Double Dunk

Double Dunk
Box Art
Developer	Atari Corporation
Publisher	Atari Corporation
Programmer	Matthew Hubbard2
Platform	Atari 2600
Release	NA: 19891
Genre	Sports
Modes	Single-player, multiplayer

Double Dunk is a 1989 basketball video game developed and published by Atari Corporation for the Atari 2600. Programmed by Matthew Hubbard, who previously worked on Dolphin and Zenji for Activision,² Double Dunk was one of the last games produced by Atari for the console.

Double Dunk is a simulation of two-on-two, half-court basketball. Teams have two on-screen characters, a shorter "outside" man and a taller "inside" man. In a single-player game, the player controls the on-screen character closest to the ball, either the one holding the ball (on offense) or the one guarding the opponent with the ball (on defense). In two-player games, each player may control one of the two teams as in a one-player game, or both players may play on the same team against a computer-controlled opponent. At the start of each possession, both offense and defense select from a number of plays (such as the pick and roll on offense), then attempt to score or regain possession of the ball by intercepting or stealing it from the offense.³

The game offers a number of player-selectable options. Games can be set to last a certain amount of time or until one team scores a certain number of points. Three-point shots can be turned on or off, as can a ten-second shot clock. Players may also choose to include foul detection and/or a three-second lane violation.³

Double Dunk is included in the 2003 Atari Anthology collection. It was added to the Atari 50 (2022) compilation release in 2023.⁴