ChipWits
| ChipWits | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Publisher(s) | BrainPower (Apple II, Mac) Epyx (C64) |
| Designer(s) | Doug Sharp Mike Johnston |
| Platform(s) | Apple II, Commodore 64, Mac |
| Release | 1984: Mac 1985: Apple II, C64 |
| Genre(s) | Programming game |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
ChipWits is a programming game for the Macintosh written by Doug Sharp and Mike Johnston and published by BrainPower software in 1984. Ports to the Apple II and Commodore 64 were published by Epyx in 1985.
The player uses a visual programming language to teach a virtual robot how to navigate various mazes of varying difficulty. The game straddles the line between entertainment and programming education.
Development
[edit]The game was developed using the MacFORTH implementation of the Forth programming language for the Macintosh 128K.
Reception
[edit]Computer Gaming World preferred Robot Odyssey to ChipWits but stated that both were "incredibly vivid simulation experiences". The magazine criticized ChipWits' inability to save more than 16 robots or copy a robot to a new save slot, and cautioned that it "may be too simple for people familiar with programming". The magazine added that the criticism was "more a cry for a more complex Chipwits II game than condemnation of the current product".[1]
ChipWits won multiple awards, including MACazine Best of '85 and MacUser's Editor's Choice 1985 Award, as well as being named The 8th Best Apple Game of All Time by Maclife.
Reviews
[edit]Legacy
[edit]From 2006 to 2008, Mike Johnston and Doug Sharp developed and released ChipWits II, written in Adobe AIR. That version featured several innovations including an in-game tutorial, updated graphics, a soundtrack, isometric and 3D rendering, several new chips, and new missions.[3]
In September 2021, ChipWits, Inc. was formed by Doug Sharp and Mark Roth to create a modern reboot of the game. The new version is being written in Unity and has a free demo with the final release expected next year.[4]
In November 2024, in celebration of the game's 40th anniversary, ChipWits, Inc. recovered and open sourced the game's original Forth source code[5] for the Macintosh and Commodore 64. The source code can be found at https://github.com/chipwits/chipwits-forth
See also
[edit]
- Armored Core: Formula Front
- Armored Core: Verdict Day, featuring UNACs, AI controlled Armored Cores which players can create and customize
- BASIC STUDIO Powerful Game Koubou, a 2001 PS2 game creation title by Artdink featuring a sample game based on their title Carnage Heart
- Breeder, a 1986 Famicom algorithm-based simulation combat game by SoftPro
- COMSIGHT, a 1987 PC88, X1, and X68000 algorithm-based simulation combat game by Technosoft
- MindRover
- Omega (video game)
- Pandora Project: The Logic Master, a 1996 PS1 algorithm-based simulation combat game by Team Bughouse similar to Carnage Heart
- Robot Odyssey
- Robot X Robot, a 1999 PS1 algorithm-based simulation combat game by Nemesys
- RoboSport
- Logic simulation
References
[edit]- ^ Williams, Gregg (April–May 1985). "Robot Simulations / Tinkerer's Playgrounds". Computer Gaming World. Vol. 5, no. 2. pp. 22–23. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
- ^ "GAMES Magazine #66". August 1985.
- ^ "ChipWits: The Game of Robot-Programming Fun - Bring Your Brain!". Archived from the original on 2019-08-04.
- ^ Official website
- ^ "ChipWits' 40th Birthday: Original FORTH Code Open Sourced!". November 2024.