The Death Trap

Infobox VG| title = The Death Trap


developer = Square
publisher = Square
designer =
engine =
released = flagicon|Japan October 1984
genre = Interactive fiction
modes = Single player
ratings =
platforms = NEC PC-8801, NEC PC-9801,
Fujitsu FM-7
media = 5 1/4-inch DD floppy disk
requirements =
input =

nihongo|"The Death Trap"|ザ・デストラップ is a video game developed and published by Square for the NEC PC-8801, NEC PC-9801, and Fujitsu FM-7 in 1984. The game and its supporting computer platforms were only released in Japan.

"The Death Trap" is the first game developed by Square, created before they were even an independent company. At the time, Square was a software branch of Denyuusha, a Japanese software firm; it wasn't until 1986 that Square Co., Ltd. was independently established. Square followed up with a sequel to "The Death Trap" in 1985. The game is titled "Will" and subtitled "The Death Trap II".

Gameplay

"The Death Trap" is an interactive fiction game, which relies on simple command lines from the user's input to progress through the game. As opposed to most "text adventures", with only text as output, "The Death Trap" provides graphical feedback using still pictures.

Development

"The Death Trap" was the first game developed by Square, a computer game software branch of Denyūsha Electric Company. Masafumi Miyamoto, who founded Square in September 1983, believed that it would be more efficient to have graphic designers, programmers and writers work together on common projects. Upon Square's inception, Miyamoto initially hired university students Hironobu Sakaguchi, Hiromichi Tanaka and three others as part-time workers. [http://gc.kombo.com/article.php?artid=5542 Love, War and Fantasy - The Life of Square ::: Kombo.com - Video Games, News, Zelda, Halo 3, Grand Theft Auto, Mario, Super Smash Bros. Brawl ] ] They shortly began work on "The Death Trap".

Sakaguchi and Tanaka were friends at their university, often playing the Apple II game "Wizardry". Sakaguchi had developed an interest in game development based on American games for the Apple II, and created games with similar aspects. They shortly began work on "The Death Trap". He held the position of producer and scenario writer. Harunobu Kato held the position of programmer, which was shared with Tanaka. Other scenario writers were 雪ノ浦美樹, 林明弘 and 鈴木尚志. The graphics team consisted of Hiromi Nakada, 雪ノ浦美樹, 今泉美保 and 斉藤智子. Lastly, 井出康代 held the position of data editing. [ [http://www.retropc.net/fm-7/museum/database/staff/220100100.html Oh!FM-7：スタッフリスト／ザ・デストラップ ] ]

The game was published in Japan for the NEC PC-8801 in October 1984. It was later released for the Fujitsu FM-7 in December 1984. [ [http://www.retropc.net/fm-7/museum/softhouse/square/220100300.html Oh!FM-7：アルファ（スクウェア） ] ]

Reaction

"The Death Trap" sold about 500,000 copies and resulted in the development of "". Hironobu Sakaguchi, Hiromichi Tanaka, Harunobu Kato and Hiromi Nakada continued producing games for Square, while the rest of those credited left. [ [http://www.retropc.net/fm-7/museum/database/staff/220100200.html Oh!FM-7：スタッフリスト／ウィル ] ] [ [http://www.retropc.net/fm-7/museum/database/staff/220100300.html Oh!FM-7：スタッフリスト／アルファ ] ]

References

External links

*ja icon [http://retropc.net/fm-7/museum/square/220100100.html RetroPC.NET "The Death Trap" Page]