Ultimate Wizard: Difference between revisions
merge to Wizard (computer game) |
wikifying.... |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{wikify}} |
|||
{{merge|Wizard (computer game)}} |
|||
{{copyedit}} |
|||
{{references}} |
|||
{{Infobox CVG |title=Ultimate Wizard |
{{Infobox CVG |title=Ultimate Wizard |
||
|image=[[Image:ultimate_wizard_front.jpg]]|The box cover for [[1983]]'s ''Pinball Construction Set''. The square "album cover" boxes were a popular packaging concept by [[Electronic Arts]], who wanted to portray their [[video game developer|developers]] as "[[rock star]]s."]] |
|image=[[Image:ultimate_wizard_front.jpg]]|The box cover for [[1983]]'s ''Pinball Construction Set''. The square "album cover" boxes were a popular packaging concept by [[Electronic Arts]], who wanted to portray their [[video game developer|developers]] as "[[rock star]]s."]] |
||
| Line 16: | Line 18: | ||
}} |
}} |
||
''''' |
'''''Wizard''''' is a video game for the [[Commodore 64]]/128, released on [[December 31]] [[1986]] by [[Electronic Arts]]. It was originally ''Ultimate Wizard'' written by Sean A. Moore and Stephen Leudders for ''[[Progressive Peripherals and Software]]'' (PP&S) out of Colorado. |
||
==Gameplay== |
|||
| ⚫ | |||
==Plot== |
|||
| ⚫ | ''Wizard'' was considered by many enthusiasts to be better than ''Jumpman'' in many ways. For one, unlike ''Jumpman'', it had a [[construction set]]. In addition, ''Wizard'' also had lots of cool spells that you could cast. The monsters had more character to them, and the levels were often much more engaging. |
||
==Development history== |
|||
''Wizard'' also sported much better sounds than ''Jumpman''. This stemmed from Sean and Stephen's previous experience in sound creation outside of the video game field. |
|||
Sean and Stephen created this jumpman-style game at the same time as Epyx created ''[[Jumpman]]''. Stephen Leudders said that it was a coincidence that the two games were made simultaneously, and it was a shame that ''Jumpman'' came out first because he felt ''Wizard'' could have been more successful if it had been the other way around. |
|||
Craig Smith and Aaron Hightower teamed up to make an improved construction set out of their homes in DFW, Texas. They communicated with Sean and Stephen to understand the memory layout for the levels and set out to create an advanced construction set better than the one included with the original game. The original construction set had remnants in the code alluding to features that had been disabled, more than likely due to their instability, or lack of documentation. |
Craig Smith and Aaron Hightower teamed up to make an improved construction set out of their homes in DFW, Texas. They communicated with Sean and Stephen to understand the memory layout for the levels and set out to create an advanced construction set better than the one included with the original game. The original construction set had remnants in the code alluding to features that had been disabled, more than likely due to their instability, or lack of documentation. |
||
| ⚫ | |||
''Wizard'' is a ''[[Jumpman]]'' clone with extra features. The games share a similar [[platform game]] format, with a sequence of differently-configured single-screen levels to complete. However, while the object in ''Jumpman'' is to collect each "bomb" on the level, the object in ''Wizard'' is to collect a [[key (lock)|key]] and take it to a [[lock (device)|lock]]. |
|||
Whereas ''Jumpman'' is set in a generic [[construction yard]] -style setting, ''Wizard'' has a [[medieval]] style. The player character, Wilfrid, is a [[wizard]] in purple robes, and the enemies include [[witch]]es, [[knight]]s, giant [[insect]]s and other various [[monster]]s. Like in ''Jumpman'', most of the levels in ''Wizard'' have some kind of special [[gimmick]] that adds a twist to the game play. Most of these gimmicks are triggered by collecting bonus items on the level. |
|||
| ⚫ | PP&S took the code from Craig and Aaron, and released an expansion pack. The expansion pack included 50 new levels from a competition held by the company specifically for the expansion pack. None of the new levels had any advanced features because of the limitations of the original construction set. Electronic Arts, including [[Paul Reiche III]] used the Construction set created by Aaron and Craig to create a whole new set of levels. The Construction Set made by Craig and Aaron was also included by EA, as were the levels from the original game and from the expansion pack. |
||
==Reception== |
|||
Craig and Aaron communicated with PP&S (Sean A. Moore, Stephen Leudders, and Steve Spring) and EA ([[Don Daglow]] - the EA producer). Many many people were involved in this game. |
|||
| ⚫ | ''Wizard'' was considered by many enthusiasts to be better than ''Jumpman'' in many ways. For one, unlike ''Jumpman'', it had a [[construction set]]. In addition, ''Wizard'' also had lots of cool spells that you could cast. The monsters had more character to them, and the levels were often much more engaging. ''Wizard'' also sported much better sounds than ''Jumpman''. This stemmed from Sean and Stephen's previous experience in sound creation outside of the video game field. |
||
| ⚫ | PP&S took the code from Craig and Aaron, and released an expansion pack. The expansion pack included 50 new levels from a competition held by the company specifically for the expansion pack. None of the new levels had any advanced features because of the limitations of the original construction set. Electronic Arts, including [[Paul Reiche III]] used the Construction set created by Aaron and Craig to create a whole new set of levels. The Construction Set made by Craig and Aaron was also included by EA, as were the levels from the original game and from the expansion pack. Craig and Aaron communicated with PP&S (Sean A. Moore, Stephen Leudders, and Steve Spring) and EA ([[Don Daglow]] - the EA producer). Many many people were involved in this game. |
||
==History== |
|||
[[Image:Wizard(game).gif|frame|right|Wizard is a [[Jumpman]]-inspired game for the [[Commodore 64]].]] |
|||
''Wizard'' was a descendant of the ''Construction Set'' era of 8-bit home computer games started by Bill Budge's ''[[Pinball Construction Set]]''. |
|||
[[Commodore 64]], released by [[Progressive Peripherals & Software]] in [[1984]]. It was also re-released with an enhanced Constructions Set and additional levels in 1986 as ''[[Ultimate Wizard]]'' by [[Electronic Arts]]. Whereas in ''Jumpman'', the player character could usually only walk and jump around the screen, Wilfrid is able to use [[magical spell]]s. Each level has a specific spell. Collecting the key gives Wilfrid a specific finite amount of times he can cast the spell. Some spells cast projectiles, which can either kill or freeze enemies, while some [[teleportation|teleport]] Wilfrid around, either by turning him to a non-corporeal "shadow" or by instantly moving him to his starting point. As a major added feature, ''Wizard'' includes a [[construction kit]] that allows creation and play of user-created levels. However, the kit lacks the ability to add any magical gimmicks to the levels, as the gimmicks are implemented by hard-coding their effects directly into the game program. In the level ''Ladder Land'', the spherical bonus item in the middle of the extreme top of the screen is very special. It is guarded with an invisible monster that kills Wilfrid on contact. Once you have the key, cast a spell at the monster to kill it, then jump on the platform with the item on it. The item's unique special gimmick is that upon collecting, it recreates itself at the exact same place. This leads to a perpetual cycle of collecting the same item over and over again, so as long as Wilfrid stays put, he can amass millions of points without doing anything at all. ''Wizard'' was a descendant of the ''Construction Set'' era of 8-bit home computer games started by Bill Budge's ''[[Pinball Construction Set]]''. |
|||
==References== |
|||
==External links== |
==External links== |
||
| Line 38: | Line 48: | ||
*[http://www.lemon64.com/index.php?mainurl=http%3A//www.lemon64.com/reviews/view.php%3Fid%3D163 Ultimate Wizard reviewed by Jason Compton] |
*[http://www.lemon64.com/index.php?mainurl=http%3A//www.lemon64.com/reviews/view.php%3Fid%3D163 Ultimate Wizard reviewed by Jason Compton] |
||
*[http://www.geocities.com/svipdaag/vidgames/wizard/wizard.html Really fun and cool wizard fan site] |
*[http://www.geocities.com/svipdaag/vidgames/wizard/wizard.html Really fun and cool wizard fan site] |
||
*[http://www.geocities.com/svipdaag/vidgames/wizard/wizard.html The Ultimate Wizard Website] |
|||
[[Category:Electronic Arts games]] |
[[Category:Electronic Arts games]] |
||
[[Category:Commodore 64 games]] |
[[Category:Commodore 64 games]] |
||
[[Category:1986 computer and video games]] |
[[Category:1986 computer and video games]] |
||
[[Category:Platform games]] |
|||
Revision as of 19:59, 5 April 2006
 | Template:Wikify is deprecated. Please use a more specific cleanup template as listed in the documentation. |
 | This article may require copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone, or spelling. |
 |
| Ultimate Wizard | |
|---|---|
| File:Ultimate wizard front.jpg | |
| Developer(s) | PP&S, EA, Various |
| Publisher(s) | Electronic Arts |
| Designer(s) | Sean A. Moore, Stephen Leudders |
| Platform(s) | Commodore 64 |
| Release | 1986 |
| Genre(s) | Platform game |
| Mode(s) | 1 to 4 Player Alternating |
Wizard is a video game for the Commodore 64/128, released on December 31 1986 by Electronic Arts. It was originally Ultimate Wizard written by Sean A. Moore and Stephen Leudders for Progressive Peripherals and Software (PP&S) out of Colorado.
Gameplay
Plot
Development history
Sean and Stephen created this jumpman-style game at the same time as Epyx created Jumpman. Stephen Leudders said that it was a coincidence that the two games were made simultaneously, and it was a shame that Jumpman came out first because he felt Wizard could have been more successful if it had been the other way around.
Craig Smith and Aaron Hightower teamed up to make an improved construction set out of their homes in DFW, Texas. They communicated with Sean and Stephen to understand the memory layout for the levels and set out to create an advanced construction set better than the one included with the original game. The original construction set had remnants in the code alluding to features that had been disabled, more than likely due to their instability, or lack of documentation.
Wizard is a Jumpman clone with extra features. The games share a similar platform game format, with a sequence of differently-configured single-screen levels to complete. However, while the object in Jumpman is to collect each "bomb" on the level, the object in Wizard is to collect a key and take it to a lock.
Whereas Jumpman is set in a generic construction yard -style setting, Wizard has a medieval style. The player character, Wilfrid, is a wizard in purple robes, and the enemies include witches, knights, giant insects and other various monsters. Like in Jumpman, most of the levels in Wizard have some kind of special gimmick that adds a twist to the game play. Most of these gimmicks are triggered by collecting bonus items on the level.
Reception
Wizard was considered by many enthusiasts to be better than Jumpman in many ways. For one, unlike Jumpman, it had a construction set. In addition, Wizard also had lots of cool spells that you could cast. The monsters had more character to them, and the levels were often much more engaging. Wizard also sported much better sounds than Jumpman. This stemmed from Sean and Stephen's previous experience in sound creation outside of the video game field.
PP&S took the code from Craig and Aaron, and released an expansion pack. The expansion pack included 50 new levels from a competition held by the company specifically for the expansion pack. None of the new levels had any advanced features because of the limitations of the original construction set. Electronic Arts, including Paul Reiche III used the Construction set created by Aaron and Craig to create a whole new set of levels. The Construction Set made by Craig and Aaron was also included by EA, as were the levels from the original game and from the expansion pack. Craig and Aaron communicated with PP&S (Sean A. Moore, Stephen Leudders, and Steve Spring) and EA (Don Daglow - the EA producer). Many many people were involved in this game.
Commodore 64, released by Progressive Peripherals & Software in 1984. It was also re-released with an enhanced Constructions Set and additional levels in 1986 as Ultimate Wizard by Electronic Arts. Whereas in Jumpman, the player character could usually only walk and jump around the screen, Wilfrid is able to use magical spells. Each level has a specific spell. Collecting the key gives Wilfrid a specific finite amount of times he can cast the spell. Some spells cast projectiles, which can either kill or freeze enemies, while some teleport Wilfrid around, either by turning him to a non-corporeal "shadow" or by instantly moving him to his starting point. As a major added feature, Wizard includes a construction kit that allows creation and play of user-created levels. However, the kit lacks the ability to add any magical gimmicks to the levels, as the gimmicks are implemented by hard-coding their effects directly into the game program. In the level Ladder Land, the spherical bonus item in the middle of the extreme top of the screen is very special. It is guarded with an invisible monster that kills Wilfrid on contact. Once you have the key, cast a spell at the monster to kill it, then jump on the platform with the item on it. The item's unique special gimmick is that upon collecting, it recreates itself at the exact same place. This leads to a perpetual cycle of collecting the same item over and over again, so as long as Wilfrid stays put, he can amass millions of points without doing anything at all. Wizard was a descendant of the Construction Set era of 8-bit home computer games started by Bill Budge's Pinball Construction Set.