of the screen, bouncing a ball against the colored bricks. Each time a brick is hit with the ball, it is eliminated. If the ball is allowed to hit the bottom of the screen, five times, the game ends.
Users can announce their high scores by clicking the “share your score” button.
As reported by StrategyWiki , Atari Breakout is an arcade game that was initially introduced in May 1976. Google’s Easter egg game is in honor of Breakout’s 37th birthday.
Nolan Bushnell and Steve Bristow developed the game, using similar concepts found in the game Pong . The earliest prototype was designed by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. For $750, the men were tasked with developing a prototype, utilizing as few chips as possible, within four days.
It took the two men only four days to eliminate 50 chips from the board and develop the prototype. Although the prototype was never used by Atari, it is credited as the initial design.
Breakout, and eventually Super Breakout, inspired the creation of other arcade games, and influenced the creation of the Apple II PC.
Atari Breakout is not the only retro gaming surprise offered by Google . By entering specific binary code at Google’s I/O homepage, Simon and Pong can be played. As reported by ABC News , IIOIOOII launches the Simon game and IOOOOOOI launches the Pong game. Entering IIIOOIII will launch a soundboard featuring cats.
SearchEngineLand.com has one of the largest and most comprehensive lists of Easter eggs available on Google .
With the inclusion of Atari Breakout, Google has found yet another creative way to honor classic gaming.