Editing Kaboom! (video game)

{{Short description|1981 action game}}
{{Distinguish|Kaboom: The Suicide Bombing Game}}
{{for|the video game studio|Kaboom Studios}}
{{Infobox video game
|title = Kaboom!
|image = Kaboomcover.jpg
|developer = [[Activision]]
|publisher = Activision{{sfn|Weiss|2014|p=123}}
|designer = [[Larry Kaplan]]
|released = 
'''Atari 2600''' {{Video game release||July 1981}} '''Atari 8-bit''' {{vgrelease||October 1983}}'''Atari 5200''' {{vgrelease||November 1983}}
|genre = [[Action game|Action]]{{sfn|Weiss|2014|p=123}}
|modes = 1-2 players alternating turns
|platforms = [[Atari 2600]], [[Atari 5200]], [[Atari 8-bit]]
}}

'''''Kaboom!''''' is an action video game published in 1981 by [[Activision]] for the [[Atari 2600]].{{efn|The system became known as the Atari 2600 only after the release of the [[Atari 5200]] in 1982.{{sfn|Montfort|2006}}}} The game involves a Mad Bomber dropping bombs at increasing speeds as the player controls a set of water buckets to catch them. The gameplay was based on the [[Atari, Inc.|Atari]] arcade video game ''[[Avalanche (video game)|Avalanche]]'' (1978). ''Kaboom!'' was programmed by [[Larry Kaplan]] with [[David Crane (programmer)|David Crane]] coding the graphics for the buckets and Mad Bomber. It was the last game designed by Kaplan for Activision, who left the company shortly after it was released. The game was later ported by Paul Wilson for the [[Atari 5200]] system.

General critical reception of the game commended its graphics, particularly the Mad Bomber whose expression changed depending on how well the player performed. Reception was mixed towards the simplicity of the game, with some critics praising it as a change of pace from games like ''[[Asteroids (video game)|Asteroids]]'' (1979) or ''[[Space Invaders]]'' (1978), while others found it lacking in variety and complexity. Retrospective reviews were more generally positive with it being praised for its simple and addictive action qualities and being among the best games released by Activision during its early era.

The game sold over one million cartridges and was one of the [[List of best-selling Atari 2600 video games|best-selling Atari 2600 games]]. Following the game's release, cartridges with gameplay similar to ''Kaboom!'' were released for the Atari 2600 such as ''[[Lost Luggage (video game)|Lost Luggage]]'' (1982) and ''[[Eggomania]]'' (1983). A follow-up to ''Kaboom!'', tentatively titled ''Kaboom!: The Return of the Mad Bomber'' was shown at the 1991 Summer [[Consumer Electronics Show]] for the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]], but was never officially released.

== Gameplay ==
[[File:Atari-2600-Paddle-Controller-FR.jpg|thumb|150px|left|''Kaboom!'' uses the VCS paddle controller, which had fallen out of regular use at time of the game's release.{{sfn|Montfort|Bogost|2009|p=117}}]]

In ''Kaboom!'', a "Mad Bomber" is dropping bombs to watch them explode.{{sfn|Activision|1981|ref=BackCov}}  The player starts with three water-filled buckets and must catch the bombs to defuse them and gain points.{{sfn|Activision|1981|ref=BackCov}}{{sfn|Activision|ref=manual}}

The game uses the [[Paddle (game controller)|paddle controller]], moving the buckets of water left and right by moving the dial clockwise and counter-clockwise.{{sfn|Activision|ref=manual}} The bombs start dropping faster as more of them are collected.{{sfn|Activision|1981|ref=BackCov}} When the player misses a bomb, all other bombs on the screen explode and the player loses one of their buckets. If at least one bucket is missing, the player will receive a new bucket every 1,000 points.{{sfn|Activision|ref=manual}}

Difficulty switches on the console make it so buckets are half as wide, making grabbing bombs more difficult. A two-player option is available where the players take turns controlling their buckets and have their own individual scores displayed.{{sfn|Activision|ref=manual}} 
{{Clear}}

==Development==
[[File:David Crane (10453626776) (cropped).jpg|thumb|[[David Crane (programmer)|David Crane]] (pictured in 2013) created code for the design of the Mad Bomber.]]

[[Larry Kaplan]] designed ''Kaboom!'' for [[Activision]].{{sfn|Weiss|2014|p=123}}  Kaplan, [[Alan Miller (game designer)|Alan Miller]] and [[David Crane (programmer)|David Crane]] had all previously worked at [[Atari, Inc.]]{{sfn|Montfort|Bogost|2009|p=99}} They believed Atari undervalued its programmers, leading Crane and Miller to leave Atari in August 1979 to make their own company called Activision. Kaplan followed soon after.{{sfn|Montfort|Bogost|2009|p=100}}{{sfn|Fleming|2007}} Prior to the release of ''Kaboom!'', Kaplan developed ''Bridge'' for the Atari 2600, a game based on [[contract bridge]], which was released in December 1980.{{sfn|Activision|1980|ref=bridge-tips}}{{sfn|Leisure Time Electronics|1980|p=37|ref=Bridge}}

''Kaboom!'' was inspired by the 1978 Atari arcade game ''[[Avalanche (video game)|Avalanche]]'' designed by Dennis Koble.{{sfn|Weiss|2014|p=123}}{{sfn|Drury|2012|p=88}} Kaplan was open about the influence in later interviews, saying "I just ripped off ''Avalanche''."{{sfn|Weiss|2014|p=123}} 
Kaplan said he was limited with the games graphics, and since he could not reuse the falling rocks from the arcade game, he changed it to being a single figure dropping bombs. Kaplan credited Crane for designing the mad bomber and buckets.{{sfn|Weiss|2014|p=123}} Crane said that in 1979, he was working on creating a realistic animation of a man running. The character would eventually be used for ''[[Pitfall!]]'' (1982), but Crane originally tried to use the character in a "Cops and Robbers"-themed game which was never published. The character in this game had a black and white colored horizontal stripe shirt, which was later used in ''Kaboom!'' for the Mad Bomber.{{sfn|Hunt|2012|p=81}} Crane said that at the time, Kaplan's game had ''[[Pong (video game)|Pong]]''-like paddles and did not reflect the high quality graphics in Activision's games. Crane said he developed the graphics for the Mad Bomber, bombs, and the water buckets as well as adding coding that changed the facial expression of the Mad Bomber based on the gameplay.{{sfn|Milne|2025|p=37}}

Paul Wilson adapted ''Kaboom!'' to the [[Atari 5200]] and [[Atari 8-bit computers]].{{sfn|Weiss|2014|p=124}}{{sfn|Activision|1983|ref=ComCov}} These two ports were identical to each other.{{sfn|The Video Game Update includes Computer Entertainer|1983|p=135|ref=5200Rev}} Wilson's version featured a "Pitch and Catch" mode, which allowed two players to take turns controlling both the buckets and the Mad Bomber.{{sfn|Weiss|2014|p=124}}

==Release==
Along with ''[[Freeway (video game)|Freeway]]'', ''Kaboom!'' was shipped in July 1981.{{sfn|Leisure Time Electronics|1981|p=66|ref=LTE}} Wilson's port of ''Kaboom!'' was released for [[Atari 8-bit computers]] in October 1983 and the [[Atari 5200]] in November 1983.{{sfn|The Video Game Update includes Computer Entertainer|1983|p=128|ref=8BitRel}}{{sfn|The Video Game Update includes Computer Entertainer|1983|p=144|ref=5200Rel}}

The Atari 2600 version of ''Kaboom!'' is featured in several compilations, including ''Activision Classics'' (1998) for the [[PlayStation]], ''[[Activision Anthology]]'' for the [[PlayStation 2]] (2002), the [[Game Boy Advance]] in 2003, and [[iPad]], [[iPhone]] and [[Android (operating system)|Android]] devices in 2012.{{sfn|Weiss|2014|p=124}}  Along with other Activision published titles, ''Kaboom!'' was included as a hidden feature in ''[[Call of Duty: World War 2]]'' (2017).{{sfn|Hegarty|2017}}

==Reception==
[[Image:Kaboom! Atari 2600 screenshot1a.png|thumb|left|''Kaboom!'' on the Atari 2600. Contemporary reception noted details such as the bomber's reactions and the flickering of bombs.]]

''Kaboom!'' was one of the best-selling games for the Atari 2600.{{sfn|Buchanan|2008}} In 1981, Activision had achieved sales of $6.3 million and in 1982 their profits rose to $66 million.{{sfn|Donovan|2010|p=87}} James Levy of Activision stated ''Kaboom!'' had sold over one-million copies by 1984.{{sfn|Capparell|1984|pp=27-28}} Perry Greenberg of ''Video Games'' reflected on the success of ''Kaboom!'' in 1982, writing that it was "not much of a game" and "was a hit solely because of the dearth of TV-game competition when it came out. Back then [...] you didn't expect much and you got even less."{{sfn|Greenberg|1982|p=59}} 

Discussing the game, [[Bill Kunkel (journalist)|Bill Kunkel]] and Frank Laney Jr. in ''[[Electronic Games]]'' complimented the unique gameplay, writing that once you are tired of blasting asteroids or invading aliens, ''Kaboom!'' felt "refreshing".{{sfn|Kunkel|Laney, Jr.|1981|p=52}} Richard A. Edwards also noted the unique gameplay in ''[[The Space Gamer]]'', saying that it felt different than shooting games, but found it lacked variety and was a game of "reflexes, not thought" recommending players to try it before purchasing.{{sfn|Edwards|1982|pp=42-43}} Other reviewers complimented the graphics, with a review from ''TV Gamer'' calling it "graphically exciting" noting small touches like the flames exploding at the top of the bombs.{{sfn|TV Gamer|1983|p=28|ref=TVGrev}} Kunkel and Laney Jr. addressed the similarities to the game ''Avalanche'', but found ''Kaboom!'' "infinitely more enjoyable" due to superior graphics.{{sfn|Kunkel|Laney, Jr.|1981|pp=51-52}} Other publications praised the game's addictive gameplay, such as ''JoyStik How to Win at Video Games'', ''[[Creative Computing]]'', and ''[[Computer and Video Games|Computer & Video Games]]'', with the latter publication declaring it "an extremely compulsive reaction game".{{sfn|Ahl|1981|p=238}}{{sfn|JoyStik How to Win at Video Games|1982|ref=JoyStik}}{{sfn|Computer & Video Games|1982|p=18|ref=CVS}} In the 1982 [[Electronic Games#Arcade Awards|Arcade Awards]], the game was awarded Best Audio-Visual Effects. The write-up of the game stated that Activision games were known for "beautiful simplicity of its graphics" and had "hit the mark dead-center again with ''Kaboom!''.{{sfn|Kunkel|Laney, Jr.|1982|p=76}}

In his book ''Video Games'' (1982), Daniel Cohen said ''Kaboom!'' was among the best video games, specifically praising the engaging character of the Mad Bomber. Cohen compared the character to [[Pac-Man (character)|Pac-Man]], noting the personality of the character changing, such as his smile when the player misses a bomb and his frown when the player scores over 10,000 points.{{sfn|Cohen|1982|pp=61-62}} Rick Vogt in ''[[The Miami Herald]]'' also enjoyed the graphical small touches on the Mad Bomber's reactions, while ultimately finding that the game would only predominantly appeal to children who were "easily frustrated with the space games saturating the market."{{sfn|Vogt|1983}}

Reviewing the port for the [[Atari 8-bit computers]],  A review ''Computer Entertainer'' found the game superior to the Atari 2600 adaptation, noting better graphics and the added "Pitch and Catch" variation.{{sfn|The Video Game Update includes Computer Entertainer|1983|p=91|ref=8bitRev}} Other reviewers commented on the gameplay, such as David Duberman of ''[[Antic (magazine)|Antic]]'' who found the game cute and the acknowledged the gameplay as simple "but not by any means easy".{{sfn|Duberman|1984|p=63}} A reviewer in ''Softline'' dismissed the gameplay, stating that there was "no real game here, just a test of paddle controls." The reviewer suggested that Atari computer games had "passed the stage of evolution of ''Kaboom!'' is in-they want more sophistication."{{sfn|MTY|1983|p=43}}

===Retrospective reviews===
William Cassidy of [[GameSpy]] commented on the simplicity of ''Kaboom!'' in 2003, stating that it involved [[twitch gameplay]], a style which was popular in arcades and consoles around the time of the games release. The style involved acquiring quick reflexes and began to grow less popular when more complicated games were released that involved more intricate puzzle solving.{{sfn|Cassidy|2003}} Cassidy said ''Kaboom!'' was "one of the most addictive and entrancing twitch games ever made" which "manages to walk the line, perfectly balanced between challenge and cheapness."{{sfn|Cassidy|2003}} ''Kaboom!'' received further praise from Scott Alan Marriott of [[RhythmOne#AllGame|AllGame]] noting the games simplicity and addictiveness while ''[[Flux (magazine)|Flux]]'' magazine included the Atari 2600 version at 85th on their Top 100 Video Games list in 1995.{{sfn|Amrich|Barbagallo|East|Hudak|1995|p=32}}{{sfn|Marriott}} Mat Allen of ''[[Retro Gamer]]'' referred to ''Kaboom!'', along with ''[[River Raid]]'' (1982), ''[[Pitfall II: Lost Caverns]]'' (1984), ''[[Ghostbusters (1984 video game)|Ghostbusters]]'' (1984), ''[[Little Computer People]]'' (1985) and ''[[Alter Ego (1986 video game)|Alter Ego]]'' (1986),  as one of the best games from Activision's classic period.{{sfn|Allen|2006|p=84}}

==Legacy==
Following the release of ''Kaboom!'', other companies developed similar games, such as ''[[Lost Luggage (video game)|Lost Luggage]]'' (1982) by [[Games by Apollo|Apollo]] and ''[[Eggomania]]'' (1983) by [[U.S. Games]].{{sfn|Greenberg|1982|p=59}}{{sfn|Videogaming and Computer Gaming Illustrated|1983|p=71|ref=clone}} ''TV Gamer'' described these games as "Catch 'N Score" where players must catch falling or moving objects coming towards you to score points.{{sfn|TV Gamer|1983|p=8|ref=genre}} In 1983, Jim Clark reviewed ''[[Crackpots]]'' (1983) in ''[[Videogaming Illustrated|Videogaming and Computer Gaming Illustrated]]'' lamenting that Activison has reached a point of saturation with the ''Kaboom!''-themed games of catching or tossing objects with games like ''[[Spider Fighter]]'' (1982) and ''[[Oink! (video game)|Oink!]]'' (1983).{{sfn|Meade|Clark|1983|pp=11-12}} No sequels to ''Kaboom!'' were released. Three follow-ups to older Activison properties were shown at the Summer [[Consumer Electronics Show]] in 1991 for the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]], including one titled ''Kaboom!: The Return of the Mad Bomber'' that never received an official release.{{sfn|Weiss|2014|p=124}}{{sfn|McFerran|2015}}

Kaplan left Activision shortly after completing ''Kaboom!''.{{sfn|Allen|2006|p=37}} He stated he wanted to work on hardware and that he was not enjoying his time at the company. Kaplan said that he felt [[Jim Levy]] of Activision was "pushing the superstar approach, the media loves it [...] it's taking things out of context and it's lying."{{sfn|Krueger|1983|p=12}} Kaplan briefly attempted to start his own hardware and software company funded by [[Jay Miner]] which fell through leading Kaplan to return to work at Atari.{{sfn|Krueger|1983|p=12}} He would later work for companies such as [[Amiga Corporation|Amiga]] and [[Silicon Graphics]].{{sfn|Allen|2006|p=37}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Video games|1980s}}
*[[List of Atari 2600 games]]
*[[List of Activision games: 1980–1999]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

=== Notes ===
{{notelist}}

===Sources===
{{refbegin|30em|indent=yes}}
* {{cite book|title=Bridge Instructions|publisher=[[Activision]]|id=AX-006-03|year=1980|chapter=How Bridge by Activision Can Help You Sharpen Your Game|ref=bridge-tips}}
* {{Cite AV media notes |title=Kaboom! |date=1981 |type=Back cover |publisher=Activision|ref=BackCov}}
* {{cite book|title=Activision Kaboom! Instructions|id=AG-010-03 Rev 1|publisher=Activision|ref=manual}}
* {{Cite AV media notes |title=Kaboom! |date=1983 |id=CZ-002 |type=Cover art |publisher=Activision|quote=Kaboom! By Larry Kaplan Adapted by Paul Willson|ref=ComCov}}
* {{cite magazine|magazine=[[Computer and Video Games|Computer & Video Games]]|date=February 1982|issue=4|title=Keep This Villain's Bombs at Bay|ref=CVS}}
* {{cite magazine|magazine=JoyStik How to Win at Video Games|date=November 1982|volume=1|issue=2|title=Kaboom!|pages=46–47|ref=JoyStik}}
* {{cite magazine|title=Activision Reports Sales Double Company Expectations|magazine=Leisure Time Electronics|date=Fall 1980|page=37|ref=Bridge}}
* {{cite magazine|magazine=Leisure Time Electronics|date=Summer 1981|title=Activision Releases Two New Video Cartridges|ref=LTE}}
* {{cite magazine|magazine=TV Gamer|issue=1|date=Summer 1983|location=United Kingdom|title=The Game Categories|ref=genre}}
* {{cite magazine|magazine=TV Gamer|issue=1|date=Summer 1983|location=United Kingdom|title=Atari Software Reviews|ref=TVGrev}}
* {{cite magazine|magazine=[[Computer Entertainer|The Video Game Update includes Computer Entertainer]]|date=September 1983|volume=2|issue=6|title=Critically Speaking..Atari Computers|ref=8bitRev}}
* {{cite magazine|magazine=The Video Game Update includes Computer Entertainer|date=November 1983|volume=2|issue=8|title=Availability Update|ref=8BitRel}}
* {{cite magazine|magazine=The Video Game Update includes Computer Entertainer|date=December 1983|volume=2|issue=9|title=Critically Speaking..Atari 5200-Compatible|ref=5200Rev}}
* {{cite magazine|magazine=The Video Game Update includes Computer Entertainer|date=December 1983|volume=2|issue=9|title=Availability Update|ref=5200Rel}}
* {{cite magazine|magazine=[[Videogaming Illustrated|Videogaming and Computer Gaming Illustrated]]|publisher=Ion International|date=August 1983|title=The Book of Videogame Lists!|page=71|ref=clone|ISSN=0739-4373}}
* {{cite magazine|magazine=[[Creative Computing]]|date=September 1981|volume=7|issue=9|title=New Games for the Atari Video Computer System|last=Ahl|first=David H.|authorlink=David H. Ahl}}
* {{cite magazine|magazine=[[Retro Gamer]]|title=Activisionaries|last=Allen|first=Mat|issue=25|year=2006|issn=1742-3155|publisher=Imagine Publishing}}
* {{Cite magazine |date=April 1995 |url=https://archive.org/details/flux-issue-4/page/n29/mode/2up |magazine=[[Flux (magazine)|Flux]]|title=The Top 100 Video Games|publisher=Harris Publications |issue=4 |pages=31|issn=1074-5602|last1=Amrich|first1=Dan|last2=Barbagallo|first2=Ralph|last3=East|first3=Mark|last4=Hudak|first4=Chris|last5=Kitts|first5=Jeff|last6=Meston|first6=Zach|last7=Yang|first7=Jeff|author-link1=Dan Amrich}}
* {{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/08/26/top-10-best-selling-atari-2600-games|title=Top 10 Best-Selling Atari 2600 Games|last=Buchanan|first=Levi|date=August 26, 2008|access-date=February 15, 2024|work=[[IGN]]|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20240502223321/https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/08/26/top-10-best-selling-atari-2600-games|archivedate=May 2, 2024}}
* {{cite magazine|magazine=[[Antic (magazine)|Antic]]|date=June 1984|volume=3|issue=2|title=Activision's James Levy|last=Capparell}}
* {{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040616042352/http://www.gamespy.com/articles/488/488762p1.html|url=http://www.gamespy.com/articles/488/488762p1.html|title=Kaboom!|last=Cassidy|first=William|date=June 15, 2003|archive-date=June 16, 2004|access-date=February 15, 2024|work=[[GameSpy]]}}
* {{cite book|title=Video Games|last=Cohen|first=Daniel|isbn=0-671-45872-8|publisher=Pocket Books|year=1982}}
* {{cite magazine|magazine=[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]]|title=When Videogames Ruled the World|publisher=[[Future Publishing]]|date=August 2010|last=Donovan|first=Tristan}}
* {{cite magazine|magazine=Retro Gamer|title=Dennis Koble|last=Drury|first=Paul|issue=107|publisher=Imagine Publishing|year=2012|issn=1742-3155}}
* {{cite magazine|magazine=Antic|date=January 1984|volume=2|issue=10|last=Duberman|first=David|title=Rom Fun: Survey of Recent Cartridge Games}}
* {{cite magazine|magazine=[[The Space Gamer]]|title=Arcade Games|last=Edwards|first=Richard A.|date=September 1982|issue=55|publisher=[[Steve Jackson Games]]}}
* {{cite web|url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/the-history-of-activision|work=[[Game Developer (website)|Game Developer]]|title=The History Of Activision|last=Fleming|first=Jeffrey|date=July 30, 2007|access-date=June 13, 2024|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20240514234710/https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/the-history-of-activision|archivedate=May 14, 2024}}
* {{cite magazine|last=Greenberg|first=Perry|title=Soft Spot - Reviews: 16 New Carts for the VCS|volume=1|issue=3|date=December 1982|magazine=Video Games}}
* {{cite web|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tech/a842792/call-of-duty-world-war-2-retro-mini-games/|work=[[Digital Spy]]|date=November 10, 2017|title=Call of Duty: World War 2 Lets You Play Loads of Retro Mini-games|access-date=October 28, 2023|last=Hegarty|first=Tasha|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211104212516/https://www.digitalspy.com/tech/a842792/call-of-duty-world-war-2-retro-mini-games/|archive-date=November 4, 2021}}
* {{cite magazine|magazine=Retro Gamer|title=The History of Pitfall!|last=Hunt|first=Stuart|issue=107|publisher=Imagine Publishing|year=2012|issn=1742-3155}}
* {{cite magazine|magazine=Video Games|title=Kaboom! Kaplan Quits Activision|date=January 1983|volume=1|issue=4|publisher=Pumpkin Press|last=Krueger|first=Anne}}
* {{cite magazine|last1=Kunkel|first1=Bill|last2=Laney, Jr.|first2=Frank|author-link1=Bill Kunkel (journalist)|title=Programmable Parade|magazine=[[Electronic Games]]|publisher= Reese Communications|volume= 1|issue=1|date=Winter 1981|ISSN=0730-6687}}
* {{cite magazine|last1=Kunkel|first1=Bill|last2=Laney, Jr.|first2=Frank|title=The Third Annual Arcade Awards|magazine=[[Video (magazine)|Video]]|publisher= Reese Communications|volume= 5|issue=10|issn= 0147-8907|date=January 1982}}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=8210&tab=review|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141114095943/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=8210&tab=review|archive-date=November 14, 2014|title=Kaboom!|last=Marriott|first=Scott Alan|access-date=February 15, 2024|work=[[Allgame]]}}
* {{cite web|url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2015/04/activision_almost_rebooted_the_atari_2600_classic_river_raid_on_the_snes|title=Activision Almost Rebooted the Atari 2600 Classic River Raid on the SNES|last=McFerran|first=Damien|date=April 1, 2015|work=NintendoLife|access-date=February 15, 2024|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150405003549/https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2015/04/activision_almost_rebooted_the_atari_2600_classic_river_raid_on_the_snes|archivedate=April 5, 2015|url-status=live}}
* {{cite magazine|magazine=Videogaming and Computer Gaming Illustrated|publisher=Ion International|date=November 1983|title=Preview|last1=Meade|first1=E.C.|last2=Clark|first2=Jim|ISSN=0739-4373}}
* {{cite magazine|magazine=Retro Gamer|year=2025|issue=268|ISSN=1742-3155|publisher=Future Publishing|title=A Tribute to Activision: The Atari 2600 Years|last=Milne|first=Rory}}
* {{cite journal|url=https://gamestudies.org/0601/articles/montfort|title=Combat in Context|last=Montfort|first=Nick|volume=6|issue=1|date=December 2006|issn=1604-7982|access-date=April 28, 2023|journal=Game Studies|author-link=Nick Montfort}}
* {{cite book|last1=Montfort|first1=Nick|last2=Bogost|first2=Ian|title=Racing the Beam|publisher=[[MIT Press]]|year=2009|isbn=978-0-262-01257-7|title-link=Racing the Beam|author-link2=Ian Bogost}}
* {{cite magazine|magazine=Softline|volume=3|date=September 1983|issue=6|publisher=Softalk Publishing|issn=0745-4988|author=MTY|title=Activision Jumps In}}
* {{cite news|newspaper=[[The Miami Herald]]|date=March 19, 1983|page=3C|title=Defusing Bombs is a Real Blast|last=Vogt|first=Rick}}
* {{cite book|title=The 100 Greatest Console Video Games 1977-1987|last=Weiss|first=Brett|year=2014|isbn=978-0-7643-4618-7|publisher=[[Schiffer Publishing]]}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
*[http://www.atarimania.com/game-atari-2600-vcs-kaboom_s7179.html ''Kaboom!''] for the Atari 2600 at Atari Mania
*{{atarimania|id=2727}}

{{Atari 2600}}

[[Category:1981 video games]]
[[Category:Action games]]
[[Category:Activision games]]
[[Category:Atari 2600 games]]
[[Category:Atari 5200 games]]
[[Category:Atari 8-bit computer games]]
[[Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games]]
[[Category:Video games about bomb disposal]]
[[Category:Video games developed in the United States]]