Bowling (1979 video game)
{{short description|Video game for the Atari 2600 from 1979}}
{{Refimprove|date=May 2015}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Bowling
| image = Bowling video game cover.jpg
| developer = Atari, Inc.
| publisher = Atari, Inc.
| designer = Larry Kaplan
| engine =
| released = {{vgrelease||January 26, 1979}}
| genre = Sports
| modes = Single-player, multiplayer
| platforms = Atari 2600
| caption =
| alt =
}}
Bowling is a sports video game published in 1979 by Atari, Inc. for the Atari Video Computer System (Atari VCS).{{efn|The Atari VCS became known as the Atari 2600 only after the release of the Atari 5200 in 1982.{{sfn|Montfort|2006}}}} It was programmed by Larry Kaplan who left Atari to co-found Activision the same year. The game is an interpretation of the sport bowling, playable by one or two players.
Gameplay
In all six variations, games last for 10 frames, or turns. At the start of each frame, the current player is given two chances to roll a bowling ball down an alley in an attempt to knock down as many of the ten bowling pins as possible. The bowler (on the left side of the screen) may move up and down his end of the alley to aim before releasing the ball. In four of the game's six variations, the ball can be steered before it hits the pins. Knocking down every pin on the first shot is a strike, while knocking every pin down in both shots is a spare. The player's score is determined by the number of pins knocked down in all 10 frames, as well as the number of strikes and spares acquired.
Odd-numbered variants are one player games, while two players alternate on frames in even-numbered games.
- Games 1/2: The bowling ball can be moved in one direction after being thrown.
- Games 3/4: The bowling ball can be moved up and down after being thrown.
- Games 5/6: The ball moves straight and cannot be moved.
Development
Bowling was designed by Larry Kaplan. It was his final game for Atari, Inc. before leaving the company.{{sfn|Digital Eclipse|ref=BowlingA50}}
Prior to the release of Bowling other games based around the sport of Bowling were released for home consoles such as Bowling (1978) for Fairchild Channel F (1978), Bowling/Basketball (1978) for Magnavox Odyssey 2 and APF's Bowling (1978). While the Fairchild Channel F game allowed the players to curve the ball, Kaplan's game allowed the players to not just influence the trajectory of the ball, but also position and control the on-screen figure of a bowler who swung their arm and launched the ball down the lane.{{sfn|Saucier|2023}}
Release and reception
Bowling was released on January 26, 1979 for the Atari VCS.{{sfn|United States Copyright Office|ref=USCO}} It was re-released in various compilation formats, such as the Atari 80 in One for Windows in 2003 and the Atari Anthology for PlayStation 2 and Xbox in 2004.{{sfn|Harris|2004}} It was included in portable gaming compilations such as the Atari Greatest Hits for Nintendo DS and iOS-based devices.{{sfn|Aaron|2010}}{{sfn|Code Mystics||ref=cm-ios}}
Bowling was added to the Atari 50 (2022) compilation release in 2023.{{sfn|Bonthuys|2023}}
Bowling was reviewed by Video magazine in its "Arcade Alley" column where it was praised as "an enjoyable version of a sport that is perfectly suited to the video arcade format". The reviewers singled out the graphics (including the automatic frame-by-frame scoring and "deft" character animation) as "one of the game's best points".{{sfn|Kunkel|Laney|1980|p=18}}{{sfn|Kunkel|Laney|1980|p=76}} In Creative Computing, David H. Ahl complimented Bowling saying the sound effects made it a lively game.{{sfn|Ahl|1979|p=38}}
See also
{{Portal|Video games}}
References
{{reflist}}
= Notes =
{{notelist}}
=Sources=
- {{cite web|url=http://www.codemystics.com/products.shtml#atariios|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110902145110/http://www.codemystics.com/products.shtml#atariios|work=Code Mystics|title=Atari's Greatest Hits|archivedate=September 2, 2011|accessdate=October 17, 2024|ref=cm-ios}}
- {{cite video game |title=Atari 50 |developer=Digital Eclipse |publisher=Atari |date=December 5, 2023 |platform=Nintendo Switch |quote=Bowling: A fan favorite from 1979 [...] [Bowling] was Larry Kaplan's last VCS game for Atari before leaving the company to co-found Activision.|ref=BowlingA50}}
- {{cite web |title=Bowling (Registration Number PA0000174632) |url=https://cocatalog.loc.gov |website=United States Copyright Office |access-date=June 1, 2021|ref=USCO}}
- {{cite web|url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2010/08/ataris_greatest_hits_hitting_the_ds_in_november|work=Nintendo Life|title=Atari's Greatest Hits Hitting the DS in November|last=Aaron|first=Sean|date=August 31, 2010|access-date=January 13, 2024|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140818015753/https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2010/08/ataris_greatest_hits_hitting_the_ds_in_november|archivedate=August 18, 2014}}
- {{cite magazine|magazine=Creative Computing|date=October 1979|volume=5|issue=10|last=Ahl|first=David H.|publisher=Creative Computing|location=United States|title=Atari Video Cartridges|ISSN=0097-8140|authorlink=David H. Ahl}}
- {{cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/atari-50-the-anniversary-celebration-gets-a-few-more-forgotten-classics-today/1100-6519699/|work=GameSpot|title=Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration Gets a Few More Forgotten Classics Today|last=Bonthuys|first=Darryn|date=December 5, 2023|accessdate=December 5, 2023|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205162812/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/atari-50-the-anniversary-celebration-gets-a-few-more-forgotten-classics-today/1100-6519699/|archivedate=December 5, 2023}}
- {{cite web|first=Craig|last=Harris|title=Atari Anthology|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/11/30/atari-anthology|publisher=IGN|date=November 30, 2004|access-date=January 26, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126195851/https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/11/30/atari-anthology|archive-date=January 26, 2023}}
- {{cite magazine |last1= Kunkel |first1= Bill |author-link1= Bill Kunkel (journalist)|last2= Laney |first2= Frank |date= April 1980 |title= Arcade Alley: Faster Than A Bullet - Atari's Super Game |magazine= Video|publisher= Reese Communications |issn= 0147-8907}}
- {{cite journal|url=https://gamestudies.org/0601/articles/montfort|title=Combat in Context|last=Montfort|first=Nick|volume=6|issue=1|date=December 2006|issn=1604-7982|access-date=April 28, 2023|journal=Game Studies|author-link=Nick Montfort}}
- {{cite web|url=https://www.museumofplay.org/blog/pins-and-pixels-a-brief-history-of-home-video-game-bowling/|publisher=The Strong|title=Pins and Pixels: A Brief History of Home Video Game Bowling|date=March 17, 2023|accessdate=October 21, 2024|last=Saucier|first=Jeremy|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230325003829/https://www.museumofplay.org/web/20230325003829/https://www.museumofplay.org/blog/pins-and-pixels-a-brief-history-of-home-video-game-bowling/|archivedate=March 25, 2023}}
External links
- [http://www.atarimania.com/game-atari-2600-vcs-bowling_s7059.html Bowling] at Atari Mania