Tunnels of Doom
This is a list of notable releases for the TI-99/4A.
Tunnels of Doom
| Tunnels of Doom | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Texas Instruments |
| Publisher(s) | Texas Instruments |
| Designer(s) | Kevin Kenney |
| Composer(s) | Hank Mishkoff |
| Platform(s) | TI-99/4A |
| Release | 1982 31, December |
| Genre(s) | Role-playing game |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Tunnels of Doom is a video game programmed by Kevin Kenney in December 31, 1982 for the TI-99/4A computer system.[1] It was released in two formats: cartridge with disk and cartridge with cassette,[2] as part numbers PHM3042D and PHM3042T, respectively.[3]
The features of the game include:
- Four character classes — fighter, rogue, wizard for games involving 2–4 characters, and a "hero" class for one player games.[1]
- Random encounters with monsters.[1]
The game is one of the first graphical role-playing video games . Based loosely on the tabletop role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons, it is a standard dungeon crawl adventure in which a player or number of players controls the fates of 1–4 characters as they navigate through a maze of tunnels.[1][4] Texas Instruments used the game in its marketing, citing it as entertainment software involving "strategy and logic".[5] In 2008, Howard Kistler of DreamCodex developed a revised version of the game, which he called Tunnels of Doom Reboot, that featured music by German composer Frank Scheffel.[6][7]
The game has several features that could be considered a first for RPG's and games in general. Upon encountering an enemy, the game transitions to a separate, graphical, overhead battle screen, where a tactical turn-based combat system is used that allows for movement and positioning. It's possible to listen at doors for sounds of monsters, which can be negotiated with in combat as well.[8]
Notes
- ^ a b c d Tresca 2011, p. 138.
- ^ 1984 complete sourcebook of personal computing, p. 272.
- ^ The Milwaukee Journal 1984, p. Accent, 2.
- ^ Wolf 2001.
- ^ National Geographic 1983, p. 288.
- ^ "Dream Codex: Tunnels of Doom Reboot". Retrieved 2010-03-10.
- ^ "Tunnels of Doom: The Music". Retrieved 2010-03-10..
- ^ "Review: Texas Instruments' "Tunnels of Doom"(1982)"
References
- Tresca, Michael J. (2011). The Evolution of Fantasy Role-Playing Games. McFarland. ISBN 9780786460090.
{{cite book}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help) - Wolf, Mark J.P., ed. (2001). The Medium of the Video Game. University of Texas Press. ISBN 029279150X.
{{cite book}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help) - 1984 complete sourcebook of personal computing. Bantam Bowker. 1984. ISBN 0835217655.
- The Milwaukee Journal. 14 June 1984.
{{cite news}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - National Geographic. 163. National Geographic Society. 1983.
{{cite journal}}: Missing or empty|title=(help)