Name: Centipede
Platform: Atari 5200
Region: USA
Media: Cartridge
Controller: 5200 Joystick, Trackball
Genre: Shoot 'em Up - Arcade - Fixed
Gametype: Licensed
Release Year: 1982
Developer: Atari
Publisher: Atari
Players: 1 or 2 Alternating
Programmer: Frank Hausman, Sean W. Hennessy
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In Centipede, players control a magic wand that is used to square off against a horde of nasty bugs that make their way through a mushroom patch.

The Flea falls straight down towards the player, laying fresh mushroom in its path. The Scorpion runs from side to side across the screen, turning mushrooms into poisonous toadstool, which cause the Centipede to behave irrationally and dive bomb the player. Spiders jump up and down towards the player; the closer he is, the more points are earned (300, 600, 900) . And the Centipede makes it way down the playing field. Shooting segments cause the Centepede to split off and form multiple targets.

Shooting any bug turns it into a mushroom, which can block (or speed up) the bugs on the playing field. If any of the bugs touch the wand, it's lose a life until Game Over.

Centipede was created by Ed Logg, and used a trackball in the original arcade version.

http://www.mobygames.com/game/atari-5200/centipede_
