Chip's Challenge
| Chip's Challenge | |
|---|---|
 Screenshot of the Windows version |
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| Developer(s) | Epyx |
| Publisher(s) |
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| Designer(s) | Chuck Sommerville |
| Platform(s) | Windows, MS-DOS, Atari Lynx, Atari ST, Amiga, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC |
| Release date(s) | 1989 (Lynx) |
| Genre(s) | Puzzle |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
| Distribution | 3½ in. Floppy disk, 5.25" Floppy disk, cartridge, cassette tape |
Chip's Challenge is a top-down tile-based puzzle video game for several systems, including the hand-held Atari Lynx, Amiga, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum,[1] DOS, and Windows (included in the Microsoft Entertainment Pack and Best of Microsoft Entertainment Pack). It has also been ported to the TI-84+ calculator and the TI-89 Titanium.[2] The original game was designed and coded by Chuck Sommerville, who also designed about a third of the levels.[3] Most of the conversions from the Atari Lynx original to other formats were carried out by Images Software in the UK.
The premise of the game is that high-school nerd Chip McCallahan has met Melinda The Mental Marvel in the school science laboratory and must navigate through Melinda's "Clubhouse" (a series of increasingly difficult puzzles) in order to prove himself and gain membership to the very exclusive Bit Buster Club.
Sommerville is also involved in a new puzzle game called Chuck's Challenge.[4]
Contents |
Gameplay[edit]
Chip's Challenge consists of a series of 148 two-dimensional levels (149 in Microsoft's version) which feature the player character, Nerdy Chip McCallahan,[5] often called just Chip, and various game elements such as computer chips, buttons, locked doors, water and lethal monsters. Gameplay involves using arrow keys, directional pad or mouse to move Chip about each of the levels in turn, collecting enough chips to open the chip socket at the end of each level, get to the exit, and move on to the next level.
While the same set of rules applies to each level, there are many different kinds of levels. Some are action-oriented and some are puzzle-oriented. Most levels have a time limit. Types of levels include solving a block-pushing puzzle to clear a path, dodging enemies, and moving through a maze. Levels can be skipped by entering an appropriate four-letter non-case-sensitive password. For the PC versions, game progress is automatically saved. If one is having a lot of trouble with a level, the game allows the player to skip to the next level. Progress is measured in terms of completed levels and player score, which is a sum of the scores obtained on each level. Level scores for timed levels can be improved by quickly completing the level, and scores on all levels can be improved by using fewer attempts to complete the level.
Sequels[edit]
The success of Chip's Challenge led Chuck Sommerville to create a sequel, Chip's Challenge 2 (CC2). CC2 included new elements and levels in addition to the original ones. However, the game has never been released to the public, as Sommerville and the copyright holder of the game could not agree on terms due to the copyright holder wanting $100,000+ upfront.[4]
Chuck's Challenge is a game that is somewhat similar to Chip's Challenge, and has been released by Niffler, of which Chuck Sommerville is founding member.[6] The premise of the game is that Chuck Sommerville himself, as the creator of Chip's Challenge, has been summoned by an alien called Woop to create video games for the two of them to play. Chuck's Challenge includes 100 levels, multi-player racing, weekly puzzles, and a built-in level editor. The game has been designed so that players can upload the levels they create across multiple devices. The game is available for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.[7] Windows and Mac versions were successfully funded through Kickstarter on April, 2012.[8] The game is also a candidate for release on Steam through Steam Greenlight for the second quarter of 2013[9] and the NVIDIA Shield.[10]
References[edit]
- ^ Chip's Challenge at World of Spectrum
- ^ Chip's Challenge for TI-83+ - ticalc.org
- ^ "Message from Chuck Sommerville on Richard Field's Chip's Challenge Page". Retrieved 2007-04-19.
- ^ a b Chuck Sommerville Interview - YouTube
- ^ "AGH Lynx Review - Chip's Challenge". AGH. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
- ^ Niffler - team members
- ^ Apple App Store - Chuck's Challenge
- ^ Chuck's Challenge 3D by Niffler - Kickstarter
- ^ Steam Greenlight - Chuck's Challenge 3D
- ^ NVIDIA SHIELD - - Chuck's Challenge 3D
External links[edit]
 |
Look up Appendix:Chip's Challenge in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. |
- Chip's Challenge at MobyGames
- Chip's Challenge guide at StrategyWiki
- Chip's Challenge at World of Spectrum
- Chuck's Challenge
- Tile World (a free clone of Chip's Challenge)
- The Chip's Challenge Wiki
