Rip Off 1980

About

Rip-Off is a vector shoot 'em up released in arcades by Cinematronics in 1980. It is the first shoot 'em up arcade game to feature cooperative gameplay and the first game to exhibit "flocking" behavior. The objective is to prevent computer-controlled enemies from stealing eight canisters set in the center of the screen. One or two players control tank-like vehicles while game-controlled "pirate" tanks rush onto the field and attempt to drag the canisters off the edge of the screen. Enemies can be defeated by shooting or colliding with them. The game speed and difficulty increase with each successive wave until all the canisters have been taken ("ripped off").

What is happening now

Rip Off is a classic arcade shooter released in 1980 for arcade cabinets and the Vectrex home console. Players control a spacecraft tasked with defending against waves of incoming enemies in a vector-based shooting experience that defined early arcade design. Recent coverage of arcade games and their cultural impact has largely focused on derivative works and copyright matters across the industry. Notable discussions include free-to-play indie games drawing inspiration from established franchises, new titles from veteran developers positioning themselves as spiritual successors to beloved series, and ongoing disputes over intellectual property protection - including high-profile cases involving AI-generated content and official statements from major gaming companies reaffirming their commitment to copyright enforcement. These conversations reflect the ongoing tension between homage and infringement in modern game development.