Avalanche

Avalanche is an arcade video game designed by Dennis Koble and released by Atari, Inc. in 1978. The object is to catch falling rocks with a controllable set of paddles that diminish in number and size as the rocks fall faster and faster. The concept gained a much wider audience after Activision released an unauthorized adaptation in 1981 as Kaboom! for the Atari 2600. The only official home port of Avalanche is for Atari 8-bit computers.

Avalanche is for 1 or 2 players, alternating turns. There are six rows of rocks at the top of the screen. The game starts with a six-storied platform and the player loses one platform per row of rocks cleared. The player scores points for the rocks they prevent from reaching the ground. The further the row of rocks, the smaller and faster they become. The ultimate goal is to get enough points so that the player can continue the game should they lose their first one.

Avalanche was shipped to the public in April 1978. Dennis Koble's official port of Avalanche for Atari 8-bit computers was published through the Atari Program Exchange in 1981 instead of official Atari channels. It requires the paddle controller.

Avalanche inspired many similar games including Kaboom! by Activision, Lost Luggage, and Eggomania, all for the Atari 2600. Chicken for the Atari 8-bit computers and Popcorn for the TRS-80 Color Computer and others.

In 2019, a dedicated fan-made port of Avalanche was created for the Atari 2600 by John W. Champeau of Champ Games. This unofficial version aimed to bring the original arcade experience to Atari's home console, featuring paddle controller support and updated visuals that closely replicate the original gameplay mechanics.