Eighty the wonderful time playing innovative concepts, and that is what we have to ZX Games (http://www.zxgames.com) really the love and passion for. We are not really sure what the weather was concerned, but in some way one person can do a great idea and turn it into a game to sell millions of copies.
develop a game today, it is an entirely different thing. We do not support the idea of having a big team of developers, writers and animators, etc. and create a complex that will need some time to grow on you, and yet will not original . Simplicity and minimalism is what distinguishes a good game; Ingénieuse thinking is what marks a sharp mind.
Today \ 'is featured Thursday Lode Runner. Released in 1983, he \ 'surprising that the game is still selling and people buy every day. Can you imagine that? Not a day passes without at least one person interested in purchasing Lode Runner ...
inventor * Thursday: Douglas E. Smith
* Occupation at the time of the invention: students, major in physics
* Position at the time of the invention: University of Washington in Seattle
Douglas Smith lived in Renton , Washington before going to Seattle to enter the Computer Science Department at the University. However, as irony would have it, the future inventor of Lode Runner failed twice to qualify for Informatics and had to settle on the physics major. Finally abandoned Douglas of the University as a result of the success of Lode Runner and became a millionaire.
The oldest version of Lode Runner was written in Fortran, at the University of VAX 1. It was called Kong because of its similarities with Donkey Kong. Since the development of video games has not authorized the use of resources from the University, the game was known as the chart until its completion. Utilization graph of the machine at the University required the user to enter a secret password. This password has become common knowledge among students, and soon it was reported that nearly 80 of the total number of hours the development of Fortran version and 0 royalties on gross sales. Another offered him $ 100,000 flat. He made the right choice and picked Broderbund. Later, Douglas Sirius blamed for leaking a copy of Miner, which has been widely distributed in southern California.
Broderbund gave advance with no strings attached other than he could not worked elsewhere. To receive royalties, Douglas would finish the game with four main points:
1. Animation
2. Sound effects
3. New title page
4. 150 Levels
With new incentives, Douglas has worked day and night, dropping his classes for the quarter (Spring 1983). At the time, he had only about 30 levels and it is said that he is not creative enough to think of another 120. He therefore let the children come from neighborhood and making new levels with Douglas \ 'screen editor. He visited children on a basic level for all who ended up in the final version.
Broderbund a former Walt Disney animator working in the house. For a reduction in profits, he would design a beautiful title page. Douglas took him up on his offer.
The game is ready for the summer of 1983 as Lode Runner.
Douglas James Bratsanos an offer of lump sum payment for his role in the development of Fortran. James was surprised to receive anything, and accepted.
Douglas \ 'fees started to flow in. He broke Choplifter \' Broderbund record $ 77,000 in one month royalties. Shop rumors that Douglas $ 2 million gross in total fees. Although he had to pay a significant portion of that income taxes for the government, with the net profit, he was able to buy a Porche 911 Carrera, Bayliner Speedboat and a house in Issaquah, Washington.
However, with the money soon emerge quickly, Douglas realized he did not have enough to retire. He started his own company called QAD. The name synonymous with the Quick And Dirty. Unfortunately, we do not know what the company was about. What we do know is that Douglas has not had much luck with it. Thus, it has embarked on a new project named Ralph. Ralph was becoming a new video game for the Apple II microcomputer. However, the project quickly became late and ultimately failed. Douglas has decided to go back to what it was at best, and that is making new and improved versions of Lode Runner.
