Spider-Man (1982 video game)

Spider-Man
Publisher(s)Parker Brothers
Programmer(s)Laura Nikolich[1]
SeriesSpider-Man
Platform(s)Atari 2600
Release
  • NA: November 1982
Genre(s)Action[2]
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Spider-Man is a vertical scrolling action game programmed by Laura Nikolich for the Atari 2600, and released in 1982 by Parker Brothers. It was both the first video game to feature Spider-Man and the first Marvel Comics based video game.

Plot

Norman Osborn has been removed of the Goblin formula and incarcerated by Spider-Man. He manages to cause a prison riot, which breaks him out, and decides to blow up the Empire State Building. Spider-Man catches wind of this, and decides to stop Goblin from using his new creation, a “Superbomb”, to blow up the building. Along the way, he must contend with the Goblin’s group of hired thugs, and, ultimately, the Goblin himself.[3]

Gameplay

Spider-Man swinging on a web

The player controls Spider-Man, who is attempting to scale a building and defuse bombs planted by the Green Goblin.[4] Spider-Man is only able to use his web lines to move up the building either vertically or diagonally. Generic criminals dwell along the many floors of the building, moving randomly from one window to another. Spider-Man counts with limited web fluid to achieve his goal, indicated by a meter at the bottom of the screen. The web fluid meter slowly depletes as time passes, acting like a time limiter of sorts. If the meter depletes completely, Spider-Man will plummet to the ground with no means of saving himself and a life will be lost. If the player has no lives left, the game will be over.

Spider-Man can replenish a little amount of web fluid for each captured criminal or for each small bomb defused. To capture a criminal, Spider-Man must make physical contact with them. However, if a criminal manages to touch his web line, they will cut it and send Spidey plummeting below, though the player can shoot another web in time to save himself.

Near the top of each building, the layout changes to a series of girders where the Goblin has planted many small bombs to hinder Spidey's progress. When a bomb is about to explode, it will change its color from black to red. Defusing a red bomb yields more points than a black one.

Upon reaching the top of the building, Spidey must then face off against the Goblin, who has planted a "super bomb", whose fuse is activated upon defeating a certain number of enemies and/or defusing a certain number of small bombs.[5] Once the fuse is lit, there is a limited time to reach the super bomb before it detonates, claiming one of Spidey's lives. Upon defeating the Goblin (which involves simply avoiding him) and defusing his super bomb, the game starts over at the next level, which may feature faster-moving and/or more instances of the Green Goblin, taller buildings, taller scaffold sections or a quicker-depleting supply of web fluid. The building is sometimes a different color.

Development

Parker Brothers began developing video games in June 1982.[6] Laura Nikolich was hired by recruiters by Parker Brothers when she met the team at a job fair. Impressed that she could code in assembly language, she was brought in for an interview. When she joined the video games division of the company, she was assigned to make a game based on the Spider-Man comic series.[2] Nikolich had full creative control of the game design and had no contact with Marvel Comics.[7]

Like all games developed at Parker Brothers, the design of the game was a group effort by the firms game team and then was presented to the marketing department. The design team made story boards and initially wanted the game to scroll horizontally, but limitations of the Atari 2600 made it more sense to scroll vertically. Other limitations of the system had it so Spider-Man could only swing from his webs to the top of a building instead of climbing the wall.[2]

Nikolich had the Green Goblin appears as Spider-Man's villain in the game. She chose him as due to how much easier it would be to have him in the game as they could use the same algorithm that the team used for Spider-Man to fly the Green Goblin around the tower.[8]

Release and reception

Spider-Man was released in November 1982.[6] A version was developed for the Magnavox Odyssey 2 which was never officially released.[8]

Mark Trost of Electronic Fun with Computers & Games reviewed the game in February 1983, rating it 3 out of 4. He criticized it for being derivative of the 1980 arcade video game Crazy Climber, but said it was a "nice variation on the theme" with web shooting and swinging abilities, and called it "a challenging, graphically acceptable and ultimately engrossing" game.[9] A review in The Video Game Update found that the graphics were disappointing compared to the first two releases from Parker Bros. and said the game would only appeal to only the real fans of Spider-Man.[10]

Legacy

Reflecting on the game, Nikolich said she wouldn't change a thing stating she "did the best I could with what I had, so I don't really have any regrets" and "You can't hold it up against the games of today, but it was the first pass at home videogames, and I'm very proud of it."[8] With its release, Spider-Man was the second published superhero to feature in a video game, following Superman (1979).[11] Following her work on Spider-Man, Nikolich would develop a game based on the Care Bears franchise for the Atari 2600 which did not get released, and a port of Frogger II: Threeedeep! for the Colecovision.[2][7]

The game's iteration of the Green Goblin makes a cameo appearance in the animated film Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023). He is depicted as a prisoner of Miguel O'Hara's Spider-Society among other universe-displaced villains.[12]

References

  1. ^ Montfort & Bogost 2009, p. 166.
  2. ^ a b c d Milne 2020, p. 46.
  3. ^ Taken from the game's promotional materials.
  4. ^ Parker Bros. 1982.
  5. ^ "Looking Back: Spider-Man for Atari 2600". Marvel Comics. March 21, 2008. Archived from the original on April 2, 2009. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  6. ^ a b Billboard 1982, p. 8.
  7. ^ a b Campbell 2018.
  8. ^ a b c Milne 2020, p. 47.
  9. ^ Trost 1983, pp. 58–59.
  10. ^ The Video Game Update 1982.
  11. ^ Kent 2021, p. 497.
  12. ^ Gvozden 2023.

Sources

Read other articles:

Joost Hendrik Romswinckel

LetJend. Joost Romswinckel Romswinckel selama Perang Aceh Kedua. Joost Hendrik Romswinckel (24 September 1832 – 30 November 1908) adalah letnan jenderal Belanda di Koninklijk Nederlandsch-Indisch Leger. Putera dari Abraham François Jean Romswinckel dan Anna Maria Canneman ini juga ksatria dan perwira dalam Militaire Willems-Orde. Pendidikan Sebagai sersan, Romswinckel memulai kariernya di KNIL pada usia 21 tahun. Pada tahun 1855, ia diangkat menjadi letnan dua. Perang Bone Ar...

 

Natalia Tena

Nama ini menggunakan cara penamaan Spanyol: nama keluarga pertama atau paternalnya adalah Gastiain dan nama keluarga kedua atau maternalnya adalah Tena. Natalia TenaTena pada Juni 2012LahirNatalia Gastiain Tena1 November 1984 (umur 39)London, InggrisPekerjaanAktrismusisiTahun aktif2001–sekarangDikenal atas Nymphadora Tonks dalam Seri Harry Potter Osha dalam Game of Thrones Natalia Gastiain Tena[1] (lahir 1 November 1984) adalah seorang aktris dan musisi asal Inggris. ...

 

Vestmannaeyjar

VestmannaeyjarTown and municipalityHeimaklettur seen from the top of Eldfell Volcano which erupted 23 January 1973Location of the Municipality of VestmannaeyjarCountryIcelandConstituency[1]SuðvesturkjördæmiRegion[2]SuðurlandCountyVestmannaeyjar[3]Pemerintahan • MayorElliði Vignisson (2006–)Luas • Total16,3 km2 (63 sq mi)Populasi (2011) • Total4.142 • Kepadatan254,1/km2 (6,580/sq mi)Zona wak...

Species

Basic unit of taxonomic classification, below genus For other uses, see Species (disambiguation). The hierarchy of biological classification's eight major taxonomic ranks. A genus contains one or more species. Minor intermediate ranks are not shown. A species (pl.: species) is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction.[1] It is the basic unit of c...

 

Guildo Horn

Guildo HornBiographieNaissance 15 février 1963 (61 ans)TrèvesNom de naissance Horst Heinz KöhlerPseudonymes Guildo Horn, Der Meister, Horst ChabbiNationalité allemandeFormation Université de TrèvesActivités Chanteur, acteur, auteur-compositeurAutres informationsGenres artistiques Schlager, pop, comedy rock, opérette, comédie musicaleSite web (de) www.guildo-horn.comDistinction Goldene Stimmgabel (en) (1998)modifier - modifier le code - modifier Wikidata Guildo Horn, de son ...

 

Chicano Liberation Front

1970s American terrorist group Chicano Liberation FrontCLF statement as published in the Los Angeles Free Press, issue 369, August 13–18, 1971 (via Center for Southwest Research, University of New Mexico, Underground Newspaper Collection)LeadersUnknownDates of operation1970–1974SizeUnknownPart ofChicano MovementOpponentsLocal law enforcement, capitalists The Chicano Liberation Front (CLF) was an underground revolutionary group in California, United States, that committed dozens of bombing...

Società Ginnastica Pro Lissone 1934-1935

Questa voce sull'argomento stagioni delle società calcistiche italiane è solo un abbozzo. Contribuisci a migliorarla secondo le convenzioni di Wikipedia. Segui i suggerimenti del progetto di riferimento. Voce principale: Società Sportiva Pro Lissone. Società Ginnastica Pro LissoneStagione 1934-1935Sport calcio Squadra Pro Lissone Allenatore Presidente Prima Divisione12º posto nel girone B, retrocesso in Prima Divisione Regionale 1933-1934 1935-1936 Si invita a seguire il model...

 

Hafun

Town in Puntland, SomaliaHafun XaafuunحافونΟπώνηTownOne of the forts of the Majeerteen Sultanate in Hafun (early 1900s).HafunLocation in Somalia.Coordinates: 10°25′00″N 51°16′00″E / 10.41667°N 51.26667°E / 10.41667; 51.26667Country SomaliaRegional State PuntlandRegionBariDistrictHafunEstablished2nd millennium BCE–500 ADPopulation (2000 HH) • Total13,200Time zoneUTC+3 (EAT) Hafun (Somali: Xaafuun; Arabic: حافون; An...

 

Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851

Grant-making educational trust This article does not cite any sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.Find sources: Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (January 2023) (Learn how and when to remove this message) The Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 is an institution founded in 1850 to administer the...

约翰斯顿环礁

此條目可参照英語維基百科相應條目来扩充。 (2021年5月6日)若您熟悉来源语言和主题，请协助参考外语维基百科扩充条目。请勿直接提交机械翻译，也不要翻译不可靠、低品质内容。依版权协议，译文需在编辑摘要注明来源，或于讨论页顶部标记{{Translated page}}标签。 约翰斯顿环礁Kalama Atoll 美國本土外小島嶼 Johnston Atoll 旗幟颂歌：《星條旗》The Star-Spangled Banner約翰斯頓環礁�...

 

Diary (Alicia Keys song)

2004 single by Alicia Keys DiarySingle by Alicia Keys featuring Tony! Toni! Toné!from the album The Diary of Alicia Keys ReleasedMay 24, 2004 (2004-05-24)[1]Genre R&B[2] soul[3] Length4:44LabelJSongwriter(s) Alicia Keys Kerry Brothers, Jr. Producer(s)Alicia KeysAlicia Keys singles chronology If I Ain't Got You (2004) Diary (2004) My Boo (2004) Music videoDiary on YouTube Diary is a song by American singer-songwriter Alicia Keys from her second s...

 

美国众议院

此條目需要补充更多来源。 (2021年7月4日)请协助補充多方面可靠来源以改善这篇条目，无法查证的内容可能會因為异议提出而被移除。致使用者：请搜索一下条目的标题（来源搜索：美国众议院 — 网页、新闻、书籍、学术、图像），以检查网络上是否存在该主题的更多可靠来源（判定指引）。 美國眾議院 United States House of Representatives第118届美国国会众议院徽章 众议院旗...

哈萨克斯坦总统

此条目序言章节没有充分总结全文内容要点。 (2019年3月21日)请考虑扩充序言，清晰概述条目所有重點。请在条目的讨论页讨论此问题。 哈萨克斯坦總統哈薩克總統旗現任Қасым-Жомарт Кемелұлы Тоқаев卡瑟姆若马尔特·托卡耶夫自2019年3月20日在任任期7年首任努尔苏丹·纳扎尔巴耶夫设立1990年4月24日（哈薩克蘇維埃社會主義共和國總統） 哈萨克斯坦 哈萨克斯坦政府...

 

إبينفرين (دواء)

  هذه المقالة عن دواء الإبينفرين. لالهرمون الطبيعي، طالع أدرينالين. إبينفرين إبينفرين (دواء) الاسم النظامي (R)-4-(1-Hydroxy-2-(methylamino)ethyl)benzene-1,2-diol اعتبارات علاجية اسم تجاري EpiPen, Adrenaclick, others ASHPDrugs.com أفرودة مدلاين بلس a603002 الوضع القانوني إدارة الغذاء والدواء:وصلة فئة السلامة أثنا�...

 

Wisława Szymborska

Wisława Szymborska Maria Wisława Anna Szymborska[1][2] (bahasa Polandia: [viˈswava ʂɨmˈbɔrska]; 2 Juli 1923 – 1 Februari 2012) adalah penulis, eseis, kritikus sastra dan penerjemah sastra Prancis dari Polandia.[3] Pada tahun 1996 Szymborska dianugerahi Penghargaan Nobel Sastra. Pada 1931 keluarganya pindah ke Kraków, dan hingga kini tinggal di sana. Pada bulan Maret 1945 Szymborska menerbitkan karya pertamanya, Szukam słowa (Aku Mencari Ka...

Street system of Denver

Dual street grid system in Denver, CO Colfax Avenue at Broadway, where the downtown street grid and the normal city grid meet The oldest part of Denver, Colorado, now the neighborhoods of Auraria Campus, LoDo, much of downtown, and Five Points, is laid out on a grid plan that is oriented diagonal to the four cardinal directions. The rest of the city, including the eastern part of downtown, is laid out primarily on a grid oriented to the cardinal directions. In this larger grid, from east to w...

 

12 червня

← червень → Пн Вт Ср Чт Пт Сб Нд           1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 2024 рік 12 червня — 163-й день року (164-й у високосні роки) у григоріанському календарі. До кінця року залишається 202 дні. Цей день в історії: 11 червня — 12 червня — 13 червня Змі�...

 

Italo-venezuelani

Italo-venezuelaniÍtalo-venezolanosLuogo d'origine Italia Popolazionecirca 5.000.000 oriundi [1] 106.447 cittadini italiani [2] Linguaitaliano, lingue locali d'Italia, spagnolo Religionecattolicesimo Distribuzione  Venezuela1,000,000 Manuale Gli italo-venezuelani sono gli italiani del Venezuela ed i loro discendenti. Indice 1 Storia 2 Attività principali 3 Principali associazioni e istituzioni 4 Note 5 Bibliografia 6 Voci correlate 7 Collegamenti esterni Storia...

Surah Al-Qalam

Surah ke-68al-Qalam PenaTeks ArabTerjemahan KemenagKlasifikasiMakkiyahNama lainNun[1]JuzJuz 29Jumlah ruku2 ruku'Jumlah ayat52 ayat Surah Al-Qalam (Arab: القلم,Kalam) adalah surah ke-68 dalam al-Qur'an. Surah ini tergolong surah Makkiyah, yang terdiri atas 52 ayat. Dinamakan Al Qalam’ yang berarti pena di ambil dari kata Al Qalam yang terdapat pada ayat pertama surat ini. Surat ini dinamai pula dengan surat Nun (huruf nun) diambil dari perkataan ’’Nun’’ yang terdapat pad...

 

Uganda Ministry of Education Complex

Headquarters of Uganda's ministry of education Uganda Ministry of Education ComplexLocation within KampalaGeneral informationTypeOfficeLocationKyambogo, Kampala, UgandaCoordinates00°21′28″N 32°37′38″E / 0.35778°N 32.62722°E / 0.35778; 32.62722Construction startedOctober 2023CompletedQ2 2025 (Expected)CostUS$16.9 million (USh63.9 billion)Technical detailsFloor count10 and 8Floor area12,272 square metres (132,095 sq ft)Design and constructionArchite...