Spot: The Video Game

Cover art (NES)
Developer(s) Virgin Mastertronic
Publisher(s) Virgin Mastertronic
Arcadia Systems (NES)
Designer(s) Graeme Devine
Artist(s) Robert Stein III
Composer(s) Ken Hedgecock (NES)
Geoff Follin (Game Boy)
Platform(s) Amiga, Atari ST, DOS, Game Boy, Nintendo Entertainment System
Release date(s) 1990
Genre(s) Abstract strategy game
Mode(s) Single-player

Spot: The Video Game is a video game developed and produced by Virgin Mastertronic in 1990/1991 for the Amiga, Atari ST, DOS computers, Game Boy and NES. It is the first video game to feature the then current 7 Up mascot "Spot", and was later followed up by platformers Cool Spot and Spot Goes To Hollywood. Gameplay is similar to the video game "Ataxx".

Initially the Amiga and Atari ST versions of the game were known as Infection, and were due to be released as budget titles. When the license was added the price increased; however, the non-branded Infection version of the game was released by developer Gary Dunne as freeware in 1994.[1]

Graeme Devine recalled that the NES version was created "over six weeks with no development hardware or software".[2]

For a limited time, a mail-in promotion was offered to purchase the NES version for $24.99, along with four labels from specially marked 7up bottles.

Gameplay

Gameplay took place on a 7x7 board, though in some variations, certain locations on that board would be unavailable. Two to four players alternated turns, with each player controlling pieces of a specific color. On each turn, a player selects an existing piece of his color, and then an empty position one or two squares away. If the selected location is one square away, a new piece is created in that location; otherwise, the chosen piece moves from its original location to the new location. In either case, all adjacent pieces are then changed to that player's color.

Spot: The Video Game offered an animated approach to moving the pieces. Depending on the proximity and direction of the move, the Spot character would appear as the moving piece and do a dance, roller skate, cart wheel, dive, fall backwards, etc. to the destination location.

The NES and DOS versions allowed up to four players, each designated by a specific color. Human players would hand off controllers so all members could make their moves when their turn arose.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Spot: The Video Game at MobyGames
  2. ↑ "A Moment With... Graeme Devine". Retro Gamer (122). Imagine Publishing. December 2013. p. 30.


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