Android Nim
| Android Nim | |
|---|---|
| Publisher(s) | SoftSide |
| Programmer(s) |
Leo Christopherson Don Dennis (PET) |
| Platform(s) | TRS-80, Commodore PET, Apple II |
| Genre(s) | Strategy |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
Android Nim is a version of the mathematical strategy game Nim programmed by Leo Christopherson for the TRS-80 computer in 1978 and published by SoftSide as type-in program. A version for the Commodore PET by Don Dennis was released July 1979. Android Nim was impressive in 1978 for having real-time animation of the androids on a TRS-80.[1]
Game play
The object of the game is to remove the last android from three rows of androids. The game's premise is simple, but its animation is impressive given the limitations of the TRS-80's display. Throughout the game androids are animated to face different directions, as if bored or engaging in conversation with one another.
The game starts with three rows of androids which contain 7, 5, and 3 androids respectively. An animated android asks the player if he or she would like to go first. The player chooses a row and types in how many droids to remove. An animated droid at the head of the row then nods its head and raises a gun and the other androids turn to look at the selected row. The specified number of androids are then zapped with a laser beam. It is then the computer's turn—with similar effect—and play continues until the last android is removed.
If the human wins, the computer is an amusingly poor sport and displays astonishment; if it wins, the computer displays a huge "I WIN!". If the computer is about to lose, it pretends to seek futile ways to avoid losing (i.e., by selecting more androids than are available in a given row) before giving up.
Reception
The game was reviewed in The Dragon #44 by Mark Herro. Herro stated, "if you want a good “demo” program or just a little light entertainment — I think you could do worse than to try out this game. I like Android Nim."[2]
References
- ↑ Crawford, Chris. "A Grain of Sand, A Gust of Wind". The Journal of Computer Game Design. 5.
- ↑ Herro, Mark (December 1980). "The Electric Eye". The Dragon (44): 86–87.
External links
- PET gameplay video at YouTube
- Windows version by Leo Christopherson