View source for Astron Belt

{{Bob
| bobscreen=AstronBelt-title.png
| publisher=[[Sega]], [[Bally Midway]] (US)
| developer=[[Sega]]
| system=[[Sega LaserDisc Hardware]], MSX
| romsize=
| sounddriver=
| peripherals=
| genre= Shoot-'em-Up
| releases= {{releases
| arcade_date_jp=1983-05{{ref|http://sega-interactive.co.jp/special/history/title/astronbelt.html}}
| arcade_date_eu = 1983-07
| arcade_date_us=1983-11
}}
{{releasesHC
| msx_date_jp=1984-04-21
| msx_code_jp=PG001-12SG
| msx_rrp_jp=9800
}}
}}
'''''Astron Belt''''' is an arcade game released by [[Sega]] in 1983. It is notable for being the first LaserDisc arcade game to be released, a format that would later gain greater traction with ''Dragon's Lair'' and ''Space Ace''. It is a shoot-'em-up, where the player controls a spaceship which must destroy on-screen enemies and avoid obstacles.

The laserdisc technology could mean that very detailed background scenes could be created with high quality sound, though the player's sprite and HUD are rendered separately. Though laserdisc games look and sound better than non-laserdisc games of the era, gameplay is very limited, with the player only being able to move around the screen and fire. Unlike most laserdisc games however, ''Astron Belt'' is not quite as linear as the scenes are generated at random depending on the player's actions.

==History==
===Development===
''Astron Belt'' is the first known example of a LaserDisc arcade to be demonstrated to the public, however despite being announced first, it was not released to the public until after ''Dragon's Lair'', which often takes credit for being the first of its kind.

''Astron Belt'' was demonstrated at [[Amusement Machine Show 1982]] (September) and [[AMOA 1982]] (November), and although the game drew crowds, the build was said to be buggy and noticably incomplete. A protracted development schedule meant that ''Astron Belt'' was not released until the Autumn of 1983. The early showing is thought to have hindered the game, as at the time, rivals were able to copy ideas and produce competing games from scratch in a matter of months.

Though most of the background scenes were created specifically with ''Astron Belt'' in mind, some are borrowed from movies such as ''Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan'', ''Battle Beyond the Stars'' and ''Message from Space''.

===Legacy===
''Astron Belt'' only saw one release outside of arcades - a port to the MSX computer range through the laserdisc add-on. It is virtually identical to the arcade version, as the laserdisc itself is identical.

''Astron Belt'' was followed by ''[[Galaxy Ranger]]'' which was also a laserdisc shooter. The two arcade games can be interchanged by swapping the disc, game ROMs and sound board.

==Magazine articles==
{{mainArticle|{{PAGENAME}}/Magazine articles}}

==Promotional material==
<gallery>
File:Astron Belt Arcade JP Flyer.jpg|LaserDisc JP flyer
File:AstronBelt LaserDisc JP Flyer Alt.pdf|LaserDisc JP flyer (alt)
File:AstronBelt Arcade US Flyer.pdf|LaserDisc US flyer
</gallery>
{{gallery
|{{galleryPrintAd
|text=Arcade print advert
|AMLife JP 04.pdf|amlife|4|130
|AMLife JP 05.pdf|amlife|5|130
|AMLife JP 05.pdf|amlife|6|127
}}
}}

==Physical scans==
===Arcade version===
{{ScanArcade
| type=upright
| console=Arcade
| region=JP
}}{{ScanArcade
| type=upright
| console=Arcade
| region=US
| marquee=AstronBelt LaserDiscHardware US Marquee.jpg
| manual=AstronBelt LaserDisc US Manual.pdf
}}

===MSX version===
{{scanbox
| console=MSX
| region=JP
| front=Astron Belt MSX Box Front.jpg
| back=Astron Belt MSX Box Back.jpg
| spine=Astron Belt MSX JP Spine.jpg
| item1=Astron Belt MSX JP Front alt.jpg
| item1name=Front+Sticker
| item2=Astron Belt MSX JP Disc SideA.png
| item2name=Disc (Side A)
| item3=Astron Belt MSX JP Disc SideB.png
| item3name=Disc (Side B)
| item4=Astron Belt MSX JP Manual.pdf
| item4name=Manual
| item5=Astron Belt MSX JP RegCard.pdf
| item5name=Reg. Card
}}

==References==
<references/>
[[Category:LaserDisc hardware games]]