Trashman (video game)

Last updated
Trashman
Trashman (1984 video game).jpg
Publisher(s) New Generation Software
Designer(s) Malcolm Evans [1]
Platform(s) ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC
Release 1984
Genre(s) Action
Mode(s)1-2 players alternating

Trashman is a video game developed by Malcolm Evans for the ZX Spectrum and released by New Generation Software in 1984. [1]

Contents

Later the same year, it was followed by Travel with Trashman. The third game in the series, Trashman Through Time, was never completed, however Trashman Goes Moonlighting was made for the Amstrad CPC although it may only have been distributed in Italy. [2]

Gameplay

ZX Spectrum version Trashman screenshot - ZX Spectrum .png
ZX Spectrum version

There are seven levels each consisting of one street each named after streets in and around Bath, Somerset. The player starts at the bottom of the street and has to empty the bin from each house into the dustcart that moves slowly up the left lane of the road. The first level consists of five houses each with a bin to be emptied, the second level has six houses, and so on. Once all the bins are emptied, the player simply walks to the top of the street to complete the level.

Each level has a time limit, if the player fails to empty all the bins within this limit then the player has to repeat the level. If a level is played three times exceeding the time limit, the game is over. The player must avoid stepping onto grass, as doing so will cause the time counter to decrease very rapidly until they step off it. But if the player manages to empty a bin without stepping onto any grass, the householder appears at the door and invites the player in for a few seconds. This will increase the time limit, as well as providing a little humorous conversation, such as "Could you look at my TV?" - "I meant mend it, not watch it".

The biggest threat to the player is the passing traffic in the road: if the player is run over by a car the game ends immediately. Sometimes if the player steps onto the grass, a dog comes out of the house and tries to bite the player, making them limp for a minute or two. In later levels, pavement cyclists must be avoided as well.

Development

Reception

The game received good reviews for its detailed graphics, good use of colours, and the use of bright and normal colours to create an effect of shadow. [1]

The ZX Spectrum version reached the top of the UK video game charts in May 1984. [6]

Related Research Articles

<i>Manic Miner</i> 1983 video game

Manic Miner is a platform video game originally written for the ZX Spectrum by Matthew Smith and released by Bug-Byte in 1983. It is the first game in the Miner Willy series and among the early titles in the platform game genre. The game itself was inspired by the Atari 8-bit family game Miner 2049er. It is considered one of the most influential platform games of all time and has been ported to numerous home computers, video game consoles and mobile phones. Original artwork was created by Les Harvey. Later Software Projects artwork was supplied by Roger Tissyman.

<i>Sabre Wulf</i> 1984 video game

Sabre Wulf is an action-adventure game released by British video game developer Ultimate Play the Game for the ZX Spectrum home computer in 1984. The player navigates the pith-helmeted Sabreman through a 2D jungle maze while collecting amulet pieces to bypass the guardian at its exit. The player does not receive explicit guidance on how to play and is left to decipher the game's objectives through trial and error. Sabreman moves between the maze's 256 connected screens by touching the border where one screen ends and another begins. Each screen is filled with colourful flora, enemies that spawn at random, and occasional collectibles.

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

Ghostbusters is a licensed game by Activision based on the film of the same name. It was designed by David Crane and released for several home computer platforms in 1984, and later for video game console systems, including the Atari 2600, Master System and Nintendo Entertainment System. The primary target was the Commodore 64 and the programmer for the initial version of the game was Adam Bellin. All versions of the game were released in the USA except for the Amstrad CPC and ZX Spectrum versions, which were released only in Europe, and the MSX version, which was released only in Europe, South America, and Japan.

<i>3D Monster Maze</i> 1981 video game

3D Monster Maze is a survival horror computer game developed from an idea by J.K. Greye and programmed by Malcolm Evans and released in 1981 for the Sinclair ZX81 platform with the 16 KB memory expansion. The game was initially released by J. K. Greye Software in December 1981 and re-released in 1982 by Evans' own startup, New Generation Software. Rendered using low-resolution character block "graphics", it was one of the first 3D games for a home computer, and one of the first games incorporating typical elements of the genre that would later be termed survival horror.

<i>Chuckie Egg</i> 1983 video game

Chuckie Egg is a video game released by A&F Software in 1983 initially for the ZX Spectrum, BBC Micro, and Dragon 32/64. It was ported to the Commodore 64, Acorn Electron, MSX, Tatung Einstein, Amstrad CPC, and Atari 8-bit family. It was later updated for the Amiga, Atari ST, and IBM PC compatibles.

<i>Lunar Jetman</i> 1983 video game

Lunar Jetman is a horizontally scrolling shooter developed and published by Ultimate Play the Game. It was released for the ZX Spectrum in 1983 and later on the BBC Micro. In this sequel to Jetpac, the second installment of the Jetman series, Jetman has to destroy alien bases whilst simultaneously defending himself, along with Earth, from a hostile alien race.

<i>Tornado Low Level</i> 1984 video game

Tornado Low Level is a multidirectional flight game developed by Costa Panayi and published in 1984 by the company he co-founded, Vortex Software. The game was released for the ZX Spectrum in 1984, with ports for the Amstrad CPC and Commodore 64 in 1985.

<i>Navy SEALS</i> (video game) 1990–1991 video game

Navy SEALS is a shoot 'em up platform video game developed and published by Ocean Software. It was first released in the United Kingdom for the Amstrad CPC, Amstrad GX4000 and Commodore 64 in 1990. It was later re-released in the rest of Europe for the ZX Spectrum, Atari ST and Amiga home computers in the following year. It was then ported to the Game Boy on 1 September 1991 in the United States. The game is based on the film of the same name and follows the protagonist, Lieutenant Dale Hawkins, progressing through five side-scrolling levels.

<i>Oh Mummy</i> Computer game for the Amstrad CPC and other home computers

Oh Mummy is a video game for the Amstrad CPC models of home computer. It was developed by Gem Software and published by Amsoft in 1984. It was often included in the free bundles of software that came with the computer. The gameplay is similar to that of the 1981 arcade game Amidar.

Sir Lancelot is a platform game published in 1984 by Melbourne House for the Amstrad CPC and ZX Spectrum home computers.

<i>Deactivators</i> 1986 action-puzzle video game

Deactivators is a 1986 puzzle video game designed by David Bishop and Chris Palmer, developed by Tigress Marketing and System Software, and published by Ariolasoft's action game imprint Reaktor. The player controls bomb disposal robots known as deactivators and must use them to deactivate bombs planted by terrorists in five research complexes. The concept for the game came from a brainstorming session between Bishop and Palmer; its design and development took five to six months to complete. It was released for the Amstrad CPC 464, Commodore 64, and ZX Spectrum platforms in October 1986.

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

Hunchback is a video game developed by Century Electronics and published in arcades in 1983. The game is loosely based on the 1831 Victor Hugo novel The Hunchback of Notre Dame and the player controls Quasimodo. Set on top of a castle wall, the player must guide the Hunchback from left to right while avoiding obstacles on a series of non-scrolling screens. The goal of each screen is to ring the church bell at the far right.

<i>Splat!</i> (video game) 1983 video game

Splat! is a maze video game published for the ZX Spectrum in 1983 by Incentive Software of Reading, England. It was subsequently released for the Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, and SAM Coupé.

<i>Bruce Lee</i> (video game) 1984 fighting video game

Bruce Lee is a platform game written by Ron J. Fortier for the Atari 8-bit family and published in 1984 by Datasoft. The graphics are by Kelly Day and music by John A. Fitzpatrick. The player takes the role of Bruce Lee, while a second player controls either Yamo or alternates with player one for control of Bruce Lee.

<i>Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom</i> (1985 video game) 1985 video game

Indiana Jones and The Temple of Doom is an action video game developed and published by Atari Games and released in arcades in 1985. It is based on the 1984 film of the same name, the second film in the Indiana Jones franchise. It is the first Atari System 1 arcade game to include digitized speech, including voice clips of Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones and Amrish Puri as Mola Ram, as well as John Williams' music from the film.

<i>Formula One</i> (1985 video game) 1985 video game

Formula One is a Formula One racing management video game published in 1985 by CRL Group PLC. It was developed by G.B. Munday and B.P. Wheelhouse for the ZX Spectrum, and converted to Amstrad CPC by Richard Taylor.

<i>The Flintstones</i> (1988 video game) 1988 video game

The Flintstones is a 1988 video game based on the 1960s television series The Flintstones. The game was developed by Teque Software Development and published by Grandslam Entertainments. The game was released in Europe in 1988, for Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, MSX, and ZX Spectrum. A version for the Sega Master System was released in 1991.

<i>Ghostbusters II</i> (computer video game) 1989 video game

Ghostbusters II is a 1989 action video game based on the film of the same name. It was published by Activision for various computer platforms. British studio Foursfield developed a version for Commodore 64, Amiga, Atari ST, Amstrad CPC and ZX Spectrum, which also got ported to the MSX by New Frontier. It features three levels based on scenes from the film. Dynamix developed a separate version for the DOS, also based on the film. The non-DOS versions were praised for the graphics and audio, but criticized for long loading times, disk swapping, and the final level. The DOS, Commodore 64 and Amiga versions were the only versions released in North America.

<i>Knight Rider</i> (1986 video game) 1986 video game released in Europe for Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, and ZX Spectrum

Knight Rider is a 1986 video game based on the series of the same name. It was developed and published by Ocean Software, and was released in Europe for Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, and ZX Spectrum.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Chris Bourne (September 1984). "Hit Squad — Not just a load of old rubbish". Sinclair User. No. 30]. Retrieved 2022-12-03.
  2. ↑ CPC Wiki
  3. ↑ "Trashman". Crash (4): 114. May 1984.
  4. ↑ "Trashman". Computer & Video Games (31): 22–23. May 1984.
  5. ↑ C., S. (June 1984). "Trashman". Personal Computer Games (7): 54.
  6. ↑ "PCN Games Charts". Personal Computer News. No. 63. VNU. 2 June 1984. p. 7. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
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.