Genre: Action / Shooter
Developer: Fairchild Camera and Instrument Corp.
Publisher: Nordmende
Year: 1976
Platform: Fairchild Channel F
Videocart-2: Desert Fox / Shooting Gallery is a multi-game cartridge released in 1976 for the Fairchild Channel F console—known in Europe through licensed variants like the Nordmende Teleplay μP. The cartridge contains two distinct action-oriented games. In Desert Fox, players control one of two tanks in a duel where strategic cover use and positioning against mines and barriers determine victory. Shooting Gallery shifts to a target-shooter format; the player aims a rifle at moving targets, testing accuracy and reaction speed.
Desert Fox challenges players to outmaneuver their opponent using terrain features. Mines positioned centrally can explode if driven through, rewarding the opponent with points, while barriers offer tactical protection but can be driven through, adding a layer of calculated risk. The objective is to score as many hits as possible within the arena’s fixed layout.
Shooting Gallery offers a more reflex-driven experience. Players aim at targets presented on the opposite side of the screen and attempt to score hits under both relaxed and timed conditions. The game supports single-player mode for high-score challenges and a two-player mode where opponents compete to hit more targets, introducing a competitive layer to the gameplay.
