# Black Widow

> 1982 vector arcade game

**Wikidata**: [Q4922153](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4922153)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Widow_(video_game))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/black-widow-q4922153

## Summary
Black Widow is a 1982 vector arcade game developed and published by Atari. Designed by Bruce Merritt, it is a single-player shoot 'em up that runs on the MOS Technology 6502 CPU and was originally released as an arcade video game machine. It originated in the United States.

## Key Facts
- **Title**: Black Widow (video game)
- **Type**: Video game (arcade video game machine)
- **Publication Date**: 1982
- **Developer**: Atari
- **Publisher**: Atari
- **Designer**: Bruce Merritt
- **Genre**: Shoot 'em up
- **Game Mode**: Single-player video game
- **CPU**: MOS Technology 6502
- **Country of Origin**: United States
- **Platform**: Arcade video game machine, personal computer, N-Gage, and others (including platforms identified as Q10677, Q10680, Q132020)
- **MAME ROM Name**: bwidow
- **Wikipedia Languages**: English, Esperanto (eo), Spanish (es), Ladin (lld), Turkish (tr)

## FAQs
**What is Black Widow and when was it released?**
Black Widow is a single-player shoot 'em up video game developed and published by Atari. It was released in 1982 as a vector arcade game originating from the United States.

**Who created Black Widow?**
The game was designed by Bruce Merritt, with Atari serving as both the developer and publisher.

**What hardware does Black Widow run on?**
The original arcade version uses the MOS Technology 6502 CPU. The MAME ROM name for the arcade version is "bwidow."

**What platforms is Black Widow available on?**
Beyond the original arcade video game machine, Black Widow has been made available on personal computers, the N-Gage platform, and other platforms.

**Where can Black Widow be found in game databases?**
Black Widow is cataloged across numerous databases including MobyGames (ID: 64140), Killer List of Videogames (ID: 7139), Giant Bomb (ID: 3030-31922), Internet Game Database (ID: black-widow), Speedrun.com (ID: blackwidow), AtariMuseum (ID: 330), UVL (ID: 769), and others.

## Why It Matters
Black Widow represents an early era of vector-based arcade gaming, a segment that was technologically distinct from raster-display games and produced visually unique experiences. As a shoot 'em up running on the widely used MOS Technology 6502 processor, it is part of the foundational Atari arcade library that helped define the golden age of arcade games. Its designer, Bruce Merritt, contributed to Atari's legacy of innovation during a period when the company was a dominant force in both arcade and home gaming. The game's availability across multiple platforms beyond its original arcade release speaks to its enduring presence in gaming preservation efforts. Its cataloging across numerous international databases and its Wikipedia presence in five languages indicate continued interest in the title within retrogaming communities.

## Notable For
- **Vector Arcade Technology**: One of the vector-based arcade titles released during the early 1980s, a visually distinct format that used line-drawing displays rather than pixel-based raster graphics.
- **Atari Legacy**: Developed and published by Atari, a pioneer company in the arcade and video game industry.
- **Bruce Merritt Design**: Credited to designer Bruce Merritt, representing individual creative contributions during the early arcade era.
- **Multi-Platform Presence**: Originally an arcade title but extended to personal computers, N-Gage, and other platforms.
- **MOS Technology 6502 CPU**: Built on one of the most influential microprocessors in gaming and computing history.
- **Extensive Database Cataloging**: Listed in over a dozen game databases including MobyGames, Killer List of Videogames, Giant Bomb, IGDB, Speedrun.com, UVL, VGList, and others, reflecting its documentation in gaming history.
- **International Documentation**: Wikipedia entries in five languages (English, Esperanto, Spanish, Ladin, Turkish), indicating global recognition.

## Body

### Development and Release
Black Widow was developed and published by Atari, with Bruce Merritt credited as its designer. The game was published in 1982 as a vector arcade game, placing it squarely in the golden age of arcade video games. It originated in the United States, a country that was the epicenter of the arcade gaming industry during this period.

### Hardware and Technical Specifications
The arcade version of Black Widow is powered by the MOS Technology 6502 CPU, an 8-bit microprocessor that was widely adopted across the arcade and home computing industries throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s. The game is identified in the MAME (Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator) system under the ROM name "bwidow," enabling its preservation and emulation on modern systems.

### Genre and Gameplay
Black Widow is classified as a shoot 'em up, a genre characterized by fast-paced action in which the player primarily engages in shooting enemies or projectiles. The game supports a single-player mode, focusing on an individual arcade experience rather than cooperative or competitive multiplayer.

### Platform Availability
While originally released as an arcade video game machine, Black Widow has been ported or made available across additional platforms over time. These include personal computers and the N-Gage, a mobile gaming device. Other platform identifiers referenced in database entries (Q10677, Q10680, Q132020) suggest further distribution across distinct gaming systems.

### Database Presence and Identifiers
Black Widow is extensively cataloged across gaming databases, reflecting its recognized status in video game history:

- **Arcade-Specific Databases**: AtariMuseum ID 330; UVL Game ID 769 (arcade qualifier); Coinop.org IDs 100015 and 106009; Killer List of Videogames ID 7139; Gaming History ID 268 (arcade qualifier)
- **General Game Databases**: MobyGames ID 64140; Giant Bomb ID 3030-31922 (former scheme); Internet Game Database ID black-widow; VGList ID 11920; Gamesmeter ID 11065; GamersGlobal ID 142075; Game Classification ID 1094; GamerProfiles ID YM1w
- **Community and Strategy Resources**: Speedrun.com ID blackwidow; PCGamingWiki ID Black_Widow; StrategyWiki ID Black_Widow; Lutris ID black-widow; My Abandonware ID s6z
- **Cross-Reference Identifiers**: Freebase ID /m/07xfm3; Wikidata description "1982 vector arcade game"

### International Reach
The game has Wikipedia articles in five languages: English (en), Esperanto (eo), Spanish (es), Ladin (lld), and Turkish (tr), with a total sitelink count of 5 across Wikipedia language editions.

### Country of Origin
Black Widow was developed in the United States, a nation that during the early 1980s was the dominant force in arcade game design and manufacturing. The U.S. was home to Atari and other major arcade companies that drove the global expansion of the video game industry during this era.

## References

1. Q124398839
2. GamesMeter.nl