Martianoids
Encyclopedia
Martianoids is a ZX Spectrum
video game developed and published by Ultimate Play The Game
in 1987. Although it uses isometric projection
, as with Ultimate's second-generation isometric releases such as Nightshade
and Gunfright
, Martianoids used a scrolling
display rather than the flip-screen
of earlier titles such as Knight Lore
and Alien 8
.
As with the contemporary Ultimate title Bubbler
, Martianoids was not written by the partnership of Tim Stamper and Chris Stamper. It was instead programmed by a team at U.S. Gold
, and was therefore an Ultimate game in name only. It was Ultimate's penultimate title for 8-bit home computers. In 1988 the company became Rare, embarking on a long-running partnership with Nintendo
to develop console games.
The Martionoids enter the player's ship and attack the brain of the ship with "photon weapons". The player must act to prevent further damage.
The player has lasers for defence which destroy internal walls, computer components and so forth, and the aliens.
ZX Spectrum
The ZX Spectrum is an 8-bit personal home computer released in the United Kingdom in 1982 by Sinclair Research Ltd...
video game developed and published by Ultimate Play The Game
Ultimate Play the Game
Ultimate Play The Game was a critically acclaimed video game developer of the early home computer era. "Ultimate Play The Game" was the trading name of Ashby Computers & Graphics Ltd. , a software company founded in 1982 by two ex-arcade game developers Tim and Chris Stamper...
in 1987. Although it uses isometric projection
Isometric projection
Isometric projection is a method for visually representing three-dimensional objects in two dimensions in technical and engineering drawings...
, as with Ultimate's second-generation isometric releases such as Nightshade
Nightshade (video game)
Nightshade is a ZX Spectrum video game developed and released by Ultimate Play The Game in 1985. Building upon the earlier titles Knight Lore and Alien 8 using the flip-screen, isometric gameplay branded Filmation, Nightshade introduces a scrolling isometric environment branded Filmation II.-...
and Gunfright
Gunfright
Gunfright is a ZX Spectrum video game developed by Ultimate Play The Game for U.S. Gold in 1986. The game makes use of the same scrolling isometric projection engine used previously in Nightshade. The player takes the role of sheriff in the town of Black Rock. Some outlaws are headed into town...
, Martianoids used a scrolling
Scrolling
In computer graphics, filmmaking, television production, and other kinetic displays, scrolling is sliding text, images or video across a monitor or display. "Scrolling", as such, does not change the layout of the text or pictures, or but incrementally moves the user's view across what is...
display rather than the flip-screen
Flip-screen
In video games, flip-screen is a principle whereby the playing environment is divided into single-screen portions...
of earlier titles such as Knight Lore
Knight Lore
Knight Lore is a computer game developed and released by Ultimate Play The Game in 1984. The game is the third in the Sabreman series, following on from his adventures in Sabre Wulf and Underwurlde. Unlike the earlier games in the series it used Ultimate's filmation engine to achieve a 3D look...
and Alien 8
Alien 8
Alien 8 is a ZX Spectrum video game. It was written by Tim Stamper and Chris Stamper of Ultimate Play The Game, and was released by the company in 1985. The game was also ported to the BBC Micro, Amstrad CPC and MSX platforms. It is the follow-up to Ultimate's Knight Lore, which had been released...
.
As with the contemporary Ultimate title Bubbler
Bubbler (video game)
Bubbler is a ZX Spectrum video game developed and published by Ultimate Play The Game in 1987. Although it uses isometric projection, as with Ultimate's second-generation isometric releases such as Nightshade and Gunfright, Bubbler used a scrolling display rather than the flip-screen of earlier...
, Martianoids was not written by the partnership of Tim Stamper and Chris Stamper. It was instead programmed by a team at U.S. Gold
U.S. Gold
U.S. Gold was a British video game publisher and developer from the early 1980s through the mid-1990s, producing numerous titles on a variety of 8-bit, 16-bit and 32-bit platforms.-History:...
, and was therefore an Ultimate game in name only. It was Ultimate's penultimate title for 8-bit home computers. In 1988 the company became Rare, embarking on a long-running partnership with Nintendo
Nintendo
is a multinational corporation located in Kyoto, Japan. Founded on September 23, 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi, it produced handmade hanafuda cards. By 1963, the company had tried several small niche businesses, such as a cab company and a love hotel....
to develop console games.
Introduction
Players are given a cryptic introduction describing an attack by aliens known as "The Martianoids".The Martionoids enter the player's ship and attack the brain of the ship with "photon weapons". The player must act to prevent further damage.
The player has lasers for defence which destroy internal walls, computer components and so forth, and the aliens.
External links
- Martianoids at Ultimate Wurlde
- Martianoids review at CRASH magazineCRASH (magazine)Crash was a magazine dedicated to the ZX Spectrum home computer. It was published from 1984 to 1991 by Newsfield Publications Ltd until their liquidation, and then until 1992 by Europress.-Development:...