Dung Beetles (video game)
| Dung Beetles | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Datasoft |
| Publisher(s) | Datasoft |
| Designer(s) | Bob Bishop |
| Platform(s) |
Apple II Atari 8-bit TRS-80 |
| Release date(s) | 1982 |
| Genre(s) | Maze |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Dung Beetles is an Apple II computer game by Bob Bishop,[1] released in 1982 by Datasoft. The game was ported to Atari 8-bit computers, and also to the TRS-80 Color Computer, where it was distributed by Tandy. On the Color Computer, it was renamed Mega-Bug; however, some copies were sold as Dung Beetles. Later versions for both the Apple II and Atari were named Tumble Bugs; also the Atari version was renamed Magneto Bugs for the 1983 re-release by Gentry Software. In Australia, the game was re-branded Bug Attack.
Gameplay
The game concept and gameplay are based on Pac-Man, but features a much larger maze and a moving "magnifying rectangle" which makes it easier to see graphic detail of the main character and the opponents, but also obscures a small area of the map near the main character, making short- to medium-range navigation more difficult. In addition, whenever the main character passes through a part of the maze, it leaves a trail of dung. When a dung beetle finds this dung, it eats it and follows the trail; however, if the trail branches, or it encounters a point along the trail, it picks at random which branch to follow, thereby giving the player anywhere from a 50% to 66⅔% chance of losing the pursuer. The player can back-track over his own trail (often necessary as the map can contain dead ends) creating false leads for his pursuers.
Development
Whenever the player was caught, the game plays a digitized voice saying, "We Gotcha!" This is the only use of voice in the game, and was a novelty, as the Apple II speaker is only able to emit a click. Programmers clicked the speaker rapidly to produce any sound — the typical Apple II game made only monotone beeps and clicks. Programming the game to play back an audio sample, using only a clicking speaker, was an interesting technical accomplishment, shared with another 1982 Apple II game, Sea Dragon, as well as 1981's Castle Wolfenstein and 1984's Beyond Castle Wolfenstein.
Reception
Softline called Tumblebugs' magifying glass "an impressive programming feat", and concluded that it was "a solid game ... It could stand some more variety, but it certainly does not lack challenge".[2]
References
- ↑ http://bob-bishop.awardspace.com/softlist.html List of software by Bob Bishop
- ↑ Durkee, David (May 1982). "Tumblebugs". Softline. pp. 16–17. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
External links
- Mega-Bug from NitrOS9.LCURTISBOYLE.COM
- Play Dung Beetles online