Advanced Lawnmower Simulator

Last updated

Advanced Lawnmower Simulator
Developer(s) Duncan Macdonald
Publisher(s) Your Sinclair
Platform(s) ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, Amiga
Release1988
Genre(s) Simulation
Mode(s) Single-player

Advanced Lawnmower Simulator is a video game for the ZX Spectrum published as an April Fools' Day joke by Your Sinclair magazine in 1988. The player is tasked with mowing yards with a lawn mower in exchange for rewards. The magazine claimed the game was developed and published by "Gardensoft" and also published a joke review lauding it and released the game on a cover tape. It wasn't officially labeled as a prank until August 1990. The concept has inspired other games with similar titles.

Contents

Gameplay

A game in progress AdvancedLawnmowerSimulator.png
A game in progress

The player is presented with a choice of six lawnmowers, five of which are inoperative and cannot be used. [1] Once the only operative lawnmower has been picked, the player then uses it to mow a lawn. [1] There is only one key ("M"), and pressing it mows one square of lawn. [2] After a lawn is completely mowed, the player is rewarded if it was done well enough. [3] All lawns are identical. [1]

After a few lawns have been mowed, the player gets killed automatically (according to Your Sinclair , the mower "hits a rock and blows up" [4] ) and the game starts over. [1]

Development and release

Advanced Lawnmower Simulator was first conceived as a prank in the April 1988 issue of Your Sinclair . [2] [5] [6] The piece claimed the player takes on the role of a Youth Training Scheme junior gardener with a lawnmower, a small toolbox, and a can of petrol, and would be able to upgrade their equipment, including additional tools, more cans of petrol and more powerful "grassware". It also claimed that lawns get larger as the game progresses, have hidden traps such as stones, coat-hangers, and duck-ponds, and later levels would be rose gardens. [5] The supposed developer and publisher Gardensoft were introduced as "a brand new publishing house that looks set to carve quite a niche for itself in the simulations market", [5] and the piece claimed that they were going to release more games in the coming months, including a spring-cleaning game, a washing-up simulator (including a drying-up simulator), and a laundrette simulator in which players supposedly have to clean bags of various colours and materials. [5] [6] It was also stated that Advanced Lawnmower Simulator is "ACE!" and a "Guaranteed number one!", and would cost £14.95. [5] It was also awarded a nine out of ten and given the magazine's MEGAGAME accolade. [5] An advertisement, which described the game as "The most advanced domestic chore simulation yet to hit the home micro!" and claimed a release date of 1 April and that it would be available for purchase in garden centres, appeared in the same issue. [7] The game was coded by Your Sinclair writer Duncan Macdonald, [1] [3] and released on a cover tape in the next issue. [6] [2] [1] The game parodied Codemasters' habit of including the word "simulator" in its game titles. [8]

Your Sinclair revealed the review and game to be an April Fools' joke in August 1990 (after a series of letters about the game were supposedly posted to the magazine [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] ). The issue also claimed (with screenshots) there are three sequels to the game: one written by Rodney Sproston in which "alien grass has invaded the moon", Advanced Lawenmower Simulator III, in which the player inadvertently enters a nightmare whose only escape from is by mowing through a "dream hole", and ALS Part Four - The Revenge Of Mow, in which the player has to collect money after it falls out of their pocket after purchasing a new mower. The piece finished with the words "Utter crap". [4]

Reception

In 2008, Retro Gamer jokingly stated that Advanced Lawnmower Simulator "has been hailed as THE best game on the Spectrum", and made jocular judgements on the gameplay and graphics as "Outstanding" and "Excellent" respectively, and of the game as "a truly special experience". [3]

Advanced Lawnmower Simulator appears on an IGN list of "Video Games You Won't Believe Somebody Made", [1] and a Geek.com list of "Weirdest Simulation Games of All Time". [2] Vice described the prank as "one of the strangest incidents in mainstream publishing". [15]

Legacy

Advanced Lawnmower Simulator has received a cult following and multiple remakes. [6] The game inspired other tongue-in-cheek games with "simulator" in the title. [8] It has been ported to the Amstrad CPC and Amiga. [16] [17]

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Rick Dangerous</i> 1989 video game

Rick Dangerous is a platform game developed by Core Design for the Acorn Archimedes, Amiga, Atari ST, Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, and MS-DOS. The game was released in 1989 and published by MicroProse on the Firebird Software label in the UK, and on the MicroPlay label in America. It was also published in Spain by Erbe Software. Later, it was released with two other games, Stunt Car Racer and MicroProse Soccer, on the Commodore 64 Powerplay 64 cartridge. The game was followed by a sequel, Rick Dangerous 2, in 1990. Loosely based on the Indiana Jones film franchise, the game received mixed reviews from critics.

<i>Dizzy</i> (series) Video game series

Dizzy is a series of video games, created by the Oliver Twins and published by Codemasters. It was one of the most successful British video game franchises of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Originally created for the ZX Spectrum and Amstrad CPC, the series appeared on multiple home computer and video game console formats, with over a dozen games being published between 1987 and 1992.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lawn</span> Area of land planted with grasses and similar plants

A lawn is an area of soil-covered land planted with grasses and other durable plants such as clover which are maintained at a short height with a lawnmower and used for aesthetic and recreational purposes—it is also commonly referred to as part of a garden. Lawns are usually composed only of grass species, subject to weed and pest control, maintained in a green color, and are regularly mowed to ensure an acceptable length. Lawns are used around houses, apartments, commercial buildings and offices. Many city parks also have large lawn areas. In recreational contexts, the specialised names turf, pitch, field or green may be used, depending on the sport and the continent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lawn mower</span> Grass cutting device

[[File:Lawn Mowing DVIDS119604.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|A typical modern gasoline/petrol powered rotary "push mower" which has self-powered cutting blades but still requires human power to move it across the ground and guide it.

Simulation video games are a diverse super-category of video games, generally designed to closely simulate real world activities. A simulation game attempts to copy various activities from real life in the form of a game for various purposes such as training, analysis, prediction, or entertainment. Usually there are no strictly defined goals in the game, and the player is allowed to control a character or environment freely. Well-known examples are war games, business games, and role play simulation. From three basic types of strategic, planning, and learning exercises: games, simulations, and case studies, a number of hybrids may be considered, including simulation games that are used as case studies. Comparisons of the merits of simulation games versus other teaching techniques have been carried out by many researchers and a number of comprehensive reviews have been published.

<i>Out Run</i> 1986 video game

Out Run is an arcade driving video game released by Sega in September 1986. It is known for its pioneering hardware and graphics, nonlinear gameplay, a selectable soundtrack with music composed by Hiroshi Kawaguchi, and the hydraulic motion simulator deluxe arcade cabinet. The goal is to avoid traffic and reach one of five destinations.

<i>Your Sinclair</i> British computer magazine

Your Sinclair, or YS as it was commonly abbreviated, was a commercially published and printed British computer magazine for the Sinclair range of computers, mainly the ZX Spectrum. It was in circulation between 1984 and 1993.

<i>Barbarian: The Ultimate Warrior</i> 1987 video game

Barbarian: The Ultimate Warrior is a 1987 video game developed and published by Palace Software for the Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, and ZX Spectrum. The game was ported to many other systems and was licensed to Epyx who published it as Death Sword in the United States.

<i>Head over Heels</i> (video game) 1987 video game

Head Over Heels is an action-adventure video game released by Ocean Software in 1987 for several 8-bit home computers. It uses an isometric engine that is similar to the Filmation technique first developed by Ultimate Play the Game.

<i>Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Heroes of the Lance</i> 1988 video game

Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Heroes of the Lance is a video game released in January 1988 for various home computer systems and consoles. The game is based on the first Dragonlance campaign module for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, Dragons of Despair, and the first Dragonlance novel Dragons of Autumn Twilight. Heroes of the Lance focuses on the journey of eight heroes through the ruined city of Xak Tsaroth, where they must face the ancient dragon Khisanth and retrieve the relic, the Disks of Mishakal.

<i>Dalek Attack</i> 1992 video game

Dalek Attack is a 1992 computer game based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who, in which the player controls the Doctor and fights recurring adversaries, the Daleks and other enemies. In most versions of the game, the player can choose between playing as the Fourth, Fifth or Seventh Doctor; in the MS-DOS and Amiga versions, the player can play as the Second, Fourth or Seventh Doctor, and in the ZX Spectrum version only the Seventh Doctor was available. A second player may play as the Doctor's companion. K-9 also makes appearances later in the game as does Davros, creator of the Daleks in the TV series, as the final end of level boss. The game is set in London, Paris, New York, Tokyo and Skaro.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lawn mower racing</span>

Lawnmower racing is a form of motorsport in which competitors race modified lawnmowers, usually of the ride-on or self-propelled variety. The original mower engines are retained, but blades are removed for safety. The sport attracts all ages, and is usually entered into in a spirit of fun rather than extreme competitiveness, though many participants do take it seriously.

<i>Atomix</i> (video game) 1990 video game

Atomix is a puzzle video game developed by Günter Krämer and published by Thalion Software, released for the Amiga and other personal computers in late 1990. The object of the game is to assemble molecules from compound atoms by moving the atoms on a two-dimensional playfield.

Michael Van Wijk is an Indian-born English bodybuilder, professional sportsperson, actor and TV presenter. He is most well known for his role as Wolf on British TV endurance sports game show Gladiators, a role he held for all its eight series (1992–1999).

<i>Darkman</i> (video game) 1991 video game

Darkman is a video game that was developed by Ocean Software and published by Ocean Software in 1991. It was released for the Amiga, ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64 and Atari ST. Darkman had two different games of the same name, one for the Nintendo Entertainment System and the other for Game Boy. The game's plot is loosely based on the film of the same name.

<i>Wanted: Monty Mole</i> 1984 video game

Wanted: Monty Mole is a platform video game published in July 1984 for the ZX Spectrum and Commodore 64 home computers. It is the first game released by Gremlin Graphics and the first game in the Monty Mole series. Monty Mole is a fictional mole created by Ian Stewart, the director of the company.

<i>Hover Bovver</i> 1983 video game

Hover Bovver is a 1983 maze game written by Jeff Minter released for the Commodore 64. The Atari 8-bit port written by Aaron Liddiment followed in 1984. Like many of Minter's other games, it has an offbeat sense of humour. The background music is based on the folk tune "Country Gardens" by Percy Grainger, arranged by James Lisney.

<i>Dragons of Flame</i> (video game) 1989 video game

Dragons of Flame is a video game released in 1989 for various home computer systems and consoles. It is a sequel to Heroes of the Lance.

<i>Moley Christmas</i> 1987 video game

Moley Christmas is a video game released in 1987 for the Sinclair Spectrum. It is the fifth game in the Monty Mole series and a sequel to the 1987 video game Auf Wiedersehen Monty. It was available exclusively on the cover of Your Sinclair magazine.

<i>Barbarian II: The Dungeon of Drax</i> 1988 video game

Barbarian II: The Dungeon of Drax is a video game first published in 1988 for various home computers. It was released as Axe of Rage in North America. The game is the sequel to Barbarian: The Ultimate Warrior, which was published in 1987. In Barbarian II, the player controls a princess or barbarian character, exploring the game world to locate and defeat an evil wizard. The game's plot is an extension of its predecessor, although the gameplay is different. While the first game offers two players the opportunity for virtual head-to-head combat, the second is a single-player beat 'em up with fewer fighting moves. It uses a flip-screen style instead of scrolling.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Luke Reilly (10 March 2013). "5 More Video Games You Won't Believe Somebody Made". IGN . Retrieved 3 June 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 4 K. Thor Jensen (11 November 2018). "The Weirdest Simulation Games of All Time". Geek.com . Archived from the original on 3 June 2019. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 "Advanced Lawnmower Simulator". Retro Gamer . 11 September 2008. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
  4. 1 2 Rodney Sproston (August 1990). "Advanced Lawn Mower Simulator The Trilogy". Your Sinclair . No. 56. Dennis Publishing. p. 49. ISSN   0269-6983.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Duncan Macdonald (April 1988). "Advanced Lawn Mower Simulation". Your Sinclair . No. 28. Dennis Publishing. p. 90. ISSN   0269-6983.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "10 MUNDANE JOBS THAT GOT TURNED INTO GAMES". Digitiser. 8 June 2015. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
  7. ↑ "Advanced Lawn-Mowing Simulator". Your Sinclair . No. 28. Dennis Publishing. April 1988. p. 102. ISSN   0269-6983.
  8. 1 2 Ryan Lambie (6 June 2013). "Codemasters' racing history, from BMX Simulator to GRID 2". DenofGeek.com. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
  9. ↑ "Letters". Your Sinclair . No. 30. Dennis Publishing. June 1988. p. 13. ISSN   0269-6983.
  10. ↑ "Letters". Your Sinclair . No. 31. Dennis Publishing. July 1988. p. 15. ISSN   0269-6983.
  11. ↑ "Letters". Your Sinclair . No. 32. Dennis Publishing. August 1988. p. 13. ISSN   0269-6983.
  12. ↑ "Letters". Your Sinclair . No. 34. Dennis Publishing. October 1988. p. 14. ISSN   0269-6983.
  13. ↑ "Letters". Your Sinclair . No. 47. Dennis Publishing. November 1989. p. 25. ISSN   0269-6983.
  14. ↑ "Letters". Your Sinclair . No. 48. Dennis Publishing. December 1989. p. 21. ISSN   0269-6983.
  15. ↑ Ben Hopkins (8 July 2015). "How 'Your Sinclair' Magazine Changed Video Games Journalism Forever". Vice . Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  16. ↑ Jason Kelk (2 January 2011). "Oldschool Gaming Review of 2010". Oldschool Gaming. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  17. ↑ "Advanced Lawnmower Simulator". Dazeland (in French). Retrieved 5 June 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.