Recently in the City of Muntinlupa, several local vendors from specific locations met with Mayor Ruffy Biazon at City Hall and discussed relevant issues, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…
Muntinlupa Mayor Ruffy Biazon held a dialogue with Muslim vendors operating on sidewalks in Alabang.
Biazon said the vendors operate in the Alabang viaduct, Alabang junction, Montillano Street, Petron gas station, and Liana’s, all located in Alabang.
He recently ordered the Muntinlupa Traffic Management Bureau and cooperatives to conduct an inspection of sidewalks of the Alabang viaduct area and Alabang public market.
“Dahil nandito ang transportation hubs, I see Alabang Viaduct as the gateway of Muntinlupa. At bilang gateway, gusto natin na kapag nadaanan ito ng mga tao, ang unang impression nila: maayos, malinis, at disiplinado ang Muntinlupa (Because the transportation hubs are here, I see Alabang Viaduct as the gateway of Muntinlupa. And as a gateway, what we want is when people pass through it, their first impression is: Muntinlupa is neat, clean, and disciplined).”
He said what the city government wants is for the sidewalks to be walkable and the goods, trash and obstruction do not hinder pedestrians. On the other hand, Biazon said he recognizes that sidewalks offer income opportunities for some of the residents.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? If you are a resident of Muntinlupa City, do you think vendors should be allowed to occupy space on sidewalks to be able to do business? Do you think that obstruction on sidewalks add to the possibility of accidents happening? Do you think that vendors who are not certified residents of Muntinlupa City should not be allowed to sell in the city?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
Welcome back my readers, YouTube viewers and all others who followed this series of articles focused on YouTube videos worth watching. Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?
I recommend you check out the following videos I found.
#1 How to catch a shark and prepare it for consumption – If you are fond of fishing, have you ever tried catching a shark and then preparing it for cooking and eating? You can learn a lot from the video of Darcizzle Offshore which showed how a blacktip shark was caught. That being said, let me ask you – when was the last time you had shark for a meal? Watch the video below.
#2 Arcade games that never got ported – Through the decades, I visited the local arcades and played a lot of games. Along the way, there were times when I simply watched other games being played by others. Being an avid gamer, I noticed that there were several games of the arcade that never got ported on to consoles nor home computers nor the mobile devices. I recently stumbled on this video by Just Jamie which is entertaining to watch.
#3 Female bodybuilders and fitness influencers who died this year – With your current knowledge about health, do you often think that being healthy and being very muscular are always related with one another? Did you believe having a bulked up body means you are healthy? Believe it or not, there are already some female bodybuilders who did recently and certain details behind their deaths might shock you. Watch and learn from the video below.
#4 You, Me and the Movies posted another Friday The 13th (1980) reaction video – In July of 2021, YouTuber You, Me and the Movies posted its reaction video of 1980’s Friday The 13th. Recently, You, Me and the Movies posted another reaction video of the same movie but “Mrs. Movies” has been replaced by her sister Berly. I encourage to watch the video below.
#5 Fig Newtons remembered – Back in the 1980s, I saw an eye-catching print ad of the snack Fig Newtons while reading a superhero comic book here in the Philippines. Some years later, I managed to eat Fig Newtons imported from the United States and it was delicious to eat. If anyone of you likes snacks in general or if you really loved eating Fig Newtons before, posted below for your viewing pleasure and learning is a video about the history of Fig Newtons.
#6 SwordQuest contests and prizes remembered – Back in the 1980s, Atari released on their Atari 2600 console a fantasy-themed series of video games called SwordQuest. Not only did they release three SwordQuest games (click here, here and here), the company even organized contests (about the games) that had luxurious prizes made of real gold and jewels for champions. To take a close look at the events that happened – complete with archive video footage and pictures – watch the video by Save Data below.
#7 Ashleigh Burton reacts to Moonraker – If you are less than thirty years-old and you started watching James Bond movies in the 21st century, were you able to watch the movie that had Agent 007 go to outer space? 1979’s Moonraker is the one and only James Bond movie (starring the late Roger Moore) that featured space travel and even laser battles in space. Moonraker was also the first James Bond movie to surpass the $200 million mark in global ticket sales. For some people, Moonraker aged badly but for some it still is entertaining to watch. To find out more about Moonraker, watch Ashleigh Burton’s reaction video below.
#8 The international box office weakness of James Gunn’s Superman explained – No matter what Warner Bros. did and no matter the overseas promotional tours done by the filmmakers and stars of James Gunn’s Superman, the movie ended up as a box office disappointment outside of America grossing only $95 million during its first international weekend. In fact, the new Superman movies could not take down Jurassic World: Rebirth in certain countries during the weekend of July 11-13, 2025. As America generated the majority of its ticket sales, the movie has lesser chances of making $1 billion worldwide and I would not be surprised to see it gross less than 2013’s Man of Steel ($670 million worldwide). To learn why James Gunn’s Superman is already a commercial disappointment with moviegoers outside of America, watch the videos below.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…
The Las Piñas Commission on Elections (Comelec) scheduled a satellite voter’s registration in nine areas in the city on August 1 to 10.
According to the Las Piñas Public Information Office (PIO), the satellite voter registration conducted by the Comelec will take place from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The registration will be conducted from Mondays to Fridays, including Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays, except when declared by the Comelec.
The Comelec will hold voter registration in the following areas: Metals Road, Camella 4 Subdivision in Barangay Pamplona Tres; Villar Gymnasium function room located at Barangay Talon Dos; Bernabe compound in Barangay Pulanglupa Uno; Gatchalian Subdivision in Barangay Manuyo Dos; Colours Town Marcos Alvarez; San Antonio Valley 17 in Barangay Talon Kuatro; Carmencita Village in Barangay Talon Tres; Almanza Dos Barangay Hall; and at Robinsons Mall ground floor located along Alabang-Zapote Road.
The Comelec advised residents to check their FB page on the dates when the mentioned areas will hold the voter satellite registration.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a resident of Las Piñas City, what is your reaction to this development? How many people in your local community need to get registered with the local COMELEC office?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…
The office leasing market sustained a strong momentum in the first half of 2025, with demand reaching 67 percent of full-year 2024, despite the withdrawal of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO), real estate advisory firm Leechiu Property Consultants (LPC) said Thursday.
“Demand has been strong for the first half of the year. We believe it will continue. We never know what will happen, but we are optimistic about it,” Mikko Barranda, LPC director for Commercial Leasing, said during the presentation of the LPC Q2 2025 Philippine Property Market Report in Makati City.
The Information Technology and Business Process Management (IT-BPM) took up 50 percent of the total leasing activity, or 365,000 square meters, in the first half of 2025.
Traditional industries, on the other hand, accounted for 48 percent, or 354,000 sqm, of the demand, while government offices took the rest of the share at 21,000 sqm.
At least 79 percent, or 581,000 sqm, of the overall demand came from Metro Manila, with Bonifacio Global City representing 146,000 sqm, while provincial demand was at 21 percent to 159,000 sqm, with Cebu covering 81,000 sqm.
Barranda reported that the net demand has breached more than 50 percent to 271,000 sqm of the firm’s projection for the year.
“Contractions are tapering off and net take-up in terms of what we have projected back in Q1, which we feel will be at 490,000 sqm levels, were already touching 55 percent,” he said.
In the absence of POGOs, LPC Chief Executive Officer David Leechiu said this surge is already the highest since 2017.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? How far do you think the current surge of office leasing market will go by the end of the year? Do you think there are a lot more companies out there actively searching for office spaces to rent?
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Daily Tribune news report. Some parts in boldface…
The local government of Muntinlupa announced that three prominent hotels were recognized for their exceptional resilience in navigating various crises, from the recent pandemic to natural calamities.
In a statement, Muntinlupa Mayor Ruffy Biazon said that the awards highlight not just business success but also the steadfastness of these enterprises in the face of adversity.
Crimson Hotel secured the first prize for the Most Resilient Business Enterprise, followed by The Bellevue Manila in second place and Somerset Alabang in third.
“This isn’t just an award for business success, but for resilience amidst crisis,” Biazon said. “From the pandemic to various calamities, they have continuously remained open, provided assistance, and served as a pillar for our city.”
He also stressed that true success is measured not only by how high one reaches but by one’s fortitude during challenges.
“I salute businesses that not only recovered but also became part of the solution,” Biazon said, acknowledging the crucial role these establishments played.
“Muntinlupa’s hospitality industry, particularly its hotels, often finds itself on the front lines during disasters. These establishments frequently serve as evacuation sites and partners in emergency response efforts,” he added.
The mayor also said that resilience is not accidental as it requires deliberate planning, preparation, and effort, encompassing robust business continuity planning, comprehensive staff training, and close coordination with local government units.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? If you are a resident of Muntinlupa City, are you delighted to know that the prominent hotels played key roles in dealing with crisis?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
Welcome back my readers, YouTube viewers and all others who followed this series of articles focused on YouTube videos worth watching. Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?
I recommend you check out the following videos I found.
#1 Calvin Dyson’s The Spy Who Love Me in-depth review – One of the best James Bond-focused YouTubers is Calvin Dyson. Years ago, he posted his in-depth retro review of The Spy Who Loved Me – starring the late Roger Moore – which is pretty entertaining to watch. I saw the 1977 James Bond film a number of times in my life and I can say that Dyson not only made an engaging retro review, he also provided crucial insight about the movie. For those who have not seen The Spy Who Loved Me, watch it first entirely before watching Dyson’s spoileriffic review. Otherwise, enjoy his video belo.
#2 Slope’s Game Room examines Popeye video games – Growing up, I saw cartoon episodes about Popeye. I also read a few comic books about the character and even saw the live-action movie of 1980. When it comes to retro gaming, I played the Popeye Game & Watch game and then the Family Computer (Famicom) port of the Popeye arcade game. I recently found Slope’s Game Room’s retrospective video about Popeye games and to my surprise, there were more video games about the character which I never played. To discover the Popeye games and their collective history, watch the video below.
#3 The decades-old conflict between Donald Trump and Rosie O’Donnell – In case you somehow missed the buzz all the time, the conflict between Donald Trump and Rosie O’Donnell has lasted for decades. As far as the modern age is concerned, Trump successfully returned as President of the United States and O’Donnell left America for another country. The truth about Rosie O’Donnell is that you cannot trust her and you should never let her manipulate. Behind all the Hollywood glamor and entertainment glitter, Rosie O’Donnell is problematic and unstable. Her conflict with Trump goes a very long way back and I urge you to watch the video below. It is both entertaining and compelling to watch.
#4 Friday The 13th (1980) reaction videos – Do you find the 1980 horror movie Friday The 13thnotable if not special at all? For me, there is absolutely nothing special about the slasher horror film directed by Sean Cunningham (read my retro movie review by clicking here). If there is anything notable about it, it would be its economic achievement of grossing almost $60 million worldwide on a negative cost of less than $3 million (including marketing and distribution costs). When it comes to story, cinematic concepts and performances, it is still pretty weak. Still the flaws of Friday The 13th (1980) did not stop it from becoming a popular film of choice for reaction videos by YouTubers. For your interest, posted below are assorted reaction videos of the movie.
#5 Reviews of James Gunn’s Superman – Now playing in theaters worldwide, James Gunn’s Superman is bringing in a lot of money. Of course, commercial success does not clearly reflect the film’s overall quality nor the reviews it gathered from the corrupted mainstream media and from independent bloggers and content creators. It also sucks that there are some movie-focused websites that signed marketing deals with contractors of movie studios that guaranteed not only constant film promotion but also the publishing of overall positive reviews. That being said, I encourage you to take time out to watch the selected video reviews of James Gunn’s Superman below sourced from four YouTubers. If you have not seen the new movie in the cinema and you are leaning towards watching it soon, then the videos below are a must-see.
Recently in the City of Las Piñas, Mayor April Aguilar welcomed several barangay captains at City Hall and met them, the City Government confirmed via social media. Former Mayor and current Vice Mayor Imelda Aguilar was present.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from social media post of the City Government Some parts in boldface…
Mayor April Aguilar and Vice Mayor Mel Aguilar warmly welcomed the Barangay Captains of Las Piñas during a courtesy visit held at the Las Piñas City Hall.
The delegation, led by Las Piñas Liga ng mga Barangay President, Councilor Jose Mauricio Riguera, visited Mayor April Aguilar and Vice Mayor Mel Aguilar to extend their congratulations on their recent electoral victory and to express their collective commitment to working closely with the city government in pursuit of good governance, grassroots development, and responsive public service.
During the visit, the barangay leaders recognized Mayor Aguilar’s ability to connect with communities and shared their intention to work closely with her office to help ensure continued development and effective delivery of public services in every barangay.
Mayor Aguilar expressed her appreciation for their show of support and committed to maintaining strong coordination with all 20 barangays of Las Piñas.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a resident of Las Piñas City, what is your reaction to this development? Was your barangay captain among those who met with Mayor Aguilar at City Hall? What do you hope to see from the City Government that would benefit your local community? Do you think there will be closer relationships between the City Government and the barangays of the city over the next three years?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
Recently in the City of Las Piñas, local police officers apprehended two persons (both previously worked for Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators or POGOs) for selling fake money online, according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from news report of the PNA Some parts in boldface…
Two former Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) workers were arrested for allegedly selling fake money online in Las Piñas City, the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP ACG) said on Friday.
In a press conference held at Camp Crame in Quezon City, PNP ACG Director Brig. Gen. Bernard Yang said suspects alias “Usa,” 18, a resident of Cotabato City; and “Agila,” 30, of Zamboanga Del Sur were arrested by the Northern District Anti-Cybercrime Team, in coordination with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), in an entrapment operation in Barangay Manuyo Dos on Wednesday.
“’Yung dalawang nahuli natin, we can confirm that they are former employees of POGO. Ito ay mga driver ng ating POGO companies. They started selling these fake money nung nag-stop na sila sa POGO (These two we caught, we can confirm that they are former POGO employees … They were drivers of POGO companies. They started selling this fake money when POGOs were shut down),” Yang said.
He said the suspects mainly operated in Metro Manila, according to reports.
In November last year, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. issued Executive Order 74, ordering the immediate ban of the Philippine offshore gaming, internet gaming and other offshore gaming operations.
The entrapment operation stemmed from a report by the BSP regarding the rampant online sale of fake currency.
In response, the Northern District Anti-Cybercrime Team intensified its cyber patrolling efforts until they came across a social media post by one of the suspects offering a counterfeit PHP1,000 bill for sale at PHP150.
A total of 150 counterfeit thousand-peso bills were confiscated from the suspects, who sold them for PHP22,500 during the operation.
“May online group talaga na nagbebenta. Several groups ito. So, sinumbong namin ito sa ACG (There really are online groups where they sell these. There are several groups. So, we reported this to the ACG),” BPS Payments and Currency Investigation Group officer Mark Fajardo said at the press conference.
“Hindi maganda. Medyo apurahan ang pagkakagawa kasi hindi sila sanay (It’s not good. How it was done seems sloppy because they were not experienced),” Fajardo told reporters when asked about the quality of the counterfeit money confiscated
He said they are able to tell the fake banknotes apart because the watermark on them was more apparent and the security thread was only printed.
When asked whether the police have already determined who had supplied the fake banknotes, Yang said they are looking into a bigger figure.
The suspects are detained at the ACG custodial facility and will be facing charges for violation of Article 168 (Illegal Possession and Use of False Treasury or Bank Notes and Other Instruments of Credit) in relation to Section 6 of Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act.
Yang said the operation aligns with the directive of PNP Chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III to intensify cyber patrolling and implement immediate action to prevent cybercriminals from exploiting social media platforms.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a resident of Las Piñas City, what is your reaction to this development? Are you concerned that the selling of fake money could grow into a serious problem within the city?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of GMA News. Some parts in boldface…
The three suspects behind the murder and robbery of a TNVS driver in Parañaque City last May have surrendered to authorities on Monday.
According to Jaime Santos’ report in “Saksi”, the families of the suspects coordinated with their barangay chairperson and councilor to surrender before Manila Mayor Isko Moreno. The mayor, on the other hand, coordinated with the Manila Police District and the Northern Police District.
The families of the suspects feared for their safety after their identities were reported, the report added.
“Humingi sila ng tulong kung paano sila susuko sa alagad ng batas, through some assistance from the Northern Police District and the Manila Police District, nandito sila kanina. Gusto ko rin ipaalam sa inyo na ang pamilya ng mga suspects ay nandito rin. Kinausap ko sila kanina,” said Moreno.
(They asked for help on how they can surrender to the authorities, through some assistance from the Northern Police District and the Manila Police District, who were also here earlier. I also want to inform you that the family of the suspects are also present here. I talked with them earlier.)
“Now I’m happy that the case is na-resolba. Nakikiramay kami…sa pamilya ng biktima. In our own little way, kami ay maging tulay man lamang na makapagbigay ng hustisya sa pamilya ng biktima.”
(I’m happy that the case is now resolved. We extend our sympathies to the family of the victim. In our own little way, we hope we can become a tool in giving justice to the victim’s family.)
Meanwhile, the suspects have yet to declare where they disposed the victim’s body.
“Disgrasya lang po talaga ang lahat…Hindi ko na po masasagot…Sa NBI ko na lang po ipapaliwanag ang lahat po,” one of the suspects said.
(Everything was just an accident…I cannot answer anymore….I will just explain everything to the NBI.)
Moreno said that it will be up to the National Bureau of Investigation to take the next steps on the case. The suspects are now in NBI custody.
The suspects were picked up by the victim in Parañaque last May 18. The car didn’t reach its destination in Molino, Cavite and instead was driven around the province.
Audio from the car’s dashcam indicated that the victim, Raymond Cabrera, was no longer driving the car. It can also be heard from the audio that he was being stabbed.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, do you think that murder and violent forms of crime in the city will keep getting worse over the next six months?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the video game and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.
Welcome back retro gaming enthusiasts, Atari fans, geeks and others who are passionate about video games!
Today we go all the way back to the year 1980 when Atari released in arcades a game that strongly resonated with people who were concerned about a potential nuclear conflict between the United States and Russia during the Cold War…Missile Command.
Designed by Dave Theurer and programmed by Rich Adam with Theurer, Missile Command is a 2-dimension shoot ‘em up arcade game that had a trackball to allow players to control a crosshair to defend six existing cities. The arcade also had three buttons players could use to launch surface-to-air missiles from the three missile bases to protect the cities from incoming ballistic missiles that came from an unseen enemy.
With those details laid down, here is a look back at the Missile Command arcade game of 1980 developed and published by Atari.
The arcade flyer with a great looking painted artwork. This one really resonated with gamers who lived during the Cold War.
Game design
As the commander of three missile bases (each armed with 10 defense missiles), the player is tasked to protect six existing cities from waves of ballistic missiles (launched by an unnamed enemy) coming down. From time to time, the enemy deploys bombers, satellites/drones and smart bombs to overwhelm your defense and test your precision and decision making.
You have three missile bases that each has its own supply of defense missiles. There are cities between each base which you have to defend from the endless assault of enemy missiles, smart bombs, war planes and satellites/drones.
When your defense missile detonates in the air, it creates an explosion which serve as a shield to destroy enemy missiles, war planes and satellite/drones when contact is made. If any projectiles from the enemy manages to get through the aerial explosion, you will have to quickly launch more defense missiles from the near base you have.
Players use a single crosshair which designates which part of the sky a defense missile can be fired at. Once the defense missile reaches its destination (placed by the crosshair) in the sky, it will explode and cause a growing flame lasting seconds. The said flame serves as a shield that can destroy the enemy’s ballistic missiles, smart bombs, war planes and satellites/drones upon contact. Defense missiles can be launched consecutively into selected spots in the sky in anticipation of the incoming weapons of the enemy.
To proceed from one level to another, the player must have at least one city remaining intact. Once all the six cities have been destroyed and the player no longer has any unused missiles (and no new cities earned by reaching certain high scores that justify rewards), the game will end with a “Game Over” screen with an explosion in the background.
Quality
In this screenshot, the enemy’s satellite/drone is floating while a smart bomb is about to hit the missile base at the lower-right. Smart bombs can be challenging to intercept because it reacts by avoiding the aerial explosion of defense missiles.
This arcade game – which is currently available for modern console owners to play via the Atari 50: The Anniversary Collection – remains very engaging and a lot of fun to play with after all these decades. As a player, my only objective was to defend the six existing cities and three missile bases from the waves of enemy ballistic missiles (and smart bombs in later levels) coming from the sky. Given the way the game was designed, this is strongly emphasized and the only times I could attack the enemy is by launching my own missiles towards the enemy’s bombers and satellites/drones (note: both of these are capable of launching more missiles at you).
If any of the enemy’s weapons hits one of your missile bases, it and the remaining supply of defensive missiles will be wiped out. Enemy missiles that hit a city will result in total destruction. Considering the intentional increase in challenge with each new level of play started, the enemy’s ballistic missiles move faster, the warplanes and/or satellite/drones appear more and the smart bomb – which is the most difficult to intercept as it deliberately avoids the aerial flames caused by your defense missiles – get launched against you.
When intercepting enemy missiles, you have to think quick where to aim (ahead of incoming missiles), which missile base to use to launch defense missiles and remember how much missiles do you have left per base.
That being said, the game deliberately becomes harder which compelled me to be more watchful of enemy weapon movements, and to be more strategic using my defense missiles while keeping a quick eye on the remaining supply of missiles per base. While the in-game difficulty intensifies per level, the game never became frustrating to play nor did it ever turn into a chore on my part. I just keep playing because I found the increasing challenges actually fun to take on.
The game’s visuals are still good to look at. It’s still engaging to see streaks of missile trails (both your defense missiles and the enemy’s ballistic missiles) fill the air above the cities and the flashing light effects that simulate explosions are still effective as eye candy. Along the way, the game’s sound effects worked perfectly with the visuals and they added a lot to the immersion.
When you score enough points, the game will reward you with a bonus city.
Me putting my initials after achieving a great score in Missile Command.
Considering its simplicity and the way it was designed, there clearly is no way for players to win at all. Rather, the game will challenge your precision, decision-making and ability to defend your cities and bases. That being said, the greater challenge is to survive and be able to move on to the next level with missile bases and whatever cities remaining you still have to defend. As with other games of the past, achieving the high possible score – which reflects your endurance, skill and progress – is a goal here. Achieving certain high scores also result in an extra city for you.
Cultural relevance
Missile Command’s legacy as one of the greatest arcade games ever released is undeniably real. Not only that, this game resulted in a lot of ports for consoles, portable gaming devices and home computers through the decades. This classic was re-released in several compilations from Atari and the Xbox-listed Missile Command contains the arcade version. In 2020, a remake called Missile Command: Recharged was released as part of the Atari Recharged series of games.
The different Missile Command arcade machines.
Missile Command even appeared for a few seconds in Terminator 2: Judgment Day which added more to the film’s concept of nuclear war.
With regards to arcade gaming, Missile Command is notable for having a trackball on its machine as a way for arcade players to control the crosshair during game sessions.
Conclusion
Apart from being the commander of missile defense, try imagining yourself being on of the citizens living in one of those cities. Can you imagine watching real-life missiles get intercepted in sky above you?
The Missile Command (1980) arcade game is a true video game classic and it remains compelling and enjoyable at the same time. It can also be an intriguing game experience since it does not let players complete the game by winning. All players can do is perform the best defense they could, survive to the next round and keep playing until their defense gets overwhelmed by the enemy and the rising in-game difficulty.
As a result of the game design, playing Missile Command is actually moral because the concept of defending your people using powerful yet limited resources is very strong all the time. Even with progressive difficulty, the game never became frustrating to play and I actually enjoyed the challenges knowing that defense and survival are main goals. Achieving the highest possible score is the other goal as reflected by video gaming of the era. Missile Command simply delivers bouts of fun and you cannot go wrong with playing it. It is not surprising that this game became a massive hit and established itself as a true classic among video games.
Overall, Missile Command (1980) highly recommended and the best way to play it on console today is to avail of Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration compilation.
Author Carlo Carrasco 