always been more of a DOS gamer, but before we got our first PC at home (1987 or so), all I knew was my neighbor friend's Apple II/c. I was probably like 7 or 8 years old when I played this game, but here's what I remember...

1. It was a space shooter

2. Some parts of it were reminiscent of Defender (i.e. side-scrolling). Unlike most games of this ilk, the scrolling was right to left(!).

3. Other portions were more like Galaga or Space Invaders - vertical shooting, no scrolling.

4. At one point (meeting the mothership?), the Apple's speaker emitted a deafening high pitched sound, the worst thing I've heard from a computer before or since (yes, including the music on the PC version of Tapper). We were always covering our ears whenever this was about to happen.

5. For some reason, I recall the title of the game as "Master Blaster" or something similar. Could be entirely wrong though -- none of the similar titles on MG seem to fit the bill.

Any ideas? :)

Seems like it might be Piccadilly Software's Star Blaster:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMWXQENtu-o
ftp://ftp.apple.asimov.net/pub/apple_II/documentation/games/misc/Starblaster.pdf

Fits 1, 2 and 5. 4 might be the player dying or the noise on stage 6? I'm guessing it fits 3 at the two levels past what is shown in that video, but I can't check right now. I suppose you might be remembering something else, or I could be wrong.

I think that might just be it - thanks! Definitely matches the side-scrolling parts that I remember, at least.

As for the fixed vertical shooter thing, I guess that's a different game I mixed up with it. Must be the one with the aforementioned horrible noise (it was sort of a "warning" sound lasting just a few seconds, played before you start a particular stage).

I have identified the remaining culprit - it is Sneakers!

That deafening squall of eardrum death is played when you're on your last life. See @1:24 here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fN6h_a5TrjU&feature=player_detailpage#t=84s

Might not sound too intimidating today, with our flexible software volume control... not so on an actual Apple //e.

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