Is Space Jockey on Steam?

No. Space Jockey is not distributed on Steam, so there is no Steam Charts or SteamDB player count for it. Its live popularity is tracked here via Twitch viewership instead.

What platforms is Space Jockey on?

Space Jockey is available on Atari 2600.

When did Space Jockey release?

Space Jockey was first released on December 31, 1982.

Space Jockey

Dec 31, 1982ShooterArcadeAtari 2600

Space Jockey — frequently asked questions

Is Space Jockey on Steam?: No. Space Jockey is not distributed on Steam, so there is no Steam Charts or SteamDB player count for it. Its live popularity is tracked here via Twitch viewership instead.
What platforms is Space Jockey on?: Space Jockey is available on Atari 2600.
When did Space Jockey release?: Space Jockey was first released on December 31, 1982.

About Space Jockey

You are the Space Jockey, pilot of an attack saucer which is positioned on the left side of the screen and can move up and down. From the right side of the screen, a barrage of tanks, jet planes, prop planes and helicopters will fire upon and try to crash into your ship. Your job is to shoot or dodge them. In addition to the aforementioned enemies, houses, balloons and trees litter the screen. These three types of obstacles don't fire, but they are deadly to the touch and can be destroyed.

Summary via IGDB.

Game details

Platforms: Atari 2600
Developer: James Wickstead Design Associates
Publisher: Carrere Video
Game modes: Single player
Themes: Action, Science fiction

Details via IGDB.

Collector value & authenticity

Atari 2600 · PriceCharting sold data · Verified 2026-10-06

Loose

Complete

$14

Sealed

$19

Release record

Territory	Label	Catalog #	Rarity
North America U.S. Games	Black	VC1001	Common+
Europe Carrere Video	—	—	—

Also released in South America by CCE.

Source: Catalog numbers, label types, rarity, controllers and player counts: AtariAge 2600 software database

Region: NA+EU
Released: 1982
Controller: Atari Joystick
Players: 1
Authenticity: Low

Not in Atari 50 — other compilations and plug-and-plays are not tracked hereLow counterfeit risk

Atari 2600 prices, all games & how to spot a fake

Garry Kitchen's first game and U.S. Games' first release, a modest 2K shooter at a low price.

Space Jockey is a horizontally scrolling shooter designed by Garry Kitchen of James Wickstead Design Associates. U.S. Games published it under its Vidtec brand in March 1982 as the company's first release. It shipped on a 2K cartridge at a time when most VCS games were 4K, and it has 16 game variations.

It was Kitchen's first video game. He went on to program the 2600 port of Donkey Kong.

How it was made

Designed by Garry Kitchen at James Wickstead Design Associates as his first video game, and published by U.S. Games as its first release in March 1982.

What the press said at the time

AllGame		2.5/5
Electronic Fun with Computers & Games		3/4
Computer Entertainer Vol. 1 No. 4	July 1982	Graphics ★★½ · Play-Action ★½
Arcade Express arcade_express_v1n1	August 15, 1982	7/10
Electronic Fun with Computers & Games Vol. 1 No. 2	December 1982	3 joysticks
JoyStik January 1983	January 1983	★★★

“This glitch aside, "Space Jockey' is first-rate action from start to finish. The visuals are especially charming.”
— VIDEO (Arcade Alley), July 1982

“The latter is an ill-conceived game pitting your space ship against such enemies and obstacles as jet and prop planes, balloons, tanks, trees and houses”
— Computer Entertainer, July 1982

“Jets, prop planes and tanks provide the main opposition, through there are also helicopters, balloons and the odd bit of ground scenery to consider as well.”
— Arcade Express, August 15, 1982

“Although this gem isn't flawless, Space Jockey delivers the fast action and sweeping movement characteristic of the best of the scrolling contests.”
— Electronic Games, September 1982

Computer Entertainer rated graphics first and play action second, from four symbols (excellent) to one (poor) — stars in most years, diamonds in 1986–87 — comparing each game only with other games for the same system. Electronic Fun rated games out of four joysticks. JoyStik’s capsule ratings run from one star to five.

Cartridge & preservation record

Program size 2 KB, measured from the preserved dump.

Catalogue number as recorded for the physical release.

Worth knowing

A launch-day exploit. Electronic Games warned in September 1982: "the saucer can race through the first 20,000 points of what's intended to be a low-scoring game by just sticking to the lower left corner of the playfield."
1983 Arkie Award. Electronic Games gave Space Jockey a Certificate of Merit for Best Science Fiction/Fantasy Videogame in its 1983 Arkie Awards.

Before you buy

Low risk, with no documented reproductions. Loose carts are inexpensive, and boxed copies cost a few times as much. The game also appears as Time Race, and Carrere handled the PAL release in 1983, so check the title and publisher on the label against the listing.