Backfire is a new homebrew game for the Atari 2600 written by Chad Lare. In Backfire you have two guns, one on the top of the screen and one on the bottom. To control the gun on the top of the screen, press up, to switch to the other gun, press down. Once you are controlling a gun, you can move horizontally and shoot. If you have a clear shot all the way across the screen, you can accidentally blow up your own gun. Also if you shoot one of the barriers, your shot is reflected back at you and you have to get out of the way (hence the name Backfire).

AtariAge and Backfire author Chad Lare are sponsoring a contest to create original label artwork for Backfire. This label artwork will appear on all copies of Backfire, which will be available in the AtariAge Store shortly after the contest. This artwork will also be featured on the cover of the manual created for Backfire. Chad Lare has released a public version of Backfire, which you can download here. Chad continues to work on Backfire, and has several improvements in store for its eventual cartridge release.

The winner of the contest will receive an autographed copy of Backfire, as well as his or her name in the credits as listed in the manual. The contest will run until Midnight (CST), Sunday, September 14th, 2003. All submissions must be received by this time! After the contest has ended, Chad Lare will select one of the entries as the label to be used for Backfire.

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]:

• Artwork - This is the most important aspect of the main label. There are no restrictions for the artwork so you are free to create anything your imagination (and artistic skills) can conjure up. Chad tells us that he is partial to the style of labels Atari used, but that he will not be prejudiced against labels that don't mimic that style. Please keep in mind that this artwork will also appear in the manual created for Backfire.
• Backfire- The game's title must appear on main label and end label.
• Copyright © 2003 Chad Lare - This text must appear on the main label.
• For One Player Only and Use Joystick Controller - This text can optionally appear on the main label.
• 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 Chad Lare 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 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 Chad Lare 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 1/4" 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 examples of labels submitted in our last 2600 label contests, please visit the following links:

• Climber 5 Label Contest Page
• Qb Label Contest Page
• Gunfight Label Contest Page
• Mental Kombat Label Contest Page.

Remember, the contest ends at Midnight (CST), Sunday, September 14th, 2003!