I, Robot (video game)

I, Robot is a 1984 multidirectional shooter video game developed and published by Atari, Inc. for arcades. The game has the player assume the role of "Unhappy Interface Robot #1984", a servant bot that rebels against Big Brother. The object of the game involves the servant bot going through 126 levels, turning red squares to blue to destroy Big Brother's shield and eye. In addition to the main game, the player is given the option to switch to Doodle City, a drawing tool that lasts for three minutes.

I, Robot was designed by Dave Theurer, and was the first commercially produced arcade video game rendered entirely with real-time, flat-shaded, 3D polygon graphics. Previous real-time 3D graphics were vector lines instead of rasterized polygons, one example being Atari's Tempest (1981), a "tube shooter" which Theurer had also designed and programmed. While Funai's laserdisc game Interstellar (1983) had previously used pre-rendered 3D graphics and Simutrek's Cube Quest (1983) had used real-time 3D graphics combined with laserdisc full-motion video backgrounds, I, Robot was the first arcade game to be rendered entirely with 3D polygon graphics at runtime. It was also the first video game to feature camera-control options. The game's name was originally "Ice Castles", but was changed to "I, Robot".

Upon release, I, Robot received mixed reception and was a financial flop. Approximately 750–1000 units of the game were created, with few having been confirmed to exist today. However, the remaining arcade cabinets have become rare collectibles and the game received later praise for its innovative 3D graphics. Author David Ellis listed it as one of the "notable classics" of its time. In 2022, the game was included as part of the Atari 50 compilation, marking its first re-release.

I, Robot and Return of the Jedi were the last two arcade games released from Atari, Inc. Shortly afterward, the company was split up, with the home console and personal computer divisions sold to Jack Tramiel and renamed Atari Corporation. The arcade coin-op division was retained by Warner Communications and renamed Atari Games. Marble Madness was the first arcade coin-op game released under the new Atari Games banner.