Putt-Putt Joins the Circus
{{Short description|2000 video game}}
{{More citations needed|date=November 2017}}
{{Infobox video game
|title = Putt-Putt Joins the Circus
|image = Putt-Putt_Joins_the_Circus_Cover_art.png
|image_size = 250px
|caption = 2002 cover art
|developer = Humongous Entertainment
|publisher = Humongous Entertainment{{efn|The iOS release was published by Tommo. The Steam release was co-published by Tommo and Night Dive Studios.}}
|director =
|designer =
|writer =
|engine = SCUMM
|composer = Scott Lloyd Shelly
|programmer = Brian Pulliam
|artist = Edward Pun
|released =
- July 11, 2000{{cite press release |url=http://humongous.com/parents/Pr/More/News/putt_putt_circus_contest.html |title=Putt-Putt® Joins the Circus™ from Humongous Entertainment® Offers Big Top Fun for Children of All Ages |publisher=Humongous Entertainment |date=July 11, 2000 |archive-date=November 20, 2000 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001120151400/http://humongous.com/parents/Pr/More/News/putt_putt_circus_contest.html |url-status=dead}} (Mac, Win)
- October 4, 2013 (iOS)
- May 29, 2014 (Linux){{cite web |url=http://store.steampowered.com/app/294690/PuttPutt_Joins_the_Circus/ |title=Putt-Putt Joins the Circus on Steam |author= |date= |publisher=Steam |accessdate=November 8, 2017}}
|genre = Adventure
|modes = Single-player
|platforms = Macintosh, Windows, iOS, Linux
}}
Putt-Putt Joins the Circus is a video game and the sixth installment in the Putt-Putt series. It was developed and published by Humongous Entertainment in 2000.
Plot
Putt-Putt and Pep are traveling to Apple Valley to see B.J. Sweeney's Big Top Circus. On the way, they find a hungry goat blocking the road to Apple Valley, as well as the train tracks where a train named Roll-Along Cassidy is trying to deliver sawdust to the circus. Putt-Putt coaxes the goat off of the tracks with a flower bush, but the goat eats his circus ticket afterwards. Realizing their predicament, Cassidy decides to give Putt-Putt and Pep a ride to the circus, saying that B.J. Sweeney might be able to help them.
Upon arriving at the circus, Putt-Putt learns from B.J. that all of the circus' acts are having problems. He shows Putt-Putt a piece of paper, showing the performers of the five main performers: Honko the Clown, The Flying Porkowskis, Phillipe the Flea, Reginald the Lion and Katie Cannonball. Putt-Putt volunteers to help around the circus, which Sweeny agrees to.
After Putt-Putt helps all the acts, B.J. Sweeney rewards Putt-Putt by letting him perform in the circus. At the end, Putt-Putt presses a button that opens a curtain, and all the five main circus stars perform their tricks, ending the game.
Gameplay
Putt-Putt Joins the Circus uses the same mechanics as its predecessors including Putt-Putt's dashboard interface and some minigames included. Throughout the game the player must solve characters' problems and unite all five circus actors.
Development
All backgrounds, characters and animations were hand drawn.{{cite web |title=Latest Adventure Starring Everyone's Favorite Purple Car Available in June |url=http://humongous.com/parents/Pr/More/News/putt_putt_circus.html |work=Humongous Entertainment - News |date=2000 |accessdate=November 8, 2017 |url-status=bot: unknown |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20001120142200/http://humongous.com/parents/Pr/More/News/putt_putt_circus.html |archivedate=November 20, 2000}}
Reception
=Critical reception=
{{Video game reviews
| rev1 = PC Magazine
| award1Pub = Dr. Toy, Institute for Childhood Resources
| award1 = 10 Best Software/CD-ROM/High-Tech Products for 2000{{cite web |url=http://www.humongous.com:80/asp/character.asp?pageWord=Putt&content=GameAwards&productID=04-19983 |title=Putt-Putt Joins the Circus - Awards |publisher=Humongous Entertainment |accessdate=November 8, 2017 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20010418050809/http://www.humongous.com/asp/character.asp?pageWord=Putt&content=GameAwards&productID=04-19983 |archivedate=April 18, 2001}}
| award2Pub = Dr. Toy, Institute for Childhood Resources
| award2 = 100 Best Children's Products for 2000
| award3Pub = National Parenting Publications Awards
| award4Pub = Parent's Guide
| award4 = Children's Media Award
| award5Pub = Children's Software Revue
| award5 = All Star Software Award
| award6Pub = Choosing Children's Software
}}
Putt-Putt Joins the Circus was well received and earned a number of awards around its year of release.
=Commercial performance=
Between May 11 and 13, the game had debuted at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) 2000 in Los Angeles.
During the year 2001 alone, Putt-Putt Joins the Circus sold 82,400 retail units in North America, according to PC Data.{{cite web | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20020619111456/http://www.justadventure.com/articles/State_of_Adventure_Gaming/Mar-02/sales2001.shtm | url=http://www.justadventure.com:80/articles/State_of_Adventure_Gaming/Mar-02/sales2001.shtm | title=State of Adventure Gaming - March 2002 - 2001 Sales Table | date=March 2002 | author=Sluganski, Randy | archivedate=June 19, 2002 | work=Just Adventure | url-status=dead | access-date=May 13, 2020}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{notelist}}
External links
- {{moby game|id=/putt-putt-joins-the-circus}}
- [http://humongous.com/games/putt-putt-joins-the-circus/ Putt-Putt Joins the Circus at Humongous Entertainment]
{{Humongous}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Putt Putt VI}}
Category:ScummVM-supported games
Category:Single-player video games
Category:Video games developed in the United States
Category:Video games set in circuses