- Technician Ted
Infobox VG| title = Technician Ted
developer = Steve Marsden, David Cooke
publisher =Hewson Consultants
designer =
engine =
released = 1984
genre =Platform game
modes =Single player
ratings = N/A
platforms =Amstrad CPC ,ZX Spectrum
media = Cassette
requirements =
input = Keyboard,Joystick "Technician Ted", also known as "The Chip Factory: Featuring Technician Ted", is a platform
computer game for theAmstrad CPC andZX Spectrum home computers that was published in1984 byHewson Consultants .It was followed-up by a sequel, "
Costa Capers ", in 1985. A 128K special edition (called "Technician Ted: The Megamix" - see below) was published in 1986.Plot
Technician Ted is an enthusiastic young computer hacker who works at the chip factory. He begins his work every day at 8.30am and must complete 21 tasks before clocking-off at 5.00pm. Unfortunately, his boss hasn't told him what the tasks are or where they are located. Ted speaks to his mate who tells him that his first job is to get to his desk and from there he must make his way to the "Silicon Slice Store".cite web | url = ftp://ftp.worldofspectrum.org/pub/sinclair/games-info/t/TechnicianTed.txt | title = "Technician Ted" instructions | accessdate = 2007-01-30]
Gameplay
"Technician Ted" is a
flick-screen platform game made up of many different named screens. On many of these screens there are two boxes which must be touched in the correct order (the first one will be flashing) in order to complete the task. Some of these tasks must be completed within a time-limit making it important for the player to guide Ted from one box to the other as quickly as possible.As well as the tasks, Ted must avoid the various monsters that lurk in the factory and make sure he completes all of his tasks within the game's time limit so he can finish his day.
The game was primarily notable at the time for the extreme accuracy of its collision detection, in contrast with other similar games. The in-game music was an adaptation of the
Radetzky March byJohann Strauss Sr. The Spectrum version featured a sprite-animated loading screen with a countdown timer, a significant technical achievement at the time.
Critical response
When reviewed in Crash magazine the game scored an Overall 96%cite web | url = http://www.crashonline.org.uk/13/techted.htm | title = CRASH review from 1985 | accessdate = 2007-01-29] . When "Technician Ted" was reviewed by "
Your Sinclair " magazine in 1985 it was awarded 6/10Fact|date=June 2007 although a review of the re-released game by the same magazine in 1989 awarded it 8/10 [ [http://www.ysrnry.co.uk/ys41.htm "Your Sinclair" issue 41] at the Your Sinclair Rock'n'Roll Years.] . In 1992, it was placed at number 84 in theYour Sinclair official top 100 ."Technician Ted - The Megamix"
In 1986, Hewson published a special version of the game exclusively for 128K ZX Spectrums called "Technician Ted - The Megamix". As well as featuring 100 extra rooms,cite web | url = http://www.crashonline.org.uk/27/extrabit.htm | title = CRASH previews, 1986 | accessdate = 2007-01-29] this version also has three-channel chip music and the tasks have been numbered in order to make the order they are to be done in easier to understand.
References
External links
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