Q*bert#Notes

Q*bert is an action game with puzzle elements played from an axonometric third-person perspective to convey a three-dimensional look. The game is played using a single, diagonally mounted four-way joystick. The player controls Q*bert, who starts each game at the top of a pyramid made of 28 cubes, and moves by hopping diagonally from cube to cube. Landing on a cube causes it to change color, and changing every cube to the target color allows the player to progress to the next stage.

At the beginning, jumping on every cube once is enough to advance. In later stages, each cube must be hit twice to reach the target color. Other times, cubes change color every time Q*bert lands on them, instead of remaining on the target color once they reach it. Both elements are then combined in subsequent stages. Jumping off the pyramid results in the character's death.{{cite magazine |date=April–May 1983 |title=Arcade Action Close-Up: Crazy For Q&bert's Cube |magazine=Vidiot |publisher=Creem Publications |pages=30–31 |url=https://archive.org/stream/vidiotmagazine_202003/Vidiot%2003%20%28Apr-May%201983%29%20The%20Beatles%20-%20The%20Fab%20Four%20on%20Tape%21#page/n29/mode/2up}}

File:qbert.png

The player is impeded by several enemies, introduced gradually to the game:

• Coily – Coily first appears as a purple egg that bounces to the bottom of the pyramid and then transforms into a snake that chases Q*bert. He is often considered the main antagonist and Q*bert's arch-nemesis. Q*bert will die if he collides with Coily.
• Ugg and Wrongway – Two purple creatures that hop along the sides of the cubes in an Escheresque manner. Starting at either the bottom left or bottom right corner, they keep moving toward the top right or top left side of the pyramid respectively and fall off the pyramid when they reach the end. Both are dangerous. Q*bert will also die if he collides with them.
• Slick and Sam – Two green creatures that descend down the pyramid and revert cubes whose color has already been changed. They do not hurt Q*bert, but are annoying, as they change the color of the cube to the original or former color, making the pyramid of cubes harder to solve for Q*bert.

Contact with purple enemies results in a life lost, whereas the green ones are removed from the board upon contact. Colored balls occasionally appear at the second row of cubes and bounce downward; contact with a red ball also results in a life lost, while contact with a green one immobilizes the on-screen enemies for a limited time. Multicolored floating discs on either side of the pyramid serve as an escape from danger, particularly Coily. When Q*bert jumps on a disc, it transports him to the top of the pyramid. If Coily is in close pursuit of the character, he will jump after Q*bert and fall to his death, awarding bonus points. This causes all enemies and balls on the screen to disappear, though they start to return after a few seconds.

Points are awarded for each color change (15 or 25), defeating Coily with a flying disc (500), remaining discs at the end of a stage (at higher stages, 50 or 100) and catching green balls (100) or Slick and Sam (300 each). Bonus points are also awarded for completing a screen, starting at 1,000 points on the first screen of Level 1 and increasing by 250 on each subsequent completion, up to 5,000 after Level 4. Extra lives are granted for reaching certain scores, which are set by the machine operator.{{cite magazine |date=April 1983 |title='Q' Up for this One |magazine=Computer and Video Games |publisher=EMAP |issue=18 |page=31 |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/8/86/CVG_UK_018.pdf |access-date=2020-09-05 |archive-date=2021-07-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730023633/https://retrocdn.net/images/8/86/CVG_UK_018.pdf |url-status=live}}

File:Q*Bert concept sketch.jpg

File:Warren Davis by Gage Skidmore.jpg

Programmer Warren Davis wrote that he was inspired by a pattern of hexagons implemented by fellow Gottlieb developer and Mad Planets designer Kan Yabumoto.

In a different telling, the initial concept began when artist Jeff Lee drew a pyramid of cubes inspired by M. C. Escher.{{cite book| title=Ultimate History of Video Games| first=Steven| last=Kent | authorlink=Steven L. Kent| pages=222–224| chapter=The Fall| publisher=Three Rivers Press| isbn=0-7615-3643-4| year=2001}} Lee believed a game could be derived from the artwork, and created an orange, armless main character. The character jumped along the cubes and shot projectiles, called "mucus bombs", from a tubular nose at enemies. Enemies included a blue creature, later changed purple and named Wrong Way, and an orange creature, later changed green and named Sam.{{cite magazine |last=Wild |first=Kim |date=September 2008 |title=The Making of Q*bert |url=https://archive.org/stream/retro_gamer/RetroGamer_054#page/70/mode/2up |magazine=Retro Gamer |publisher=Imagine Publishing |issue=54 |pages=70–73}} Lee had drawn similar characters since childhood, inspired by characters from comics, cartoons, Mad magazine and by artist Ed "Big Daddy" Roth.{{cite magazine| title=The Making of Q*bert| author=Edge Staff| magazine=Edge| issue=132| pages=114–117| date=January 2003| url=http://www.next-gen.biz/features/making-qbert| access-date=January 7, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120503102958/http://www.edge-online.com/features/making-qbert |archive-date=May 3, 2012}} Q*bert's design later included a speech balloon with a string of nonsensical characters, "{{nowrap|@!#?@!}}",The original artwork displays the first and fifth character as spirals. The at sign ("@") is used in its place in the text of the references. which Lee originally presented as a joke.

Warren Davis, who was hired to work on the game Protector, noticed Lee's ideas and asked if he could use them to practice programming randomness and gravity as game mechanics. Thus, he added balls that bounce from the pyramid's top to bottom. Because Davis was still learning how to program game mechanics, he wanted to keep the design simple. He also believed games with complex control schemes were frustrating and wanted something that could be played with one hand. To accomplish this, Davis removed the shooting and changed the objective of saving the protagonist from danger. As Davis worked on the game one night, Gottlieb's vice president of engineering, Ron Waxman, noticed him and suggested to change the color of the cubes after the game's character has landed on them. Davis implemented a unique control scheme; a four-way joystick was rotated 45° to match the directions of Q*bert's jumping. Staff members at Gottlieb urged for a more conventional orientation, but Davis stuck to his decision. Davis remembered to have started programming in April 1982, but the project was only put on the schedule as an actual product several months later.Davis stated that this happened "by June or July", whereas Howie Rubin, vice president of Gottlieb, claimed in an early 1983 interview with Video Games that the game was not yet on a list of games voted for in a brainstorming session in August. {{Cite magazine |first=Neil |last=Tesser |date=April 1983 |title=The Life and Times of Q*bert & Joust |url=http://www.digitpress.com/library/magazines/video_games/video_games_apr83.pdf |magazine=Video Games |publisher=Pumpkin Press |volume=1 |issue=7 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/video-games-volume-1-number-7-april-1983/page/26/mode/2up 26–30]}}

{{quote box |width = 35%| quote= We wanted the game to say, 'You have gotten 10,000 bonus points', and the closest I came to it after an entire day would be "bogus points". Being very frustrated with this, I said, "Well, screw it. What if I just stick random numbers in the chip instead of all this highly authored stuff, what happens?"| source = David Thiel on the creation of Q*bert's incoherent swearing.}}

A MOS Technology 6502 chip that operates at 894 kHz generates the sound effects, and a speech synthesizer by Votrax generates Q*bert's incoherent expressions.{{cite web| url=http://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=9182| title=Q*bert Videogame by Gottlieb (1982)| publisher=Killer List of Videogames| access-date=May 31, 2009| archive-date=February 12, 2010| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100212121618/http://arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=9182| url-status = live}} The audio system uses 128 B of RAM and 4 KB of EPROM to store the sound data and code to implement it. Like other Gottlieb games, the sound system was thoroughly tested to ensure it would handle daily usage. In retrospect, audio engineer David Thiel commented that such testing minimized time available for creative designing.{{cite book| title=Audio Anecdotes: Tools, Tips, and Techniques for Digital Audio, Volume 1| editor1-first =Ken| editor1-last=Greenebaum| editor2-first=Ronen| editor2-last=Barzel| publisher=A K Peters, Ltd.| year=2004| isbn=1-56881-104-7| chapter=Retro Game Sound: What We Can Learn from 1980s Era Synthesis| chapter-url = https://books.google.com/books?id=OPo-nEhjB9gC&pg=PA164| pages=164–165| access-date=2016-09-24| url-status=live| archive-date=2018-03-03| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180303132711/https://books.google.com/books?id=OPo-nEhjB9gC&pg=PA164}}

Thiel was tasked with using the synthesizer to produce English phrases for the game. However, he was unable to create coherent phrases and eventually chose to string together random phonemes instead. Thiel also believed the incoherent speech was a good fit for the "{{nowrap|@!#?@!}}" in Q*bert's speech balloon. Following a suggestion from technician Rick Tighe, a pinball machine component known as a ‘knocker’ was included to make a loud sound when a character falls off the pyramid. This knocker consists of a solenoid with a plunger that strikes the mounting bracket (which in turn is firmly fastened to the cabinet). Foam padding was added to the area of contact on the bracket; the developers decided the softer sound better matched a fall rather than a loud knocking sound. The cost of installing foam, however, was too expensive and the padding was omitted.

The Gottlieb staff had difficulty naming the game. Aside from the project name "Cubes", it was untitled for most of the development process. The staff agreed the game should be named after the main character, but disagreed on the name. Lee's title for the initial concept—Snots And Boogers—was rejected, as was a list of suggestions compiled from company employees.{{cite book| title = Arcade Fever: The Fan's Guide to The Golden Age of Video Games| first = John| last = Sellers| pages = 108–109| publisher = Running Press|date=August 2001| isbn = 0-7624-0937-1}} According to Davis, vice president of marketing Howie Rubin championed {{nowrap|@!#?@!}} as the title. Although staff members argued it was silly and would be impossible to pronounce, a few early test models were produced with {{nowrap|@!#?@!}} as the title on the units' artwork. During a meeting, "Hubert" was suggested, and a staff member thought of combining "Cubes" and "Hubert" into "Cubert". Art director Richard Tracy changed the name to "Q-bert", and the hyphen was later changed to an asterisk. In retrospect, Davis expressed regret for the asterisk, because it prevented the name from becoming a common crossword term and it is a wildcard character for search engines.

As development neared the production stage, Q*bert underwent location tests in local arcades under its preliminary title {{nowrap|@!#?@!}}, before being widely distributed. According to Jeff Lee, his oldest written record attesting to the game being playable as {{nowrap|@!#?@!}} in a public location, a Brunswick bowling alley, dates back to September 11, 1982. Gottlieb also conducted focus groups, in which the designers observed players through a one-way mirror. The control scheme received a mixed reaction during playtesting; some players adapted quickly while others found it frustrating. Initially, Davis was worried players would not adjust to the different controls; some players would unintentionally jump off the pyramid several times, reaching a game over in about ten seconds. Players, however, became accustomed to the controls after playing several rounds of the game. The different responses to the controls prompted Davis to reduce the game's level of difficulty, a decision that he would later regret.

Q*bert is Gottlieb's fourth video game.{{cite magazine |last=Brohaugh |first=William |date=Fall 1983 |title=Q*bert: A Player's Guide |magazine=Creative Computing Video & Arcade Games |volume=1 |issue=2 |page=28 |url=https://archive.org/details/Video_Arcade_Games_Vol_1_No_2_1983-12_Creative_Computing_US/page/n29/mode/2up}} A copyright claim registered with the United States Copyright Office by Gottlieb on February 10, 1983 cites the date of publication of Q*bert as October 18, 1982.{{citation| title=Q-bert (Registration Number PA0000164088)| url=http://cocatalog.loc.gov| publisher=The Library of Congress| date=February 10, 1983| access-date=April 22, 2014| archive-date=September 19, 2020| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919062046/https://cocatalog.loc.gov/| url-status=live}} Video Games reported that the game was sold directly to arcade operators at its public showing at the AMOA show held November 18–20, 1982. Gottlieb offered the machines for $2600 per unit.

Cash Box magazine listed the mass-market US release date as December 1982.{{cite magazine |title=Manufacturers Equipment |magazine=Cash Box |date=5 February 1983 |page=35 |publisher=Cash Box Pub. Co. |url=https://archive.org/details/cashbox44unse_33/page/n34}} The game was distributed in Japan by Konami and Sega in March 1983.{{cite web |title=Q bert |url=https://mediaarts-db.bunka.go.jp/id/M731790 |website=Media Arts Database |publisher=Agency for Cultural Affairs |access-date=5 May 2021 |archive-date=5 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210505170225/https://mediaarts-db.bunka.go.jp/id/M731790 |url-status=live }} It was also released in Europe in March 1983.{{cite magazine |title=Arcade Action |magazine=Computer and Video Games |date=16 March 1983 |issue=18 (April 1983) |pages=30–1 |url=https://archive.org/details/cvg-magazine-018/page/n29/mode/2up}}

Q*bert is Gottlieb's only video game that earned considerable critical and commercial success, selling around 25,000 arcade cabinets. In the United States, it was among the thirteen highest-grossing arcade games of 1983.{{cite magazine |title=AMOA Votes On Annual Game Awards |magazine=Cash Box |date=October 29, 1983 |page=60 |url=https://archive.org/details/cashbox45unse_20/page/68}} Cabaret and cocktail versions of the game were later produced. The machines have since become collector's items; the rarest of them are the cocktail versions.{{cite book| title=Official Price Guide to Classic Video Games| first=David| last=Ellis| year=2004| page=[https://archive.org/details/officialpricegui00davi/page/402 402]| chapter=Arcade Classics| publisher=Random House| isbn=0-375-72038-3| chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/officialpricegui00davi| url=https://archive.org/details/officialpricegui00davi/page/402}}

When the game was first introduced to a wider industry audience at the November 1982 AMOA show, it was immediately received favorably by the press. Video Games magazine placed Q*bert first in its list of Top Ten Hits, describing it as "the most unusual and exciting game of the show" and stating that "no operator dared to walk away without buying at least one".{{cite magazine| magazine= Video Games| volume = 1| publisher = Pumpkin Press| issue = 7| pages = 66| title = Top Ten Hits|date=March 1983 | url=https://archive.org/stream/Video_Games_Volume_1_Number_06_1983-03_Pumpkin_Press_US#page/n65/mode/2up}} The Coin Slot reported "Gottlieb's game, Q*BERT, was one of the stars of the show", and predicted that "The game should do very well".{{cite magazine| magazine= The Coin Slot| volume = 8| publisher = Rosanna B. Harris| issue = 4| pages = 27–29| title = The Amoa Show| first = Mike| last = Pugliese|date=January 1983}}

Contemporaneous reviews were equally enthusiastic, and focused on the uniqueness of the gameplay and audiovisual presentation. Roger C. Sharpe of Electronic Games considered it "a potential Arcade Award winner for coin-op game of the year", praising innovative gameplay and outstanding graphics.{{cite magazine|last=Sharpe|first=Roger C.|date=May 1983|title=Is This the Next Arkie Winner?|url=https://archive.org/details/Electronic_Games_Volume_01_Number_15_1983-05_Reese_Communications_US/page/n77/mode/2up |magazine=Electronic Games |publisher=Reese Publishing Company |volume=1 |issue=15 |pages=78–79}} William Brohaugh of Creative Computing Video & Arcade Games described the game as an "all-round winner" that had many strong points. He praised the variety of sound effects and the graphics, calling the colors vibrant. Brohaugh lauded Q*bert{{'}}s inventiveness and appeal, stating that the objective was interesting and unique. Michael Blanchet of Electronic Fun suggested the game might push Pac-Man out of the spotlight in 1983.{{cite magazine |date=March 1983|title=Cursing Q*Bert: @!#?@! you, Coily! |url=https://archive.org/details/Electronic_Fun_with_Computer_Games_Vol_01_No_05_1983-03_Fun_Games_Publishing_US/page/n91/mode/2up |magazine=Electronic Fun with Computers & Games|publisher=Fun & Games Publishing |volume=1 |issue=5|pages=92}} Neil Tesser of Video Games also likened Q*bert to games released in the early 1980s in Japan, like Pac-Man and Donkey Kong, due to the focus on characters, animation and story lines, as well as the "absence of violence".{{cite magazine| magazine=Video Games| volume=1| publisher=Pumpkin Press| issue=8| pages=26–30| title=The Life and Times of Q*bert & Joust| first=Neil| last=Tesser| date=March 1983}} Computer and Video Games magazine praised the game's graphics and colors.

Electronic Games awarded Q*bert "Most Innovative Coin-op Game" of the year.{{cite magazine|date=January 1984|title=1984 Arcade Awards |url=https://archive.org/stream/ElectronicGames/Electronic%20Games%20Issue%2023%20%28January%201984%29#page/n79/mode/2up|magazine=Electronic Games|publisher=Reese Communications|volume=2|issue=11|pages=68–81}} Video Games Player called it the "Funniest Game of the Year" among arcade games in 1983.{{cite magazine| magazine=Electronic Games| volume=2| publisher=Reese Communications| issue=11| pages=49–51| title=1983 Golden Joystick Awards| date=August–September 1983}}

Q*bert continues to be recognized as a significant part of video game history. Author Steven Kent and GameSpy's William Cassidy considered Q*bert one of the more memorable games of its time.{{cite book| title = Ultimate History of Video Games| first = Steven| last = Kent| page = 177| chapter = The Golden Age (Part 2: 1981–1983)| publisher = Three Rivers Press| isbn = 0-7615-3643-4| year = 2001}}{{cite web| url=http://www.gamespy.com/articles/491/491607p1.html| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120505072713/http://www.gamespy.com/articles/491/491607p1.html| title=Hall of Fame: Q*bert| first=William| last=Cassidy| publisher=GameSpy| date=June 23, 2002| access-date=May 1, 2014| archive-date=May 5, 2012}} Author David Ellis echoed similar statements, calling it a "classic favorite".{{cite book| title=Official Price Guide to Classic Video Games| first=David| last=Ellis| page=[https://archive.org/details/officialpricegui00davi/page/7 7]| chapter=A Brief History of Video Games| publisher=Random House| isbn=0-375-72038-3| year=2004| chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/officialpricegui00davi| url=https://archive.org/details/officialpricegui00davi/page/7}} 1UP.com's Jeremy Parish and Kim Wild of Retro Gamer magazine described the game as difficult yet addictive.{{cite web| url=http://www.1up.com/news/retro-roundup-226| title=Retro Roundup 2/26: Ocarina of Time, Q*Bert, Chew Man Fu| website=1UP.com| first=Jeremy| last=Parish| date=February 26, 2007| access-date=June 2, 2009| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622072720/http://www.1up.com/news/retro-roundup-226| archive-date=June 22, 2011}} Author John Sellers also called Q*bert addictive, and praised the sound effects and three-dimensional appearance of the graphics. Cassidy called the game unique and challenging; he attributed the challenge in part to the control scheme. IGN's Jeremy Dunham believed the controls were poorly designed, describing them as "unresponsive" and "a struggle". He nonetheless considered the game addictive.{{cite web| url=http://ps3.ign.com/articles/767/767124p1.html| title=Q*Bert Review| website=IGN| first=Jeremy| last=Dunham| date=February 23, 2007| access-date=June 2, 2009| archive-date=February 22, 2009| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090222174609/http://ps3.ign.com/articles/767/767124p1.html| url-status=live}}

Edge magazine attributed the success of the game to the title character. They stated that players could easily relate to Q*bert, particularly because he swore. Computer and Video Games, however, considered the swearing a negative but the character appealing. Cassidy believed the game's appeal lay in the main character. He described Q*bert as cute and having a personality that made him stand out in comparison to other popular video game characters. The authors of High Score! referred to Q*bert as "ultra-endearing alien hopmeister", and the cutest game character of 1982.{{cite book| author1=Rusel DeMaria |author2=Johhny L. Wilson| title=High Score! the illustrated history of electronic games| edition=2vd| date=2004| publisher=McGraw-Hill/Osborne| isbn=0-07-223172-6| page=84| chapter=Q*Bert}}

File:Q*bert Atari 2600 Screenshot.png

At the 1982 AMOA Show, Parker Brothers secured the license to publish home conversions of the Q*bert arcade game.{{cite magazine| magazine= Electronic Games| volume = 1| publisher = Reese Publishing Company| issue = 14| pages = 8| title = Parker Grabs Two Hot Licenses| date=April 1983}} Parker Brothers first published a port to the Atari 2600,{{cite magazine| magazine= Video Games| volume = 2| publisher = Pumpkin Press| issue = 6| pages = 28–31| first = Mark| last = Brownstein| title = Follow the Leader: Spin-offs Jump To The Q*bert Challenge|date=March 1984}} and by the end of 1983, the company also advertised versions for Atari 5200, Intellivision, ColecoVision, Atari 8-bit computers, VIC-20, TI-99/4A, and Commodore 64.{{cite magazine| magazine= Electronic Games| volume = 2| publisher = Reese Communications| issue = 10| pages = 101| title = How to Get Q*bert Out of your System| date=December 1983}} The release of the Commodore 64 version was noted to lag behind the others but appeared in 1984.{{cite magazine| magazine= Computer Games| volume = 3| publisher = Carnegie Publications| issue = 2| pages = 60| title = Q*Bert| date=June 1984}} Parker Brothers also translated the game into a standalone tabletop electronic game.{{cite magazine| magazine= Electronic Games| volume = 2| publisher = Reese Communications| issue = 11| pages = 122–125| first = Joyce| last = Worley| title = The Block Bouncer Busts Loose!| date=January 1984}} It uses a VFD screen and has since become a rare collector's item.{{cite book| title=Official Price Guide to Classic Video Games| first=David| last=Ellis| year=2004| page=[https://archive.org/details/officialpricegui00davi/page/237 237]| chapter=Classics Handheld and Tabletop Games| publisher=Random House| isbn=0-375-72038-3| chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/officialpricegui00davi| url=https://archive.org/details/officialpricegui00davi/page/237}} Q*bert was also published by Parker Brothers for the Philips Videopac in Europe,{{cite web| url=http://www.retro-mo.de/Seiten/spiele/philips_videopac/parker_qbert.html| title=Parker Video Game Cartridge: Q*bert| publisher=RetroMO| access-date=April 30, 2014| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502001335/http://www.retro-mo.de/Seiten/spiele/philips_videopac/parker_qbert.html| archive-date=May 2, 2014| url-status=dead}} by Tsukuda Original for the Othello Multivision in Japan,{{cite web| title=Q*bert| publisher=SMS Power!| url=http://www.smspower.org/Games/QBert-SG| access-date=April 30, 2014| archive-date=May 3, 2015| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150503132128/http://www.smspower.org/Games/QBert-SG| url-status=live}} and by Ultra Games for the NES in North America.

The initial home port for the Atari 2600, the most widespread system at the time, was met with mixed reactions. Video Games warned that buyers of the Atari 2600 version "may find themselves just a little disappointed." They criticized the lack of music, the removal of the characters Ugg and Wrongway, and the system's troubles handling the character sprites at a steady performance.{{cite magazine| magazine=Video Games| volume=2| publisher=Pumpkin Press| issue=3| pages=65–66| first=D.| last=P.| title=Q*Bert |date=December 1983}} Later, Mark Brownstein of the same magazine was more in favor of the game, but still cited the presence of fewer cubes in the game's pyramidal layout and "pretty poor control" as negatives. Will Richardson of Electronic Games noted a lack in audiovisual qualities and counter-intuitive controls, but commended the gameplay, stating that the game "comes much closer to its source of inspiration than a surface evaluation indicates."{{cite magazine| magazine=Electronic Games| volume = 2| publisher = Reese Communications| issue = 11| page = 102| first = Will| last = Richardson| title = Get Hopping with Q*bert!| date=January 1984}} Randi Hacker of Electronic Fun with Computers & Games called it a "sterling adaption{{sic}}"{{cite magazine| magazine= Video Games| publisher = Fun & Games Publishing| page = 58| first = Randi| last = Hacker| title = Q*Bert|date=November 1983}} Computer and Video Games scored the Atari VCS version 70% in 1989.{{cite magazine |title=Complete Games Guide |magazine=Computer and Video Games |date=16 October 1989 |issue=Complete Guide to Consoles |pages=46–77 |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/9/98/CompleteGuideToConsoles_UK_01.pdf#page=46 |access-date=2 August 2021 |archive-date=11 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210611004221/https://retrocdn.net/images/9/98/CompleteGuideToConsoles_UK_01.pdf#page=46 |url-status=live }} In 2008, IGN's Levi Buchanan rated it the fourth-worst arcade port for the Atari 2600, mostly because of a lack of jumping animations for enemies, which instead appear instantly on the adjacent cube, making it impossible to know in which direction they are traveling before they land.{{cite web| title=Top 10 Worst Atari 2600 Arcade Ports| first=Levi| last=Buchanan| website=IGN| date=March 17, 2008| url=http://retro.ign.com/articles/860/860116p1.html| access-date=June 1, 2009| archive-date=June 26, 2009| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090626101056/http://retro.ign.com/articles/860/860116p1.html| url-status=live}} Entertainment Weekly called Q*Bert one of the top ten games for the Atari 2600 in 2013, saying the port "lost the cool isometric perspective but none of the addictive gameplay."{{cite magazine |url=http://www.ew.com/article/2013/01/25/the-10-best-atari-games |first=Aaron |last=Morales |title=The 10 best Atari games |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=January 25, 2013 |access-date=April 17, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-date=January 15, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180115174334/http://ew.com/article/2013/01/25/the-10-best-atari-games/}}

Other home versions were well-received, with some exceptions. Of the ColecoVision version, Electronic Fun with Computers & Games noted that "Q*bert aficionados will not be disappointed."{{cite magazine| magazine= Video Games| publisher = Fun & Games Publishing| page = 62| first = Marc| last = Berman| title = Q*Bert|date=December 1983}} Brownstein called it one of the best of the authorized versions. Warren Davis also considered the ColecoVision version the most accurate port of the arcade. Computer and Video Games gave the ColecoVision version a 72% score. Brownstein judged the Atari 5200 version inferior to that for the ColecoVision because of the imprecision of the Atari 5200 controller, but noted that "it does tend to grow on you." Video Games identified the Intellivision version as the worst of the available ports, criticizing the system's controller as inadequate for the game.{{cite magazine| magazine= Video Games| volume = 2| publisher = Pumpkin Press| issue = 7| page = 60| first = M.| last = B.| title = Q*Bert|date=April 1984}} Antic magazine's David Duberman called the Atari 8-bit version "one of the finest translations of an arcade game for the home computer format",{{cite magazine| magazine= Antic| volume = 2| issue = 9|date=December 1983| page = 124| title = Product Reviews: Two from Parker Brothers| first = David| last = Duberman}} and Arthur Leyenberger of Creative Computing listed it as a runner-up for Best Arcade Adaptation to the system, praising its faithful graphics, sound, movement and playability.{{cite magazine| magazine= Creative Computing| volume = 10| issue = 1|date=January 1984| pages = 242–247| title = The 1983 Outpost: Atari Computer Game Awards| first = Arthur| last = Leyenberger}} Softline was more critical, criticizing the Atari version's controls and lack of swearing. The magazine concluded that "the home computer game doesn't have the sense of style of the one in the arcades ... the execution just isn't there."{{cite news |author=Bang, Derrick |url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1984&pub=6&id=15 |title=Q*Bert |work=Softline |date=Jan–Feb 1984 |access-date=July 29, 2014 |pages=56–57 |archive-date=January 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210104204606/http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1984&pub=6&id=15 |url-status=live }} In 1984, the magazine's readers named the game the fifth-worst Atari program of 1983.{{cite news |url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1984&pub=6&id=16 |title=The Best and the Rest |work=St.Game |date=Mar–Apr 1984 |access-date=July 28, 2014 |pages=49 |archive-date=July 29, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140729222422/http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1984&pub=6&id=16 |url-status=live }} Computer Games called the C64 version an "absolutely terrific translation" that "almost totally duplicates the arcade game," aside from its lack of synthesized speech. The standalone tabletop was awarded Stand-Alone Game of the Year in Electronic Games. Electronic Gaming Monthly reviewed the NES version in 1989, with four critics scoring it 7, 3, 4 and 4 out of 10.{{cite magazine |author1=Steve |author2=Ed |author3=Donn |author4=Jim |date=July 1989 |title=Operation Wolf |issue=2 |magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly |page=12 |url=https://archive.org/details/Electronic_Gaming_Monthly_02/page/n11/mode/2up}}

In 2003, a version for Java-based mobile phones was announced by Sony Pictures Mobile.{{cite web| title=Vodafone calls Sony Pictures Mobile for new games and entertainment services| publisher=Vodafone| date=September 5, 2003| url=http://www.vodafone.com/content/index/media/vodafone-group-releases/2003/press_release05_08.html| access-date=May 1, 2014| archive-date=May 2, 2014| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502002128/http://www.vodafone.com/content/index/media/vodafone-group-releases/2003/press_release05_08.html| url-status=live}} Reviewers generally acknowledged it as a faithful port of the arcade original, but criticized the controls. Modojo's Robert Falcon stated that the diagonal controls take time to adapt to on a cell phone with traditional directions.{{cite web| title=Q*Bert Mobile Review| first=Robert| last=Falcon| publisher=Modojo| date=2006| url=http://www.modojo.com/reviews/qbert| access-date=May 1, 2014| archive-date=May 2, 2014| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502013332/http://www.modojo.com/reviews/qbert| url-status=live}} Michael French of Pocket Gamer concluded: "You can't escape the fact it doesn't exactly fit on mobile. The graphics certainly do, and the spruced-up sound effects are timeless ... but really, it's a little too perfect a conversion."{{cite web| title=Q*Bert: An arcade classic hops to mobile| first=Michael| last=French| publisher=Pocket Gamer| date=February 12, 2006| url=http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/m_review.asp?c=3565&sec=0&see=all| access-date=May 1, 2014| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107222529/https://www.pocketgamer.com/| archive-date=November 7, 2021| url-status=live}} Airgamer criticized the gameplay as monotonous and the difficulty as frustrating.{{cite web| title=Q*Bert| publisher=Airgamer| date=April 18, 2007| url=http://www.airgamer.de/handyspiele/test/zeige/qbert.html|access-date=May 1, 2014| archive-date=May 2, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502031841/http://www.airgamer.de/handyspiele/test/zeige/qbert.html| url-status=live}} By contrast, Wireless Gaming Review called it "one of the best of mobile's retro roundup."{{cite web| title=An Introduction to Mobile Gaming| author=Avery Score| publisher=Gamespot| date=April 28, 2004| url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/an-introduction-to-mobile-gaming/1100-6094611/| access-date=May 1, 2014| archive-date=April 5, 2015| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150405032853/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/an-introduction-to-mobile-gaming/1100-6094611/| url-status=live}}

On February 22, 2007, Q*bert was released on the PlayStation 3's PlayStation Network by fellow Sony subsidiary Sony Online Entertainment.{{cite web| title=Q*Bert hops to PS3| first=Brendan| last=Sinclair| publisher=Gamespot| date=February 16, 2007| url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/qbert-hops-to-ps3/1100-6166031/| access-date=May 1, 2014| url-status=live| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180303132848/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/qbert-hops-to-ps3/1100-6166031/| archive-date=March 3, 2018}} It features upscaled and filtered graphics, an online leaderboard for players to post high scores, and Sixaxis motion controls. The game received a mixed reception. IGN's Jeremy Dunham and GameSpot's Jeff Gerstmann did not enjoy the motion controls and said that the game was a title only for nostalgic players. Eurogamer.net's Richard Leadbetter judged the game's elements "too simplistic and repetitive to make them worthwhile in 2007."{{cite web| title=Q*Bert| first=Richard| last=Leadbetter| publisher=Eurogamer.net| date=April 14, 2007| url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/q-bert-review| access-date=May 1, 2014| archive-date=May 2, 2014| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502004316/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/q-bert-review| url-status=live}} In contrast, 1UP.com's Jeremy Parish considered the title worth purchasing, citing its addictive gameplay.

According to Jeremy Parish, Q*bert is "one of the higher-profile titles of the classic era". In describing Q*bert{{'}}s legacy, Jeff Gerstmann of GameSpot referred to the game as a "rare arcade success".{{cite web| url=http://www.gamespot.com/qbert/reviews/6166498/qbert-review| title=Q*bert Review| first=Jeff| last=Gerstmann| author-link=Jeff Gerstmann| website=GameSpot| date=February 27, 2007| access-date=June 2, 2009}} In 2008, Guinness World Records ranked it behind 16 other arcade games in terms of their technical, creative and cultural impact.{{cite book| editor=Craig Glenday| title=Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition 2008| series=Guinness World Records| date=March 11, 2008| publisher=Guinness| isbn=978-1-904994-21-3| page=[https://archive.org/details/guinnessworldrec00guin_0/page/234 234]| chapter=Top 100 Arcade Games: Top 20–6| chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/guinnessworldrec00guin_0| url=https://archive.org/details/guinnessworldrec00guin_0/page/234}} Though successful, the creators of the game did not receive royalties, as Gottlieb had no such program in place at the time. Davis and Lee nonetheless expressed pride about the game continuing to be remembered fondly.

File:Q*bert merchandise advertisement flyer.jpg

Q*bert became one of the most merchandised arcade games behind Pac-Man, although according to John Sellers it was not nearly as successful as that franchise or Donkey Kong. The character's likeness appears on various items including coloring books, sleeping bags, frisbees, board games, wind-up toys, and stuffed animals. In a flyer distributed in 1983, Gottlieb claimed over 125 licensed products.{{citation| title=Q*bert: Your Best New Videogame Buy for 1983!| date=1983| publisher=Gottlieb| type=advertisement| url=http://flyers.arcade-museum.com/?page=thumbs&db=videodb&id=2556| access-date=July 15, 2014| archive-date=July 8, 2014| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140708162804/http://flyers.arcade-museum.com/?page=thumbs&db=videodb&id=2556| url-status=live}} However, the video game crash of 1983 depressed the market, and the game's popularity began to decline by 1984.

In the years following its release, Q*bert inspired many other games with similar concepts. The magazines Video Games and Computer Games both commented on the trend with features about Q*bert-like games in 1984. They listed Mr. Cool by Sierra On-Line, Frostbite by Activision, Q-Bopper by Accelerated Software, Juice by Tronix, Quick Step by Imagic, Flip & Flop and Boing by First Star Software, Pharaoh's Pyramid by Master Control Software, Pogo Joe by Screenplay, Rabbit Transit by Starpath, as games which had been inspired by Q*bert.{{cite magazine| magazine= Computer Games| volume = 3| publisher = Carnegie Publications| issue = 1| pages = 48–51| first = Dan| last = Gutman|authorlink=Dan Gutman| title = The Clones of Q*Bert|date=April 1984}} Further titles that have been identified as Q*bert-like games include Cubit by Micromax,{{cite magazine| magazine=InCider| publisher=Ziff-Davis| pages=127–128| title = Cubit|date=May 1984| first=Brian J.| last=Murphy| url=https://archive.org/stream/inCider_1984-05#page/n125/mode/2up}} J-bird by Orion Software,{{cite magazine| magazine=PC Magazine| publisher=Ziff-Davis| issue=10| volume=3| page=286| title=The Thrill is Gone| date=May 29, 1984| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZqO7wRZjZQQC&pg=PA286| access-date=September 24, 2016| archive-date=March 3, 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180303132658/https://books.google.com/books?id=ZqO7wRZjZQQC&pg=PA286| url-status=live}} and in the UK Bouncer by Acornsoft,{{Cite web |title=Bouncer |url=http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/6644/Bouncer/ |website=Computing History |access-date=September 17, 2018 |archive-date=September 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180917215252/http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/6644/Bouncer/|url-status=live}} Hubert by Blaby Computer Games,{{cite magazine| magazine=Crash| publisher=Newsfield| page=139| title=Hubert| date=November 1984| issue=10| url=https://archive.org/stream/crash-magazine-10/Crash_10_Nov_1984#page/n137/mode/2up}} Pogo by Ocean,{{cite magazine| magazine=Crash| publisher=Newsfield| page=84| title=Pogo |date=May 1984| issue=4| url=https://archive.org/stream/crash-magazine-04/Crash_04_May_1984#page/n83/mode/2up/}} Spellbound by Beyond,{{cite magazine| magazine=Crash| publisher=Newsfield| pages=51–52| title=Spellbound |date=July 1984| issue=6| url=https://archive.org/stream/crash-magazine-06/Crash_06_Jul_1984#page/n49/mode/2up}} Vector Hopper by Kristof Tuts,{{cite web| website=I Am Retro| title=Kristof Tuts interview| date=July 25, 2015| url=http://www.iamretro.gr/kristof-tuts-interview-english/| access-date=August 17, 2016| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160827050045/http://www.iamretro.gr/kristof-tuts-interview-english/| archive-date=August 27, 2016| url-status=live}} and Hoppy Hop by Josyan.{{cite web |last1=Yarwood |first1=Jack |title=New Q*Bert-Esque Indie 'Hoppy Hop' Springs Into Action Later This Year |url=https://www.timeextension.com/news/2023/05/new-qbert-esque-indie-hoppy-hop-springs-into-action-later-this-year |website=Time Extension |publisher=Hookshot Media |access-date=April 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230516224344/https://www.timeextension.com/news/2023/05/new-qbert-esque-indie-hoppy-hop-springs-into-action-later-this-year |archive-date=May 16, 2023 |date=May 16, 2023 |url-status=live}}

In 1983, Q*bert was adapted into an animated cartoon as part of Saturday Supercade on CBS, which features segments based on video game characters from the golden age of video arcade games. Saturday Supercade was produced by Ruby-Spears Productions, the Q*bert segments between 1983 and 1984.{{cite web| url = http://www.rubyspears.com/film.shtml| title = Ruby-Spears Productions – About Us| publisher = Ruby-Spears Productions| access-date = May 31, 2009| archive-date = May 7, 2011| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110507092000/http://www.rubyspears.com/film.shtml| url-status = live}} The show is set in a United States, 1950s era town called "Q-Burg",{{cite web| url = http://www.1up.com/features/top-5-classic-videogame-cartoons| title = Top 5 Classic Videogame Cartoons| first = Scott| last = Sharkey| website = 1UP.com| access-date = May 31, 2009| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121011195105/http://www.1up.com/features/top-5-classic-videogame-cartoons| archive-date = October 11, 2012}} and stars Q*bert as a high school student, altered to include arms, hands, jacket, and sneakers. He shoots black projectiles from his nose, what he calls "Slippy Dew", to make his enemies slip. Characters frequently say puns that add the letter "Q" to words.{{cite web| url = http://www.cartoonscrapbook.com/Q/qbert1983.htm| title = Q*bert @ The Cartoon Scrapbook| access-date = May 2, 2014| url-status = usurped| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140502151615/http://www.cartoonscrapbook.com/Q/qbert1983.htm| archive-date = May 2, 2014}}

Gottlieb released the pinball game Q*bert{{'}}s Quest in 1983. It has two pairs of flippers in an "X" formation and uses audio from the arcade game.{{cite magazine| magazine=Retro Gamer| publisher=Imagine Publishing| issue=45| page=49| title=A Whole Different Ball Game| first=Stuart| last=Campbell| date=January 2008}} Gottlieb produced fewer than 900 units, but in Japan Game Machine listed Q*bert's Quest in their June 1, 1983 issue as being the second most-successful flipper unit of the year.{{cite magazine|title=Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - フリッパー (Flippers)|magazine=Game Machine|issue=213|publisher=Amusement Press, Inc.|date=1 June 1983|page=29|lang=ja}}

Q*bert is seen being played in the 1984 film Moscow on the Hudson starring Robin Williams.

The 1993 IBM PC role-playing game Ultima Underworld II: Labyrinth of Worlds has a segment where the player has to solve a pyramid puzzle as a homage to Q*bert.{{cite web| url = http://sergorn.wordpress.com/2010/10/06/all-of-this-to-play-q-bert| title = All of this to play Q-Bert?!| website = Ultima Adventures| date = October 6, 2010| access-date = July 11, 2014| archive-date = July 15, 2014| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140715151937/http://sergorn.wordpress.com/2010/10/06/all-of-this-to-play-q-bert/| url-status = live}} In the 2009 action-adventure game Ghostbusters: The Video Game, a Q*bert arcade cabinet can be seen in the Ghostbusters headquarters.{{cite web| url = http://www.destructoid.com/games-ghostbusters-play-q-bert-132829.phtml| title = Games Ghostbusters play: Q-Bert| website = Destructoid| first = Nick| last = Chester| date = May 20, 2009| access-date = July 15, 2014| archive-date = July 15, 2014| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140715005353/http://www.destructoid.com/games-ghostbusters-play-q-bert-132829.phtml| url-status = live}}

Q*bert characters appear in Disney's Wreck-It Ralph franchise.{{cite news |url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-wreck-it-ralph-video-games-20121102,0,566280.story |title=Wreck-It Ralph Cheat Code: Which Video Games Get Shout-Outs? |author=Zeitchik, Steven |newspaper=The Los Angeles Times |date=November 3, 2012 |access-date=November 5, 2012 |archive-date=November 4, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104174855/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-wreck-it-ralph-video-games-20121102,0,566280.story |url-status=live }}{{citation| title = Wreck-It Ralph (screenplay)| publisher = Walt Disney Studios| url = http://waltdisneystudiosawards.com/downloads/wreck-it-ralph-screenplay.pdf| access-date = July 11, 2014| first1 = Phil| last1 = Johnson| first2 = Jennifer| last2 = Lee| archive-date = December 8, 2013| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131208140652/http://waltdisneystudiosawards.com/downloads/wreck-it-ralph-screenplay.pdf| url-status = live}}

Q*bert appears in the 2015 film Pixels {{Cite web|url=http://www.philstar.com/movies/2014/07/23/1349432/classic-video-game-characters-unite-film-pixels|title=Classic video game characters unite via film 'Pixels'|work=Philstar|date=July 23, 2014|access-date=July 23, 2014|archive-date=July 23, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140723010101/http://www.philstar.com/movies/2014/07/23/1349432/classic-video-game-characters-unite-film-pixels|url-status=live}}{{cite web| url = https://www.engadget.com/2015/07/24/pixels-movie-review-absolutely-abhorrent/| title = 'Pixels' is somehow even worse than I thought it could be| first = Timothy| last = Seppala| website = engadget| publisher = AOL Inc.| date = July 24, 2015| access-date = August 13, 2015| archive-date = August 12, 2015| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150812233827/http://www.engadget.com/2015/07/24/pixels-movie-review-absolutely-abhorrent/| url-status = live}} as a supporting character, the film having produced by copyright owner Sony.

In 2014, Q*bert makes a cameo appearance in the RadioShack Super Bowl XLVIII commercial "The '80s Called".{{cite magazine |url=http://people.com/tv/radioshack-super-bowl-commercial-every-80s-reference-in-the-ad-spot/ |title=Celebrating Every '80s Reference in That RadioShack Super Bowl Commercial |author=Jones, Nate |magazine=People |date=February 2, 2014 |access-date=May 25, 2017 |archive-date=April 28, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170428005707/http://people.com/tv/radioshack-super-bowl-commercial-every-80s-reference-in-the-ad-spot/ |url-status=live }}

The game has been referenced in several animated television series: Family Guy,{{cite episode| title = Chick Cancer| episode-link = Chick Cancer| series = Family Guy| series-link = Family Guy| network = Fox Broadcasting Company| airdate= November 26, 2006| season = 5| number = 7}} Futurama,{{cite episode| title = Anthology of Interest II| episode-link = Anthology of Interest II| series = Futurama| series-link = Futurama| network = Fox Broadcasting Company| airdate= January 6, 2002| season = 3| number = 18}} The Simpsons,{{cite web| url = http://tv.ign.com/articles/965/965105p1.html| title = The Simpsons: "In the Name of the Grandfather" Review| date = March 23, 2009| first = Robert| last = Canning| website = IGN| access-date = May 30, 2009| archive-date = March 26, 2009| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090326080728/http://tv.ign.com/articles/965/965105p1.html| url-status = live}}{{cite episode| title = In the Name of the Grandfather| episode-link = In the Name of the Grandfather| series = The Simpsons| series-link = The Simpsons| network = Fox Broadcasting Company| airdate= March 22, 2009| season = 20| number = 14}} Robot Chicken,{{cite magazine| url = http://popwatch.ew.com/2012/10/10/robot-chicken-tackles-street-fighter/| title = 'Robot Chicken' tackles 'Street Fighter'| date = October 10, 2012| first = Josh| last = Stillman| magazine = Entertainment Weekly| access-date = April 30, 2014| archive-date = May 2, 2014| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140502013443/http://popwatch.ew.com/2012/10/10/robot-chicken-tackles-street-fighter/| url-status = live}} Mad,{{cite web| url = https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2669172/movieconnections| title = James Bond: Reply All/Randy Savage: 9th Grade Wrestler (2013): Connections| publisher = IMDb| access-date = April 30, 2014| archive-date = July 12, 2015| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150712231730/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2669172/movieconnections| url-status = live}} and South Park.{{cite web| url = https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0995579/movieconnections| title = Imaginationland: Episode III (2007): Connections| publisher = IMDb| access-date = April 30, 2014| archive-date = July 12, 2015| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150712231707/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0995579/movieconnections| url-status = live}}

On November 28, 1983, Rob Gerhardt reached a record score of 33,273,520 points in a Q*bert marathon.{{cite web| url=http://www.twingalaxies.com/index.aspx?c=22&pi=2&gi=3163&vi=1427| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090623083445/http://www.twingalaxies.com/index.aspx?c=22&pi=2&gi=3163&vi=1427| archive-date=June 23, 2009| title=Q*bert High Score Marathon Rankings| publisher=Twin Galaxies| access-date=November 13, 2009}} He held it for almost 30 years, until George Leutz from Brooklyn, New York played one game of Q*bert for eighty-four hours and forty-eight minutes on February 14–18, 2013 at Richie Knucklez' Arcade in Flemington, New Jersey.{{cite web| first=Rick| last=Epstein| date=February 18, 2013| website=nj.com| url=http://www.nj.com/hunterdon-county-democrat/index.ssf/2013/02/hunterdon_arcade_owner_84-hour.html| title=Man claims world record by playing Q*bert for 84 hours in Hunterdon arcade| access-date=April 30, 2014| archive-date=March 7, 2014| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140307002042/http://www.nj.com/hunterdon-county-democrat/index.ssf/2013/02/hunterdon_arcade_owner_84-hour.html| url-status=live}} He scored 37,163,080 points.{{cite web| url=https://games.yahoo.com/blogs/plugged-in/man-plays-q-bert-more-80-hours-breaks-230000075.html| title=Man plays Q*bert for more than 80 hours, breaks 30-year-old record| publisher=Yahoo! Games| first=Chris| last=Morris| access-date=April 30, 2014| date=February 19, 2013| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502010153/https://games.yahoo.com/blogs/plugged-in/man-plays-q-bert-more-80-hours-breaks-230000075.html| archive-date=May 2, 2014}}

Doris Self, credited by Guinness World Records as the "oldest competitive female gamer",{{cite book| editor= Craig Glenday| title= Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition 2008| series= Guinness World Records| date= March 11, 2008| publisher= Guinness| isbn= 978-1-904994-21-3| page= [https://archive.org/details/guinnessworldrec00guin_0/page/9 9]| chapter= About Twin Galaxies| chapter-url= https://archive.org/details/guinnessworldrec00guin_0| url= https://archive.org/details/guinnessworldrec00guin_0/page/9}} set the tournament record score of 1,112,300 for Q*bert in 1984 at the age of 58. Her record was surpassed by Drew Goins on June 27, 1987 with a score of 2,222,220.{{cite web| url = http://www.twingalaxies.com/index.aspx?c=22&pi=2&gi=3163&vi=1428| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081004120436/http://www.twingalaxies.com/index.aspx?c=22&pi=2&gi=3163&vi=1428| archive-date = October 4, 2008| title = Q*bert High Score Tournament Rankings| publisher = Twin Galaxies| access-date = November 13, 2009}} Self continually attempted to regain the record until her death in 2006.

On November 18, 2012, George Leutz broke the Q*Bert tournament world record live at the Kong Off 2 event at The 1up Arcade and Bar in Denver, Colorado. Leutz scored 3,930,990 points in just under eight hours, earning 1.5 million points on his first life, beating Self's score using a single life. Leutz's score was verified by Twin Galaxies.{{cite web| url = http://www.twingalaxies.com/scores.php?player=68460| title = George Leutz Q*Bert world records (Marathon and Tournament)| publisher = Twin Galaxies| access-date = February 7, 2015| archive-date = January 23, 2015| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150123084416/http://www.twingalaxies.com/scores.php?player=68460| url-status = live}} The video ends at a score of 3.7 million points, 1,500,000 points over the previous record.{{cite AV media | url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STDzWWuj_-E| title = Recording of Q*Bert Tournament Track world record| access-date=February 7, 2015}}

{{Video game timeline

| title = Q*bert series

| 1982 = Q*bert

| 1983 = Q*bert's Qubes

| 1992 = Q*bert 3

| 1996 = Faster Harder More Challenging Q*bert

| 1999 = Q*bert

| 2004 = Q*bert 2004

| 2005 = Q*bert 2005

| 2009 = Q*Bert Deluxe

| 2014 = Q*bert: Rebooted

| 2019 = Q*bert (iOS)

}}

Believing that the original game was too easy, Davis initiated development of Faster Harder More Challenging Q*bert in 1983, which increases the difficulty, introduces Q*bertha, and adds a bonus round.{{cite web| url = http://www.tomheroes.com/Video%20Games%20FS/Retrotimes/Best%20Of/Interviews/warren_davis.htm| title = Q*bert Interview| publisher = Tomorrow's Heroes| access-date = April 30, 2014| archive-date = January 2, 2015| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150102033832/http://www.tomheroes.com/Video%20Games%20FS/Retrotimes/Best%20Of/Interviews/warren_davis.htm| url-status = usurped}} The project was canceled. Davis released the ROM image onto the web in December 1996.

Several video game sequels were released over the years, but did not reach the same level of success as the original. The first, titled Q*bert's Qubes, shows a copyright for 1983 on its title screen, whereas the instruction manual cites a 1984 copyright.{{citation| title=Q*bert's Qubes Instruction Manual| publisher=Mylstar| page=36| date=1984}} It was manufactured by Mylstar ElectronicsThe Coca-Cola Company acquired Columbia Pictures, Gottlieb's owner, in 1982, and renamed the company to Mylstar Electronics, in 1983. and uses the same hardware as the original.{{cite web| url=http://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=9183| title=Q*bert's Qubes Videogame by Mylstar (1983)| publisher=Killer List of Videogames| access-date=June 1, 2009| archive-date=February 12, 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100212121531/http://arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=9183| url-status=live}} The game features Q*bert, but introduces new enemies: Meltniks, Shoobops, and Rat-A-Tat-Tat. The player navigates the protagonist around a plane of cubes while avoiding enemies. Jumping on a cube causes it to rotate, changing the color of the visible sides of the cube. The goal is to match a line of cubes to a target sample; later levels require multiple rows to match.{{cite web| url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=4433| title=Q*bert's Qubes – Overview| publisher=Allgame| first=Brett A.| last=Weiss| access-date=June 1, 2009| archive-date=February 14, 2010| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100214141207/http://allgame.com/game.php?id=4433| url-status=live}} Though part of a popular franchise, the game's release was hardly noticed. Parker Brothers showcased home versions of Q*bert's Qubes at the Winter Consumer Electronics Show in January 1985.{{cite magazine| magazine=Creative Computing| publisher=Ziff-Davis| page=51| title=1985 Winter Consumer Electronics Show| date=April 1985| volume=11| issue=4| first=David H.| last=Ahl| url=https://archive.org/stream/creativecomputing-1985-04/Creative_Computing_v11_n04_1985_Apr#page/n51/mode/2up/}} Q*bert's Qubes was ported to the ColecoVision and Atari 2600.{{cite web| url=http://www.gamespot.com/colecovision/action/qbertsqubes/tech_info.html| title=Q*bert's Qubes for Colecovision – Technical Information| website=GameSpot| access-date=June 1, 2009| archive-date=November 7, 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107222532/https://www.gamespot.com/games/q-berts-qubes/| url-status=live}}{{cite web| title=Q*bert's Qubes for Atari 2600 – Technical Information| website=GameSpot| url=http://www.gamespot.com/atari2600/action/qbertsqubes/tech_info.html| access-date=June 1, 2009| url-status=live| archive-date=November 7, 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107222538/https://www.gamespot.com/games/q-berts-qubes/}} Version for Atari 8-bit computers and the Commodore 64 were referred to in the instructions of the released conversions. The Atari 8-bit version has not yet been found, but Games That Weren't tracked down a preview of the C64 version in 2017.{{Cite web |title=Q*Bert's Qubes |url=https://www.gamesthatwerent.com/gtw64/qberts-qubes/ |website=Games That Weren't 64 |date=1984 |access-date=2019-09-11 |url-status=live |archive-date=2019-09-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190911024250/http://www.gamesthatwerent.com/gtw64/qberts-qubes/}}

File:Q*Bert Qubes Marquee.jpg|Q*Bert's Qubes arcade marquee

File:qbertsqubes.png|alt=A square video game screenshot that is a digital representation of a multicolored array of cubes in front of a black background. An orange spherical character, a purple ball, and two purple characters are on the cubes. Statistics related to gameplay are in the corners of the screen.|In Q*bert's Qubes, the player rotates cubes in a line to match the target sample in the top left corner.

Konami, who had distributed the original Q*bert to Japanese arcades in 1983,{{cite magazine| magazine=AM Life| publisher=Kabushiki Kaisha Amusement| date=March 1983| page=10| title=Q*Bert (Konami)| issue=3| language=ja}} produced a different game, that kept the title Q*bert, released in Japan and Europe for MSX computers in 1986. The main character is a little dragon, and the mechanics are based on Q*bert's Qubes. Each of the 50 stages has a different pattern of cubes. The competitive 2-player mode assigns each side a different pattern, and the players score points either by completing their pattern first or by pushing the other off the board.{{cite magazine| magazine=MSX News| publisher=Sandyx S.A.| date=September–October 1987| page=12| title=Qbert: De toutes les couleurs!| issue=5| language=fr}}

Developed by Realtime Associates and published by Jaleco in 1992, this version has 64 boards in different shapes.{{cite magazine |title=Q*Bert: The Arcade Hit Leaps to Your Game Boy |magazine=Game Informer |publisher=Funco |issue=Spring 1992 |pages=46–47 |date=1992}}

Q*bert 3 for the Super NES was developed by Realtime Associates and published by NTVIC in 1992. Jeff Lee worked on the graphics.{{cite web|last=Davis|first=Warren|title=The Creation of Q*Bert|url=http://www.coinop.org/features/qbstory.aspx|work=Coinop.org|access-date=September 26, 2011|author-link=Warren Davis (actor)|archive-date=September 29, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929105304/http://www.coinop.org/features/qbstory.aspx|url-status=live}} It has gameplay similar to the original, but like the Game Boy game, has larger levels of varying shapes. In addition to enemies from the first game, it introduces Frogg, Top Hat, and Derby.{{cite web| url = http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=30285| title = Q*bert 3 – Overview| publisher = Allgame| first = Brett A| last = Weiss| access-date = June 2, 2009| archive-date = February 14, 2010| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100214140029/http://allgame.com/game.php?id=30285| url-status = live}}{{cite web| url = http://cheats.ign.com/objects/007/007865.html| title = IGN: Q*bert 3| website = IGN| access-date = June 2, 2009| archive-date = January 25, 2010| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100125134919/http://cheats.ign.com/objects/007/007865.html| url-status = live}}

{{main | Q*bert (1999 video game)}}

Q*bert is a remake of the 1982 arcade game of the same name with 3D graphics. It was developed by Artech Studios and released by Hasbro Interactive on the PlayStation and Microsoft Windows in 1999 and on the Game Boy Color and Dreamcast in 2000.

In 2004, Sony Pictures released a sequel for Adobe Flash titled Q*bert 2004, containing a faithful rendition of the original arcade game, along with 50 levels that use new board layouts and six new visual themes.{{cite web| url = https://games.yahoo.com/game/qbert-flash.html| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20041210224834/http://www.sonypictures.com/games/qbert/qbert_title.html| title = Q*Bert| publisher = Sony Pictures| access-date = April 30, 2014| archive-date = December 10, 2004}} Q*Bert Deluxe for iOS devices was initially released as a rendition of the arcade game, but later received updates with the themes and stages from Q*Bert 2004.{{cite web| url = https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/q-bert-deluxe/id325065512?mt=8| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100301145529/http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/q-bert-deluxe/id325065512?mt=8| title = iTunes Preview: Q*Bert Deluxe | publisher = Apple| access-date = April 30, 2014| archive-date=March 1, 2010}}

In 2005, Sony Pictures released Q*bert 2005 as a download for Windows{{cite web | title=Q*bert 2005 | url=http://download.cnet.com/Q-bert-2005/3000-2099_4-10389850.html | date=May 2, 2005 | access-date=June 10, 2014 | publisher=CBS Interactive Inc. | website=Download.com powered by Cnet | archive-date=July 14, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714145321/http://download.cnet.com/Q-bert-2005/3000-2099_4-10389850.html | url-status=live }} and as a Flash browser applet,{{Cite web |last=Hill |first=Giles |date=December 24, 2014 |title=Q*bert: The Escher-inspired platform puzzler from 1982 |url=https://www.theregister.com/2014/12/24/antique_code_show_q_bert/ |access-date=2023-08-14 |website=The Register |language=en}} featuring 50 different levels.

On July 2, 2014, Gonzo Games and Sideline amusement announced Q*bert Rebooted to be released on Steam, iOS and Android.{{cite web | title=Q*bert Rebooted brings the franchise back to Steam, mobile and tablets | url=http://www.polygon.com/2014/7/2/5865899/q-bert-rebooted-pc-mac-linux-release-date-ps4-ps-vita-android-ios | date=July 2, 2014 | access-date=July 3, 2014 | publisher=Vox Media | website=Polygon | archive-date=July 6, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140706230109/http://www.polygon.com/2014/7/2/5865899/q-bert-rebooted-pc-mac-linux-release-date-ps4-ps-vita-android-ios | url-status=live }} Versions for PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita were released on February 17, 2015 in North America and February 18, 2015 in Europe.{{cite web |title=Q*Bert Rebooted Coming to PlayStation Systems |last=Campbell |first=Evan |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/02/06/qbert-rebooted-coming-to-playstation-systems |date=February 6, 2015 |access-date=August 12, 2015 |publisher=Ziff Davis |website=IGN |archive-date=July 30, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150730184800/http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/02/06/qbert-rebooted-coming-to-playstation-systems |url-status=live }} It was released on February 12, 2016 for the Xbox One.{{cite web|title=Q*bert REBOOTED: The XBOX One @!#?@! Edition Is Now Available For Digital Pre-order And Pre-download On Xbox One|url=http://majornelson.com/2016/01/29/qbert-rebooted-the-xbox-one-edition-is-now-available-for-digital-pre-order-and-pre-download-on-xbox-one/|website=Major Nelson| date=29 January 2016 |publisher=Microsoft|access-date=February 18, 2016|archive-date=February 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215173232/http://majornelson.com/2016/01/29/qbert-rebooted-the-xbox-one-edition-is-now-available-for-digital-pre-order-and-pre-download-on-xbox-one/|url-status=live}} According to Mark Caplan, Vice President, Consumer Products, Worldwide Marketing & Distribution at Sony Pictures Entertainment, the release was motivated by "renewed interest in Q*bert, in part due to the cameo in the recent Wreck-It Ralph animated feature film".{{cite web| title=Arcade Hit Q*bert Coming to Steam with Classic, Rebooted Modes| url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/135881-Arcade-Hit-Q-bert-Coming-to-Steam-with-Classic-Rebooted-Modes| date=July 4, 2014| access-date=July 14, 2014| first=Marla| last=Desat| publisher=Defy Media| website=The Escapist| archive-date=July 20, 2014| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140720202513/http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/135881-Arcade-Hit-Q-bert-Coming-to-Steam-with-Classic-Rebooted-Modes| url-status=live}}

Q*bert Rebooted contains a port of the classic arcade game alongside a new playing mode that uses hexagonal shapes, increasing the number of possible movement directions to six.{{cite web |title=Q*Bert Rebooted Review |last=Woolsey |first=Cameron |url=http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/q-bert-rebooted-review/1900-6416046/ |date=March 4, 2015 |access-date=August 12, 2015 |publisher=CBS Interactive Inc. |website=Gamespot |archive-date=August 23, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150823100255/http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/q-bert-rebooted-review/1900-6416046/ |url-status=live }} Additionally, the 'Rebooted' mode features new enemy types, including a boxing glove that punches Q*bert off the levels and a treasure chest that tries to avoid him.{{cite web |title=Q*Bert Rebooted |last=Thurmond |first=Joey |url=http://www.pushsquare.com/reviews/ps4/qbert_rebooted |date=February 24, 2015 |access-date=August 12, 2015 |website=Push Square |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924083430/http://www.pushsquare.com/reviews/ps4/qbert_rebooted |url-status=live }} The game has 5 different stage designs spread across 40 levels, which contain three rounds and a bonus round and have to be completed with 5 lives. Gems are collected to unlock different skins for the Q*bert character, and completing levels multiple times while reaching specific time and score goals is awarded with stars that enable access to more levels.

On October 11, 2019, an updated version of Q*bert developed by Lucky-Kat games{{Cite web|url=https://www.lucky-kat.com/qbert|title=Q*bert|website=Lucky Kat Studios|language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-12|archive-date=2019-10-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191012012421/https://www.lucky-kat.com/qbert|url-status=live}} in association with Sony Pictures was published via the iOS and Android.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sonypictures.com/games/qbert|title=Q*BERT {{!}} Sony Pictures Entertainment|website=www.sonypictures.com|access-date=2019-10-12|archive-date=2019-10-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191012012404/https://www.sonypictures.com/games/qbert|url-status=live}}

• {{Portal inline|Video games}}
• {{Portal inline|1980s}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

• Q*bert can be played for free in the browser at the Internet Archive.

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Qbert}}

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Category:Commodore 64 games

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Category:Fictional humanoids

Category:Game Boy games

Category:Gottlieb video games

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