Pitfall!

Infobox VG
title = Pitfall!


developer = Activision
publisher = Activision
designer = David Crane
engine =
released = 1982
genre = Platforming
modes = Single-player
ratings =
platforms = Atari 2600, Atari 5200, Atari 8-bit, ColecoVision, Commodore 64, Intellivision, Sega SG-1000
media = Cartridge
requirements =
input = Joystick|

"Pitfall!" is a video game released by Activision for the Atari 2600 in 1982. It is one of the best selling games ever made for the Atari 2600, with over 4 million copies sold.cite web|url=http://retro.ign.com/articles/903/903024p1.html|title=Top 10 Best-Selling Atari 2600 Games|last=Buchanan|first=Levi |publisher=IGN Entertainment, Inc.|accessdate=2008-09-24]

Gameplay

The player must maneuver a character known as Pitfall Harry through a maze-like jungle in an attempt to recover 32 treasures in a 20 minute period.

Along the way, he must negotiate numerous hazards, including tar pits, quicksand, water holes, rolling logs, rattlesnakes, scorpions, walls, fire, and crocodiles. Harry may jump over or otherwise avoid these obstacles by timing his climbing and running, and in certain places he can swing on a vine to avoid them.

History and development

"Pitfall!" was created by David Crane, a programmer who worked for Activision in the early 1980s. In a November 2003 interview with "Edge" he described how in 1979 he had developed the technology to display a realistic little running man and in 1982 was searching for a suitable game in which to use it:

Its technical achievements included non-flickering, multicolored, animated sprites on a system with notoriously primitive graphics hardware. "Pitfall!" was a massive success for the 2600. Several ports were made for computer systems (such as the Commodore 64, Atari 800, and TRS-80 Color Computer), as well as for home consoles (such as the ColecoVision and the Intellivision).

equels

Crane also produced a popular sequel, "" the following year. It sold well, though not as well as the original. Unlike most games of its day, it had a definite ending.

In 1985, Activision licensed "Pitfall!" to Sega, which made an arcade version of "Pitfall II: Lost Caverns". The game, which is now quite rare, is thoroughly remade with a first level resembling the original "Pitfall!" a second level resembling the caverns of "Pitfall II" and later levels that were completely original. This version was adapted for the SG-1000. "Pitfall!" was also created for the Commodore 64 and Apple II using Activision Gamemaker as a demonstration of the game building software.

"Pitfall!" appeared on the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1987 as "Super Pitfall", but was not successful and received poor reviews.

The series sequel, the popular made its debut on the SNES and Genesis-Mega Drive systems in 1994 and also showing up on the subsequent Sega 32X system a short time afterward. The game was ported to the Windows 95 operating system and the Atari Jaguar the following year. Its most recent release was in 2001 on the Game Boy Advance. "The Mayan Adventure" was well known for having the original "Pitfall!" available to play on it.

In 1998, "" for the Sony PlayStation, featuring the voice of Bruce Campbell as Pitfall Harry, was released.

In 2004, a sequel was released for Sony PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube, and Microsoft Xbox. It was titled "", though it had many cartoony effects with tributes to the original "Pitfall!" The first two original games are playable in the game.

In 2006, the original "Pitfall!" resurfaced as a mini-game in Arcade's Murderworld in "". There is a sequence where the player has to rescue Jean Grey from an arcade machine. The player has to go through a "Pitfall!"-type game in order to reach Jean and free her from the machine.In "The Jungle Book" for the SNES it was also a hidden mini-game.On May 12, 2008, a new Pitfall game titled was announced for Wii. The game is under development by Edge of Reality. [http://kotaku.com/389535/pitfall-harry-swings-to-the-wii]

Television adaptation

In 1983, "Pitfall!" made its animated television debut as a segment on CBS' "Saturday Supercade" cartoon lineup, under the name "Pitfall Harry". The basic plotline involved Harry, his niece Rhonda, and his cowardly mountain lion Quickclaw exploring various lands for hidden treasure. [http://memorylab.deanlabs.com/CartoonDetails.aspx?ID=358] After only one season, "Pitfall Harry" and "Frogger" were replaced by "Kangaroo" and "Space Ace". The series has not been officially released on DVD or VHS.

References

External links

*moby game|id=/pitfall|name="Pitfall!"
* [http://www.atariage.com/software_page.html?SoftwareLabelID=360 "Pitfall!"] at AtariAge
* [http://www.the-commodore-zone.com/articlelive/articles/7/1/David-Crane/Page1.html Legends of the C64 article on David Crane and Activision (includes "Pitfall!" info)]