In a world wracked with internecine tanks-falling-out-of-the-sky-in-the-desert warfare, you are the elitest of the elite, the crackest of the crack, the creamiest of the crop. Inexplicably falling yet again onto a mountainside undamaged, you open the hatch of your main battle tank to look out on the serene desert landscape turned warzone. As the early morning sun glints off the barrel, you begin to wonder whether it's all worth it...whether it will ever end...and whether you will ever see your family again. Suddenly the stillness of the morning is shattered by a shrill whistling sound from high above which gets louder by the second. You swing the hatch shut, turn to your crewmates, and shout that all too familiar refrain:

'Incoming!'

Those of you who keep tabs on the Atari 2600 homebrew scene may be familiar with Incoming! We first posted news about the game back in 2001, and author Ben Larson announced a final version of the game earlier this year. If you've ever played Artillery Duel on the 2600 (not to mention many similar games on various systems and computers over the years), then you'll be right at home with Incoming! If there's already a game of this nature on the 2600, why make another? Well, Ben has addressed many of Artillery Duel's shortcomings with Incoming!, including:

• One player (vs. the computer) and two player modes
• Two levels of computer difficulty in one player mode
• Vector based velocity-acceleration-gravity physics model
• Randomly generated, asymmetrical playfield terrain and random starting positions - never the same game twice!
• Adjustable terrain roughness using the difficulty switches
• Terrain damage

How to Enter

Both a main label and an end label must be included with your submission. For your label to be considered, please understand these guidelines and conditions. Any questions may be directed to [email protected]:

		Main Label - There are no restrictions for the artwork or layout for the main label, so you are free to create anything your imagination (and artistic skills) can conjure up. Please keep in mind that this artwork will also appear in the manual created for Incoming!
		End Label Text - The end label must contain the game's title, Incoming!
		Main Label Text - The following text should appear on the main label: Incoming! Copyright © 2008 Ben Larson Optionally you can also include: Use with Joystick Controllers One or Two Players
		Clearly Legible Text - All text on the label must be clearly legible at the size the label will be printed (see below for actual dimensions). Please keep this important consideration in mind while you are designing your label.
		Multiple Submissions - While we will gladly accept multiple submissions, we ask that each label be unique from your any previous submissions in some significant fashion. We reserve the right to reject labels that differ only in color or some other minor attribute from previous entries. We will gladly replace previous submissions with new entries if you so request.
		Use of Copyrighted Images - If you use any copyrighted images, you must seek permission from the copyright holder before using that image as part of your label. Likewise, any labels that use artwork from a previously submitted label will be rejected.
		Permission to Reprint - By submitting an entry (or entries) to this contest, you agree to allow AtariAge and/or Ben Larson to reproduce your submission(s) without your having to grant permission or receiving compensation for the right to do so.

Labels should be saved in a non-lossy image format such as PNG, TIFF, PCX, or BMP. If you need to save your image using JPEG for some reason, please use a minimal amount of compression. In order for the label to look good when printed, it should be saved at 200dpi or better. If you are concerned about large file sizes you can drop us a line before mailing the file, but generally anything under 10MB will not be a problem.

Please take care to make sure your label is proportioned correctly. You may download these graphics to assist in this effort:

• Main Label Template (300dpi)
• End Label Template (300dpi)
• Main Label Template (200dpi)
• End Label Template (200dpi)

Please do not send your labels already attached to these templates, they are provided only to help you properly frame your label. We will shrink and crop your label to the correct size and place it on the templates for inclusion on this page where others may view them. The original, high-resolution submissions will be sent to Ben Larson when the contest is complete.

Actual label sizes when printed are 2 3/4" x 3 3/8" for the main label and 2 3/4" x 9/16" for the end label. If you have artwork that goes to the edge of the label, you will also need a 1/8" bleed around the edges. This bleed isn't necessary for the contest, but if your label design is chosen as the winner it will be necessary in order to print the label.

Label submissions and questions about the contest must be sent to [email protected]. We will post submissions publicly on this page as we receive them. The contest may also be discussed in our Contests Forum. For some inspiration, you can view some of the many labels submitted in previous label contests.

Remember, the contest ends at 11:59pm (EST), Sunday, November 16th, 2008!