B.C.'s Quest for Tires

Last updated
B.C.'s Quest for Tires
BC's Quest For Tires.jpg
Developer(s) Sydney Development
Publisher(s) Sierra On-Line
Designer(s) Rick Banks
Michael Bate [1]
Programmer(s) Chuck Benton (C64, Atari)
Platform(s) Apple II, Atari 8-bit, ColecoVision, Commodore 64, IBM PC, MSX, ZX Spectrum
Release1983
Genre(s) Action
Mode(s) Single-player

B.C.'s Quest for Tires is a horizontally scrolling video game designed by Rick Banks and Michael Bate and published by Sierra On-Line in 1983. [1] Versions were released for the Commodore 64, IBM PC, Atari 8-bit computers, ColecoVision, ZX Spectrum, MSX, and Apple II. Based on the comic strip B.C. by Johnny Hart, BC's Quest for Tires is similar to Irem's Moon Patrol from the previous year. [2] A wheel-riding caveman is always moving forward through horizontally scrolling levels, and the player jumps or ducks as obstacles approach. The game's title is a play on the contemporaneous film Quest for Fire .

Contents

Both B.C.'s Quest for Tires and Moon Patrol have key elements of the not-yet-invented endless runner genre, despite both games being divided into discrete levels. [3]

A sequel, Grog's Revenge , was released in 1984.

Plot

The player takes the role of the caveman Thor, who has to rescue his girlfriend, "Cute Chick", who has been kidnapped by a dinosaur. To do this, he must travel on his stone unicycle (actually an impossible wheel) through several levels. Each level has Thor moving from the left to the right, avoiding various dangers.

Gameplay

Commodore 64 screenshot Quest For Tires Screenshot.png
Commodore 64 screenshot

B.C.'s Quest for Tires is an action game taking place on several consecutive levels. Each level consists of Thor having to jump over obstacles such as rocks or stalagmites and ducking under others, like tree branches or stalactites. In between each level is a brief challenge (a precursor to boss battles in later games). The first challenge has Thor jumping on turtles to cross a lake while trying to avoid being hit by the Fat Broad, another has Thor lining up with the Dookie Bird to catch a ride over a lava pit, another challenge has Thor trying to gain enough speed to jump another pit, and the final challenge has Thor jumping on turtles to cross another lake while trying to sneak past the dinosaur. [4] [5]

Reception

Softline stated that, given the conventional gameplay ("it's that get-from-point-A-to-point-B kind of game"), the use of the familiar comic characters made "the player feel like finishing the game is worthwhile ... [Otherwise] it's just not the same". The magazine concluded that "B.C.'s Quest for Tires isn't so much a computer game as it is an interactive cartoon. This cartoon has its limits, but it does provide some challenge". [6] Antic approved of the game not being another "'shoot the aliens and save the world' scenario", and the "first rate" animation, but predicted that most players would "enjoy the game for a day or two, then relegate it to the shelf". [2] Compute! praised the game's "excellent graphics" and animation, which "approach cartoon standards". [7]

David Stone reviewed the game for Computer Gaming World , and stated that "QFT requires far more timing than strategy and, rather than levels of play, it offers new obstacles to overcome on the way to the rescue. Still, it is fun to play." [8]

The game sold a million copies. [9]

Awards

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atari 8-bit computers</span> Home computer series introduced in 1979

The Atari 8-bit computers, formally launched as the Atari Home Computer System, are a series of 8-bit home computers introduced by Atari, Inc. in 1979 with the Atari 400 and Atari 800. It is the first home computer architecture with coprocessors, enabling more advanced graphics and sound than most of its contemporaries. Video games are key to its software library, and the 1980 first-person space combat simulator Star Raiders is considered the platform's killer app.

<i>Jumpman</i> (video game) 1983 video game

Jumpman is a platform game written by Randy Glover and published by Epyx in 1983. It was developed for the Atari 8-bit computers, and versions were also released for the Commodore 64, Apple II, and IBM PC compatibles.

<i>B.C. II: Grogs Revenge</i> 1984 video game

B.C. II: Grog's Revenge is a 1984 video game by Sydney Development for the Commodore 64, ColecoVision, Coleco ADAM, and MSX. It is the sequel to B.C.'s Quest For Tires and is based on B.C., the newspaper comic strip by Johnny Hart. The game was advertised for the Atari 8-bit computers, ZX Spectrum, BBC Micro, and Amstrad CPC, but those ports were never released.

<i>Moon Patrol</i> 1982 video game

Moon Patrol is a 1982 arcade video game developed and released by Irem. It was licensed to Williams for distribution in North America. The player controls a Moon buggy which can jump over and shoot obstacles on a horizontally scrolling landscape as well as shoot aerial attackers. Designed by Takashi Nishiyama, Moon Patrol is often credited with the introduction of full parallax scrolling in side-scrolling games. Cabinet art for the Williams version was done by Larry Day. Most of the home ports were from Atari, Inc., sometimes under the Atarisoft label.

<i>Davids Midnight Magic</i> 1982 video game

David's Midnight Magic is a pinball simulation video game written by David Snider for the Apple II and published by Broderbund in 1982. The game was published in Europe by Ariolasoft. A port to Atari 8-bit computers was released the same year, then the Commodore 64 in 1983. In 1987 Atari Corporation published a cartridge version in the styling of the then-new Atari XEGS.

<i>Shamus</i> (video game) 1982 video game

Shamus is a shooter with light action-adventure game elements written by Cathryn Mataga and published by Synapse Software. The original Atari 8-bit computer version was released on disk and tape in 1982. According to Synapse co-founder Ihor Wolosenko, Shamus made the company famous by giving it a reputation for quality. "Funeral March of a Marionette", the theme song from Alfred Hitchcock Presents, plays on the title screen.

<i>Chuck Rock</i> 1991 video game

Chuck Rock is a 1991 slapstick side-scrolling platform video game developed and published by Core Design for the Atari ST and Amiga computers. A Commodore 64 port followed in 1992 and an Amiga CD32 version in 1994. The game was subsequently published by Krisalis Software for the Acorn Archimedes. Virgin Interactive published the game for the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, Master System, and the Game Gear. Sony Imagesoft published the game for the Sega Mega-CD, Super NES, and Game Boy.

<i>Caverns of Mars</i> 1981 video game

Caverns of Mars is a vertically scrolling shooter for Atari 8-bit computers. It was written by Greg Christensen, with some features later added by Richard Watts, and published by the Atari Program Exchange (APX) in 1981. Caverns of Mars became the best selling APX software of all-time and was moved into Atari, Inc.'s official product line, first on diskette, then on cartridge.

<i>Spys Demise</i> 1982 video game

Spy's Demise is an action game written by Alan Zeldin for the Apple II and published by Penguin Software in 1982. It was ported to the Atari 8-bit computers, Commodore 64, TI-99/4A, and Vector-06c. The game contains a puzzle which at the time of release could be solved for a Spy's Demise T-shirt. According to Antic magazine in June 1984, only four people had solved it. The game was followed by a 1983 sequel, The Spy Strikes Back.

Atari Program Exchange (APX) was a division of Atari, Inc. that sold software via mail-order for Atari 8-bit computers from 1981 until 1984. Quarterly APX catalogs were sent to all registered Atari 8-bit owners. APX encouraged any programmer, not just professionals, to submit video games, educational software, applications, and utilities. A few internally developed Atari products were sold through APX, such as Atari Pascal, the developer handbook De Re Atari, and a port of the arcade video game Kangaroo.

<i>Aztec Challenge</i> 1982 video game

Aztec Challenge refers to either of two early action video games published by Cosmi, as well as two subsequent remakes. In all game versions the player takes control of a running Aztec warrior. The first was a side-scrolling platform-jumping game created by Robert Tegel Bonifacio and released in 1982 for Atari 8-bit computers. Subsequently, a different game with the same title and overall theme was created by Paul Norman and released for the Commodore 64. It includes a level in a modified-first-person 3D-style.

<i>Wayout</i> 1982 video game

Wayout is a 3D first-person perspective video game programmed by Paul Allen Edelstein and published for the Atari 8-bit computers in 1982. It was released for the Apple II and Commodore 64 in 1983. Wayout is among the first maze games to offer full 360 degree 3D perspective and movement, and its graphics were considered state-of-the-art upon its release. There were many pseudo-3D maze games at the time, but they used a fixed perspective and limited the player to four orientations.

<i>Preppie!</i> (video game) 1982 video game

Preppie! is an action video game for Atari 8-bit computers published by Adventure International in 1982. It was programmed by Russ Wetmore of Star Systems Software, whose name is prominently displayed on the box cover. Leaning on the preppy trend of the early 1980s, the game follows prep schooler Wadsworth Overcash as he navigates the hazards of a country club to retrieve golf balls. Preppie! borrows heavily from Konami's Frogger, with lanes of traffic in the bottom half of the screen and a river crossing the top portion. Alligators are an element from both Frogger and preppy fashion; an open-mouthed gator is the icon of shirt brand Izod. Reviewers recognized the game as derivative, but called the music and visuals some of the best for Atari 8-bit computers.

<i>Hazard Run</i> 1982 video game

Hazard Run is a 1982 racing video game developed by Dennis R. Zander and published by Artworx for Atari 8-bit computers. In 1984, Artworx considered re-publishing the game as a tie-in to the television series The Dukes of Hazzard.

<i>Pitstop</i> (video game) 1983 video game

Pitstop is a 1983 racing video game developed and published by Epyx for the Atari 8-bit computers, ColecoVision, Coleco Adam, and Commodore 64. A sequel, Pitstop II, was released in 1984.

<i>Hockey</i> (1981 video game) 1981 video game

Hockey is a ice hockey video game published by Gamma Software for Atari 8-bit computers in 1981. Gamma released the Atari 8-bit game Soccer the following year.

<i>Operation Whirlwind</i> (video game) 1983 video game

Operation Whirlwind is a 1983 video game published by Broderbund Software for the Commodore 64 and Atari 8-bit computers.

<i>Spare Change</i> (video game) 1983 video game

Spare Change is an action game designed by Dan and Mike Zeller and published in 1983 by Broderbund for the Apple II and Atari 8-bit computers. A Commodore 64 version was written by Steven Ohmert and released the same year. Ports for FM-7 and Sharp X1 were released in 1985. The difficulty of Spare Change can be customized through seven settings at the "Zerks Control Panel".

<i>Mr. Cool</i> (video game) 1983 video game

Mr. Cool is an action game designed by Peter Oliphant and published in 1983 by Sierra On-Line for the Atari 8-bit computers and Commodore 64 home computers. The ports for the IBM PC and Apple II were written by John Redekopp and released the same year. The game is heavily inspired by the 1982 arcade video game Q*bert.

<i>Stealth</i> (1984 video game) 1984 video game

Stealth is a pseudo-3D rail shooter designed by Tracy Lagrone and Richard Sansom. The game was published in 1984 by Broderbund for the Atari 8-bit computers and Commodore 64.

References

  1. 1 2 Hague, James. "The Giant List of Classic Game Programmers".
  2. 1 2 Bernstein, Harvey (March 1984). "Product Reviews". Antic.
  3. ↑ "Don't Stop: The Game That Conquered Smartphones". The New Yorker . 7 June 2013.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 ""JUMP! SUCKER" A review of B. C.'s Quest for Tires for the Commodore 64". Rarity Guide. 3 December 2008.
  5. ↑ "Atari 400 800 XL XE BC's Quest for Tires : Scans, dump, download, screenshots, ads, videos, catalog, instructions, roms".
  6. ↑ Yuen, Matt (November–December 1983). "B.C.'s Quest for Tires". Softline. pp. 21–22. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
  7. ↑ Trunzo, James V. (April 1984). "B.C.'s Quest for Tires". Compute!. pp. 99–100. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
  8. ↑ Stone, David (October 1984). "Atari Playfield". Computer Gaming World. Vol. 1, no. 18. p. 25.
  9. ↑ McGill, Nichole (10 March 1997). "Cutting Edge". Ottawa Citizen . p. 49. Archived from the original on 16 August 2023. Retrieved 16 August 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ "1984 Golden Floppy Award for Excellence". Computer Games: 19. July–August 1984.

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.