Loopz

Last updated
Loopz
Loopz Coverart.png
Cover art
Developer(s) Audiogenic
Publisher(s) Mindscape
Designer(s) Ian Upton
Composer(s) David Whittaker
Platform(s) Atari ST, Acorn Archimedes, Acorn Electron, Amiga, Amstrad CPC, BBC Micro, Commodore 64, MS-DOS, Game Boy, Atari Lynx, NES, NEC PC-9800, ZX Spectrum, X68000
Release1990
Genre(s) Puzzle
Mode(s) Single-player

Loopz is a puzzle video game designed and programmed by Ian Upton for the Atari ST in 1989. He previously worked as head game designer for Audiogenic, who acquired exclusive rights to the game, then in 1990 arranged for Mindscape to publish it for computers in North America and consoles worldwide.[ citation needed ]

Contents

The Nintendo Entertainment System version (programmed by Bits Studios) and the Game Boy version (programmed by Argonaut Software) were released in 1990. Audiogenic published versions of the original game for the Acorn Archimedes, Acorn Electron, BBC Micro, ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, Atari ST, Amiga, and IBM PC in 1990 and 1991.

Gameplay

The main focus is on the playing board where random pieces of different shapes are presented to the player. A shape is either a single square containing a straight line or 90° corner or a combination of multiple such squares. The player must then try to make loops out of them. Once a loop is completed, all pieces involved will disappear. (You cannot make any line overlapping the edge, in other words, it cannot be placed in this way)

There exist three different play modes, two of which can be played with two players. The third mode of play starts with a loop already created and then takes away random pieces of it, so the player has to put them back in after they show up.

Reception

Richard Leadbetter of Computer and Video Games gave the game 79% for its Amiga version describing its gameplay as simplistic but decent, while noted that graphics looked dated. The Atari ST version received the same score. [7] Steve Cooke of ACE magazine rated the Atari ST version 795/1000 noting its difficulty and longer learning curve compared to its peers. [1] Stephan Englhart of Video Games gave the game's Game Boy version 69% and noted that it didn't stand out among its peers. [9] Martin Gaksch gave the NES version 69% as well calling the idea innovative, but not well executed. [10]

Legacy

A port was done for the Atari Lynx, also for Audiogenic by Hand Made Software but lay unreleased until picked up by Songbird Productions in 2004. [13]

An agreement was reached between Audiogenic Software and the defunct Atari Classics Programmer's Club in 1995 for creating a version of the game for Atari 8-bit computers. Development was abandoned in October 1998.

A sequel, Super Loopz , was published for the Super NES by Imagineer and for the Amiga CD32 by Audiogenic.

Audiogenic licensed the Loopz concept to Capcom who developed a prototype coin-op, but it was never released. Similarly Audiogenic developed an SWP (skill-with-prizes) version on behalf of Barcrest, a leading UK manufacturer of pub games, and this too remains unreleased.

Related Research Articles

<i>Skate or Die!</i> 1987 video game

Skate or Die! is a skateboarding video game released by Electronic Arts (EA) in 1987 for the Commodore 64. It is EA's first internally developed game. Versions for the Apple IIGS, MS-DOS, Amstrad CPC, and ZX Spectrum followed. It was ported to the Nintendo Entertainment System by Konami, published under the company's Ultra Games branding.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Audiogenic</span> Video game developer

Audiogenic was the name of two related UK-based businesses involved in video game publishing and development from the late 1970s until 1997. The original business started out as a recording studio and cassette duplication service which moved into video game publishing from the late 1970s onwards.

<i>Switchblade II</i> 1991 video game

Switchblade II is a 1991 side-scrolling action-platform run and gun video game originally developed and published by Gremlin Graphics in Europe for the Amiga home computers. It is the sequel to the original Switchblade, which was solely created by Simon Phipps at Core Design and released earlier in 1989 across multiple platforms. Despite being primarily developed in the UK, its graphics had a distinctly Japanese style similar to anime or manga.

<i>The Immortal</i> (video game) 1990 video game

The Immortal is an isometric action-adventure game originally created by Will Harvey and released by Electronic Arts in 1990 for the Apple IIGS. It was soon ported to the Amiga, Atari ST, DOS, Nintendo Entertainment System, and Genesis. A wizard is attempting to find his mentor in a large and dangerous labyrinth. It has a high degree of graphic violence. In 2020, the NES port was re-released on the Nintendo Switch Online service, while the Genesis port was re-released on the Piko Collection Collection 1 cartridge for the Evercade.

<i>Iron Lord</i> 1989 video game

Iron Lord is an adventure video game developed by Orou Mama and Ivan Jacot for the Atari ST and published by Ubi Soft in 1989. It was ported to the Amiga, Acorn Archimedes, Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum, and MS-DOS.

<i>Tiger Road</i> 1987 video game

Tiger Road is a hack and slash platform game originally released in 1987 as a coin-operated arcade video game.

<i>Checkered Flag</i> (1991 video game) 1991 video game

Checkered Flag is a racing video game released for the Atari Lynx in 1991. A remake was released for the Atari Jaguar in 1994. Destination Software also planned to release a Game Boy Advance version of the title around 2005, but it was cancelled before it was released.

<i>Football Manager</i> (1982 video game) 1982 video game

Football Manager is the first game in the Football Manager series.

<i>Indoor Sports</i> 1987 video game

Indoor Sports is a sports video game developed by DesignStar's SportTime and first published in the U.S. by Mindscape in 1987 for the Commodore 64. Indoor Sports includes simulations of bowling, darts, ping-pong, and air hockey. It was converted to the Acorn Electron, Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Apple II, Atari ST, BBC Micro, MS-DOS, and ZX Spectrum. Verisons for the Commodore 16 and Commodore Plus/4 omit Air Hockey. In Europe it was published by Databyte, Advance Software, and Tynesoft, depending on the platform.

<i>Eye of Horus</i> (video game) 1989 video game

Eye of Horus is a computer game published in 1989 by Fanfare for the Amiga.

<i>P-47: The Phantom Fighter</i> 1988 video game

P-47: The Phantom Fighter is a 1988 horizontally scrolling shooter arcade video game originally developed by NMK and published by Jaleco. Set during World War II, players control a Republic P-47 Thunderbolt fighter aircraft to face against the Nazis, who are occupying multiple countries around the world. Its gameplay involves destroying waves of enemies, picking up power-ups and new weapons, and destroying bosses. It ran on the Mega System 1 hardware.

<i>Robo-Squash</i> 1990 video game

Robo-Squad is an action-sports game for the Atari Lynx published by Atari Corporation in 1990.

<i>Scrapyard Dog</i> 1990 video game

Scrapyard Dog is a scrolling platform game published by Atari Corporation for the Atari 7800 in 1990, followed by an Atari Lynx port in 1991.

<i>Joe Blade</i> 1987 video game

Joe Blade is a video game published by Interceptor Micros on their Players budget label for the ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64 and Amstrad CPC in 1987. It reached the top of the UK game charts, replacing Renegade. In Germany, the game peaked at number 7. It was ported to the Acorn Electron, BBC Micro, Atari 8-bit computers, MSX, Amiga, and Atari ST. A sequel, Joe Blade 2, was published in 1988. Another sequel, Joe Blade 3, was released in 1989.

<i>Das Stundenglas</i> 1990 video game

Das Stundenglas is a German text adventure game published in 1990 by Software 2000 and developed by Weltenschmiede, and released for Amiga, Atari ST and DOS. Das Stundenglas is part of a text adventure trilogy; it is succeeded by Die Kathedrale (1991) and Hexuma (1992). The trilogy lacks an overarching plot, and in each entry the setting, role of the protagonist, and goal differ between each game. Games in the trilogy do not require knowledge of the other entries and may be played as standalone games.

<i>Omnicron Conspiracy</i> 1989 video game

Omnicron Conspiracy is a 1989 video game published by Epyx in the United States and by Image Works in the UK and German markets.

<i>The Seven Gates of Jambala</i> 1989 video game

The Seven Gates of Jambala is a 1989 platform video game developed by Thalion Software and published by Grandslam Entertainments for the Amiga and Atari ST. An Amiga CD32 port was released in 1994. 8-bit ports for the Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, and ZX Spectrum were cancelled.

<i>Enchanted Land</i> 1990 video game

Enchanted Land is a 1990 platform video game developed and published by Thalion Software for the Atari ST. An Amiga port was released later.

<i>Magic Lines</i> 1990 video game

Magic Lines is a 1990 puzzle video game developed by Tale Software and published by Thalion Software for the Amiga and Atari ST.

<i>Trex Warrior</i> 1991 video game

Trex Warrior: 22nd Century Gladiator is a 1991 action video game developed and published by Thalion Software for the Amiga and Atari ST. Previously unreleased in the United Kingdom, the game was released in 1993 on The One magazine cover disk as public-domain software.

References

  1. 1 2 Cooke, Steve (November 1990). "Loopz". ACE . 38. Future plc: 67.
  2. "Loopz". Aktueller Software Markt (in German). April 1991. p. 102. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  3. Kleimann, Manfred (February 1991). "Loopz". Aktueller Software Markt (in German). p. 90. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  4. "Loopz". Aktueller Software Markt (in German). February 1992. p. 127. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  5. Amann, Hans-Joachim (June 1991). "Loopz". Aktueller Software Markt (in German). Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  6. Schmidt, Ottfried (November 1990). "Spiel des Monats: Loopz". Aktueller Software Markt (in German). pp. 6–7. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  7. 1 2 Leadbetter, Richard (November 1990). "Loopz". Computer and Video Games . 108. Emap: 77.
  8. Boardman, Julian (December 1990). "Loopz". Raze . No. 2. pp. 30–31. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  9. 1 2 Englhart, Stephan (April 1991). "Loopz". Video Games (in German). Markt & Technik: 74.
  10. 1 2 Gaksch, Martin (February 1992). "Loopz". Video Games (in German). Markt & Technik: 65.
  11. Nakamura, Eric (June 1994). "Super Loopz". VideoGames - The Ultimate Gaming Magazine . No. 65. p. 68. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  12. Davies, Jonathan (April 1991). "Loopz". Your Sinclair . No. 64. Archived from the original on January 18, 2001. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  13. Kromin, Igor. "Loopz - Atari Lynx | Atari Gamer". atarigamer.com. Retrieved 2022-11-03.