Loopz

Loopz
Cover art
Developer(s)	Audiogenic
Publisher(s)	Mindscape
Designer(s)	Ian Upton
Composer(s)	David Whittaker
Platform(s)	Atari ST, Acorn Electron, Amiga, Amstrad CPC, BBC Micro, Commodore 64, MS-DOS, Game Boy, Lynx, NES, NEC PC-9800, ZX Spectrum, X68000
Release	1990
Genre(s)	Puzzle
Mode(s)	Single-player

Loopz is a puzzle video game originally designed and programmed by Ian Upton for the Atari ST in 1989. He previously worked as head game designer for Audiogenic, who acquired exclusive rights to the game, then in 1990 arranged for Mindscape to publish it for computers in North America and consoles worldwide.

The Nintendo Entertainment System version (programmed by Bits Studios) and the Game Boy version (programmed by Argonaut Software) were released in 1990. Audiogenic published versions of the original game for the Acorn Electron, BBC Micro, ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, Atari ST, Amiga, and IBM PC in 1990 and 1991.

Gameplay

The main focus is on the playing board where random pieces of different shapes are presented to the player. A shape is either a single square containing a straight line or 90° corner or a combination of multiple such squares. The player must then try to make loops out of them. Once a loop is completed, all pieces involved will disappear. (You cannot make any line overlapping the edge, in other words, it cannot be placed in this way)

There exist three different play modes, two of which can be played with two players. The third mode of play starts with a loop already created and then takes away random pieces of it, so the player has to put them back in after they show up.

Reception

Richard Leadbetter of Computer and Video Games gave the game 79% for its Amiga version describing its gameplay as simplistic but decent, while noted that graphics looked dated. The Atari ST version received the same score. Steve Cooke of ACE magazine rated the Atari ST version 795/1000 noting its difficulty and longer learning curve compared to its peers. Stephan Englhart of Video Games gave the game's Game Boy version 69% and noted that it didn't stand out among its peers. Martin Gaksch gave the NES version 69% as well calling the idea innovative, but not well executed.

Legacy

A port was done for the Atari Lynx, also for Audiogenic by Hand Made Software but lay unreleased until picked up by Songbird Productions in 2004.

An agreement was reached between Audiogenic Software and the defunct Atari Classics Programmer's Club in 1995 for development of an Atari 8-bit family version of the game. This version remained incomplete by the time it was abandoned in October 1998.

A sequel, Super Loopz, was published for the Super NES by Imagineer and for the Amiga CD32 by Audiogenic.

Audiogenic licensed the Loopz concept to Capcom who developed a prototype coin-op, but it was never released. Similarly Audiogenic developed an SWP (skill-with-prizes) version on behalf of Barcrest, a leading UK manufacturer of pub games, and this too remains unreleased.

External links

• Loopz at MobyGames
• Loopz at SpectrumComputing.co.uk
• Loopz at the Amiga Hall of Light