Wizard (computer game)
Encyclopedia
This article is about the Commodore 64 game; for the Atari 2600
game by Chris Crawford
, see Wizard (2005 video game).
Wizard is a video game developed for the Commodore 64
/128, released in 1983 by Electronic Arts
, and written by Sean A. Moore
and Stephen Leudders for Progressive Peripherals and Software (PP&S) out of Colorado. It was later modified and re-released as Ultimate Wizard.
Wilfrid around, either by turning him to a non-corporeal "shadow" or by instantly moving him to his starting point.
s, giant insect
s and other various monster
s.
. The game was created contemporaneously with the Epyx release Jumpman
. Stephen Leudder stated that it was a coincidence, and that he felt Wizard could have been more successful if Jumpman had not been released first. There are many notable similarities between Jumpman and Wizard. Both share a platform game
format with a sequence of differently-configured single-screen levels to complete. However, while the object in Jumpman is to collect each "bomb" on the level, the object in Wizard is to collect a key
and take it to a lock
. The game also featured surprises that would be triggered by collecting bonus items in each level.
Wizard was groundbreaking in many ways; it included a construction kit that allows creation and play of user-created levels. However, the kit lacked the ability to add any special treasure-collection effects to the levels, as they were implemented by hard-coding their effects directly into the game program.
. They communicated with Sean and Stephen to understand the memory layout for the levels and then set out to create an advanced construction set better than the one included with the original game. The original set had remnants in its code alluding to features that had been disabled, likely due to their instability or lack of documentation.
PP&S took the code from Craig and Aaron, and released an expansion pack. The expansion pack included 50 new levels from a competition held by the company specifically for the expansion pack. None of the new levels had any advanced features because of the limitations of the original construction set. Electronic Arts, including Paul Reiche III
, used the Construction set created by Aaron and Craig to create a whole new set of levels. The Construction Set made by Craig and Aaron was also included by EA, as were the levels from the original game and from the expansion pack.
. In addition, Wizard also had many spells that could be utilized. The sound was notably better as well, this due to Sean and Stephen's previous experience in sound creation outside of the video game field.
Atari 2600
The Atari 2600 is a video game console released in October 1977 by Atari, Inc. It is credited with popularizing the use of microprocessor-based hardware and cartridges containing game code, instead of having non-microprocessor dedicated hardware with all games built in...
game by Chris Crawford
Chris Crawford (game designer)
Christopher Crawford is a computer game designer and writer noted for creating a number of important games in the 1980s, founding The Journal of Computer Game Design, and organizing the Computer Game Developers' Conference.- Biography :...
, see Wizard (2005 video game).
Wizard is a video game developed for the Commodore 64
Commodore 64
The Commodore 64 is an 8-bit home computer introduced by Commodore International in January 1982.Volume production started in the spring of 1982, with machines being released on to the market in August at a price of US$595...
/128, released in 1983 by Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts, Inc. is a major American developer, marketer, publisher and distributor of video games. Founded and incorporated on May 28, 1982 by Trip Hawkins, the company was a pioneer of the early home computer games industry and was notable for promoting the designers and programmers...
, and written by Sean A. Moore
Sean A. Moore
Sean A. Moore was an American fantasy and science fiction writer, and computer programmer. His primary significance as a writer is for his three pastiche novels featuring Robert E...
and Stephen Leudders for Progressive Peripherals and Software (PP&S) out of Colorado. It was later modified and re-released as Ultimate Wizard.
Gameplay
Each level contains keys, and the object involves getting Wilfrid to get the key to move on to the next location. Each level also requires a different spell to find the key, and every key found gives him a finite amount of times he could cast the spell. Some spells cast projectiles, which could either kill or freeze enemies, while some would teleportTeleportation
Teleportation is the fictional or imagined process by which matter is instantaneously transferred from one place to another.Teleportation may also refer to:*Quantum teleportation, a method of transmitting quantum data...
Wilfrid around, either by turning him to a non-corporeal "shadow" or by instantly moving him to his starting point.
Plot
The player character, Wilfrid, is a wizard in purple robes, and his enemies include witches, knightKnight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
s, giant insect
Insect
Insects are a class of living creatures within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body , three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae...
s and other various monster
Monster
A monster is any fictional creature, usually found in legends or horror fiction, that is somewhat hideous and may produce physical harm or mental fear by either its appearance or its actions...
s.
Development history
Wizard was a product of the Construction Set era of 8-bit home computer games started by Bill Budge's Pinball Construction SetPinball Construction Set
Pinball Construction Set is a computer game by Bill Budge published by Electronic Arts. It was released for the Apple II and Atari 800 in 1983 and was later ported to other platforms, such as the Commodore 64 and DOS .-Description:...
. The game was created contemporaneously with the Epyx release Jumpman
Jumpman
Jumpman is a platform game written by Randy Glover and released by Epyx in 1983. Originally developed for the Atari 400/800, versions were also released for the Commodore 64, Apple II, and IBM PC....
. Stephen Leudder stated that it was a coincidence, and that he felt Wizard could have been more successful if Jumpman had not been released first. There are many notable similarities between Jumpman and Wizard. Both share a platform game
Platform game
A platform game is a video game characterized by requiring the player to jump to and from suspended platforms or over obstacles . It must be possible to control these jumps and to fall from platforms or miss jumps...
format with a sequence of differently-configured single-screen levels to complete. However, while the object in Jumpman is to collect each "bomb" on the level, the object in Wizard is to collect a key
Key (lock)
A key is an instrument that is used to operate a lock. A typical key consists of two parts: the blade, which slides into the keyway of the lock and distinguishes between different keys, and the bow, which is left protruding so that torque can be applied by the user. The blade is usually intended to...
and take it to a lock
Lock (device)
A lock is a mechanical or electronic fastening device that is released by a physical object or secret information , or combination of more than one of these....
. The game also featured surprises that would be triggered by collecting bonus items in each level.
Wizard was groundbreaking in many ways; it included a construction kit that allows creation and play of user-created levels. However, the kit lacked the ability to add any special treasure-collection effects to the levels, as they were implemented by hard-coding their effects directly into the game program.
Ultimate Wizard
Craig Smith and Aaron Hightower teamed up to make an improved construction set in their homes in Dallas, TexasDallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
. They communicated with Sean and Stephen to understand the memory layout for the levels and then set out to create an advanced construction set better than the one included with the original game. The original set had remnants in its code alluding to features that had been disabled, likely due to their instability or lack of documentation.
PP&S took the code from Craig and Aaron, and released an expansion pack. The expansion pack included 50 new levels from a competition held by the company specifically for the expansion pack. None of the new levels had any advanced features because of the limitations of the original construction set. Electronic Arts, including Paul Reiche III
Paul Reiche III
Paul Reiche III is a game designer, particularly for computer games. Reiche is best known for being the co-creator, together with Fred Ford, of the Star Control universe.-Pen and paper RPGs:...
, used the Construction set created by Aaron and Craig to create a whole new set of levels. The Construction Set made by Craig and Aaron was also included by EA, as were the levels from the original game and from the expansion pack.
Innovative Features
Wizard had some very innovative features compared to other platform games of the time. For one, unlike Jumpman, it had a construction setConstruction set
A construction set is a set of standardized pieces that allow for the construction of a variety of different models. The pieces avoid the lead time of manufacturing custom pieces, and of requiring special training or design time to construct complex systems...
. In addition, Wizard also had many spells that could be utilized. The sound was notably better as well, this due to Sean and Stephen's previous experience in sound creation outside of the video game field.