Skool Daze
| Skool Daze | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Developer(s) | David Reidy, Helen Reidy |
| Publisher(s) | Microsphere (1984) |
| Designer(s) | David Reidy, Helen Reidy, Keith Warrington |
| Platform(s) | ZX Spectrum Commodore 64 |
| Release date(s) | 1984 |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
| Media/distribution | Cassette |
Skool Daze is a computer game created by David Reidy (whose wife Helen was a school teacher at the time[1]) in collaboration with graphics designer Keith Warrington for the ZX Spectrum and released by their company Microsphere in 1984. A Commodore 64 port was subsequently made. The game was critically acclaimed by several contemporary magazines for breaking many of the gaming moulds by pursuing a creative route of a childhood experience at school.
Contents |
Gameplay [edit]
The game featured the player as a schoolboy named Eric, with the objective of stealing his report card out of the staff room safe by accomplishing various tasks around the school. The computer controlled all the other characters in the game, including the headmaster, other teachers, the school tearaway, bully and swot, and numerous other pupils. All characters could be renamed. If Eric was caught out of class or otherwise misbehaving, a teacher could hand him lines; when over 10,000 were accumulated, the game would end with Eric's expulsion.[2]
Bugs [edit]
There are plenty of seats in the Exam Room and the White Room but an insufficient number in the Reading Room and Map Room. This is a source of frustration to the player as Eric is constantly shoved out of his seat and punished with lines for sitting on the floor. In the sequel, Back To Skool, this behaviour was altered so that other kids were not able to push Eric out of his chair (though an examination of the code suggests that this feature is actually a bug).[3]
Self promotion [edit]
The character of Boy Wander would write on blackboards about Microsphere games like Wheelie and Sky Ranger. In Back to Skool, Boy Wander writes about Contact Sam Cruise.
Reception [edit]
| Reception | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Publication | Score |
| Computer and Video Games | 34/40[4] |
| Crash | 93%[5] |
| Sinclair User |   [6] |
| Your Sinclair | 8/10[7] |
| ZX Computing | 8/10[8] |
| Sinclair Programs | 75%[9] |
| Your Spectrum |   [10] |
The ZX Spectrum version was voted the 4th best game of all time in a special issue of Your Sinclair magazine in 2004.[11]
Compilation appearances [edit]
Skool Daze appeared on the Spectrum compilation 4-Most Big Hits by Alternative Software, which also included Yeti by Destiny Software, Flunky by Piranha Games and Hysteria by Software Projects. It also appeared on the compilation 10 Computer Hits 1 by Beau-Jolly.
Sequels [edit]
The game was followed by Back to Skool, which expanded the gameplay to include a neighbouring girls' school and a love interest (with the benefit of being able to reduce one's lines), along with stink bombs, mice, water pistols, frogs, sherry and a long-suffering caretaker. An unofficial remake is Klass of '99, a PC edition of Skool Daze with updated graphics and various changes to the gameplay.
References [edit]
- ^ "LITTLE AND ROUND, WITH NO SHARP EDGES". Crash Magazine. Retrieved 2006-07-06.
- ^ Skool Daze (review) (11). Crash Magazine. 1984. Retrieved 9 January 2013.
- ^ "Back to Skool: Routine at 26175". Pyskool.ca. Retrieved 2012-04-23.
- ^ "Archive - Magazine viewer". World of Spectrum. Retrieved 2012-04-23.
- ^ "Archive - Magazine viewer". World of Spectrum. Retrieved 2012-04-23.
- ^ "Archive - Magazine viewer". World of Spectrum. Retrieved 2012-04-23.
- ^ "Skool Daze". Ysrnry.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-04-23.
- ^ "Archive - Magazine viewer". World of Spectrum. Retrieved 2012-04-23.
- ^ "Archive - Magazine viewer". World of Spectrum. Retrieved 2012-04-23.
- ^ "Archive - Magazine viewer". World of Spectrum. Retrieved 2012-04-23.
- ^ "Top 50 Games of All Time". Your Sinclair (Imagine Publishing). November 2004.
