Missile Command is a classic arcade game initially released in 1980 by Atari Inc. Ported to the Atari 2600, it falls under the shoot 'em up genre and features a game mechanic where the player must defend six cities from an endless hail of ballistic missiles. The game uses a trackball in arcades, but the Atari 2600 version is adapted for joystick control. Players earn points by destroying missiles and keeping their cities intact, with the gameplay intensifying as the player progresses to higher levels. This version for the Atari 2600 is specially branded under the 'Picture Tele-Games' series, which was common at the time.