QIX

[stickofjoy]

I'm a big fan of QIX. Sorry, let me rephrase that, I'm a BIG fan of QIX.

I managed to track down the author of the game, who now runs a business creating CAD software for model railway enthusiasts, and asked him some questions about the game. I'll outline a few facts here:

• He created the bad-guy, or QIX movement as a simple programming demo
• His wife suggested making a game out of it, "sort of like video-game etch-a-sketch"
• Their Eureka moment came in the jacuzzi with a bittle of vintage champagne
• The game is credited to the programmer and his wife
• Being a pretty successful silicon valley programmer, he did so for Taito USA
• QIX was one of only a few games made by the US division of Taito
• The game was named after his car number plate at the time:
• "JUS 4 QIX" B)

In all the time since the game was made in 1981, he said to me that I was the first person outside of Taito to ever contact him about the game. This was a shock to me, but perhaps I'm living in a dream world when I think that such a classic game as this should get more attention? But I guess the creator of Tetris didn;t even get that much attention, the game stole it all?

 

[retrocraig]

All the more worthwhile with a clone of Qix in development for the GP32

 

[stickofjoy]

All the more worthwhile with a clone of Qix in development for the GP32

By me and BFG!

h34r:

 

[khephren]

That's a real shame that no one ever got in touch with him. My mobile phone rips QIX off, the least the authors could have got in touch and thanked him, or given him a handset or something.

 

[Axeman]

Gotta say that I'm suprised he's never been contacted too!

Must be cool to be the originator of such a simple yet totally addictive game!

 

[Tobriand]

True. He really should have been contacted more times considering the sheer number of clones of Qix that exist these days. The game is brilliant (not my favourite yet, but I'm open to see what the future holds) and very very fun. Its author should have got more attention.

Speaking of the author of Tetris, anyone know who he was? Wonder if he'd be interested to know that there's a handheld where half of the free games proper are tetris clones

 

[mosschops]

heh wow, i am a huge fan of qix and its clones also. SOJ : is the "interview" gonna be released anywhere?

i'm really suprised that the chap hasnt got a much bigger name as like tetris its "one of those games" that really hooks you in and yet is so very very simple.

quite amazing

 

[stickofjoy]

Speaking of the author of Tetris, anyone know who he was? Wonder if he'd be interested to know that there's a handheld where half of the free games proper are tetris clones

Alexey Pajitnov, he now works for Microsoft in Redmond.

heh wow at i am a huge fan of qix and its clones also.  SOJ : is the "interview" gonna be released  anywhere?

I've pretty much summarised it in the bullet points. h34r:

matt

 

[Axeman]

The game was named after his car number plate at the time:
"JUS 4 QIX"

So does that mean I've been mistakenly pronouncing it 'QUIX' when it should have been 'KICKS' all along? :blink:

 

[GurtyGurt]

The only reason that springs to mind why nobody would contact him about it, is because Qix was one of the first cloned to hell games. After Qix there was Volfied, and after Volfied there was several thousand porno games like Gals Panic - and most of them suck. Have you ever seen the clone called 'Fantasy' in MAME? It's really wierd, you can play as various 80s celebrities such as Robocop, Indiana Jones, Hudson Hawk, Michael Jackson...it's just bizarre. Another theory might be because Taito mainly develops in Japan (or rather, does now; it didn't then), most people assumed a number of programmers were responsible. Nobody would ever dream of trying to track down the person/s who made Puzzle Bobble, after all...

I probably should also point out that in a modern arcade, Puzzle Bobble would be the highest earning puzzle game. I think this extends to its sequels - at least PB2. Plain old vanilla Qix most likely would just sit there, unfortunately...personally, though, I prefer Qix also

 

[NiN^_^NiN]

I love QIX its a great game and i am surprised that he wasnt contacted once.

There is a new version of qix for the gp32 maybe some1 should do a interview from him and ask what he thinks about the gp32 qix clone?

Think it be great

h34r:

 

[stickofjoy]

The only reason that springs to mind why nobody would contact him about it, is because Qix was one of the first cloned to hell games. After Qix there was Volfied, and after Volfied there was several thousand porno games like Gals Panic - and most of them suck.

I'd argue that Volfied and Super Qix were continuations of the theme, all by Taito. I love their old logo by the way. Gals Panic and Fantasy 95 were definite clones, but they added something else to the concept. As well as naked ladies!

There is a new version of qix for the gp32 maybe some1 should do a interview from him and ask what he thinks about the gp32 qix clone?

I itend to show him it once it's complete. He'll also get a credit in the game "Based on an original idea by)

 

[Axeman]

Cant wait until it's finished. Will it include a 'classic' QIX mode as well as the 'souped up' gameplay?

 

[NiN^_^NiN]

Thats a good idea axeman classic qix would be good if its possible

h34r:

 

[stickofjoy]

Cant wait until it's finished. Will it include a 'classic' QIX mode as well as the 'souped up' gameplay?

as to classic mode, it depends on time and resources really. I'd like to see it for sure, but time is limited especially since BFG has had to devote his time elsewhere recently. He'll be back though, as Arnie says.

The demo will be released first, with the complete game some time later (hopefully short). I'm also prototyping ccode on the PC, so liklihood of a PC (Win) version is very high.

"QIX mode" will be either included in the final release or be released as a game in it's own right. It's difficult to copy or clone a game exactly, especially when the screen sizes are different etc. Hopefully people will be happy enough with QUARTZ.

matt

ps: it is pronounced "KIX", which meant I was also pronouncing it wrong all these years. :wacko:

 

[stickofjoy]

Thats a good idea axeman classic qix would be good if its possible

I wonder if Jeff could make Xcade support it?

 

[NiN^_^NiN]

Actually there is a mame port supporting a hell of alot of roms already its hasnt been released yet but ryleh has done this (is there anything he wont do )


APRIL 2003

GP32 MAME WIP
A new MAME beta has been distributed, with new improvements ! Rlyeh added the 68k, cps1 and mvs (neogeo) drivers, as well as the irem hardware. It still needs some tweaking, as most of these games are too big to be ran on GP32. Also, 1943 has been added, as well as some other games. Expect a mame surprise soon

h34r:

 

[stickofjoy]

Actually there is a mame port supporting a hell of alot of roms already its hasnt been released yet but ryleh has done this (is there anything he wont do )


APRIL 2003

GP32 MAME WIP
A new MAME beta has been distributed, with new improvements ! Rlyeh added the 68k, cps1 and mvs (neogeo) drivers, as well as the irem hardware. It still needs some tweaking, as most of these games are too big to be ran on GP32. Also, 1943 has been added, as well as some other games. Expect a mame surprise soon

h34r:

wicked!

I wonder how he handles the screen differences?

 

[NiN^_^NiN]

well there are 3 types when it comes to mame (from what i know using the pc)

there is the games like 1943 which all just need 1 resolution
There are games like qix and wizard of wor which need 2 different resolutions.

But im sure that its not that hard for the gp32 (well the coding is i bet) it will have just 1 set screen size

h34r:

 

[stickofjoy]

well there are 3 types when it comes to mame (from what i know using the pc)

there is the games like 1943 which all just need 1 resolution
There are games like qix and wizard of wor which need 2 different resolutions.

But im sure that its not that hard for the gp32 (well the coding is i bet) it will have just 1 set screen size

h34r:

I don't see what you mean? I was under the impression that QIX runs at 240x256? How does it use two different resolutions?