- Swordquest
Infobox VG| title = Swordquest
developer =Atari
publisher =Atari
designer =Dan Hitchens andTod Frye
engine =
version =
released =1982 -1983
genre =Adventure game
modes =Single Player
ratings =
platforms =Atari 2600
media = Cartridge
requirements =
input =Joystick The "Swordquest" series of video games was produced by
Atari as part of acontest . Each of the games came with acomic book that explained the plot, as well as containing part of thepuzzle that had to be solved to win the contest.The "Swordquest" series had its genesis as a possible
sequel to the Adventure game, but quickly developed a mythology and system of play which was completely unique.Gameplay
Each game had essentially the same gameplay. The character wanders through each screen, picking up and dropping items. If the correct items are placed in a room, a
clue shows up, pointing the player to a page and panel in the comic book included with the game. There, the player would find a word that was hidden in that panel. If the player found all five, or in the case of Waterworld four, correct clues, they could send the sentence to Atari and have a chance to compete in the finals and win a prize. The person who managed to find the most clues within 90 minutes would be considered the winner. The winners of the four game contests would go on to a final competition where they would compete for a sword valued at $50,000. This final round did not occur because Atari canceled the contest shortly after the company was bought in 1984. The $50,000 sword is now owned byJack Tramiel .Earthworld
"Earthworld" was the first of the four games. Its room structure was based on the signs of the
zodiac .Plot
The plot of the games revolves around a pair of twins named Tarra and Torr. Their parents were slain by King Tyrannus's guards due to a prophecy given by the king's wizard Konjuro. The twins were then raised as commoners by thieves to avoid being slain by the king. When they go to plunder Konjuro's sea keep, they accidentally reveal their identities to him. The twins then start running from a
demon summoned to kill them, but it appears that the jewel they stole attracts it. After smashing the stone to avoid the demon, two of Tyrannus's old advisers come out and tell the two about the "Sword of Ultimate Sorcery" and the "Talisman of Penultimate Truth." They are then transported, by method of pit, to Earthworld.Contest
Out of 5,000 entries, only eight people managed to find all five of the correct clues. Of those eight, Steven Bell, who was 20 and lived near Detroit at the time, took first place and won the "Talisman of Penultimate Truth."
The Talisman was made of 18K solid
gold , with 12diamond s and thebirthstones of the twelve Zodiac signs embedded in it, as well as a smallsword made ofwhite gold attached to the front. At the time of the contest, the Talisman was valued at $25,000. Bell melted down the Talisman (with the exception of the miniature sword) in order to pay forschool .Fireworld
"Fireworld"
' s room structure was based on thetree of life .Plot
After defeating many beasts of the Zodiac and another thief (Herminus) in Earthworld, the twins are transported to the "central chamber" where the "Sword of Ultimate Sorcery" and the "Talisman of Penultimate Truth" are kept. Upon reaching them, the sword burns a hole through its altar all the way to Fireworld.
In Fireworld, the twins split up to look for water, and Torr, with the aid of the talisman, summons Mentorr who shows Torr the "Chalice of Light," which will quench his thirst. The twins reunite eventually and find the chalice. However, Torr drops it after he is startled, and it is revealed that the one they found was not the "true" chalice. Herminus then gives them the chalice, and it grows until it becomes large enough to swallow the twins and transports them to Waterworld.
Contest
As there were greater than the 50 planned participants, a much larger turn out than the previous contest, they held a second preliminary round where the contestants were told to write what they liked about the game. Out of the 50, Michael Rideout was the victor and received the "Chalice of Light."
The Chalice was made of
gold andplatinum and was adorned withcitrines ,diamond s, greenjade ,pearl s,rubies , andsapphires . It was valued at $25,000 at the time of the contest. Rideout keeps it in hissafe deposit box . [http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/Lair/9260/sqfw.html]Waterworld
The room structure of "Waterworld" was based on the seven centers of
chakra . It was originally released only through theAtari Club .Plot
Upon reaching Waterworld, the twins become separated. Tara travels to a ship made of ice, forgets her name, and meets Cap'n Frost, who desires to find the "Crown of Life" and rule Waterworld. While Tara's doing all that, Torr travels to an undersea kingdom, forgets his name and meets the city's ex-queen Aquana, who desires to find the "Crown of Life" in order to regain her throne.
After a brief war between the ex-queen and captain, Herminus sets the twins to duel each other. They then pray to their deities for guidance, which summons Mentorr who allows them to regain their memories. The twins throw down their swords, causing the crown to be revealed and split in half. Each half is given to both the ex-queen and the captain, who then rule as equals. The "Sword of Ultimate Sorcery" then transports the twins to Airworld where they would have to do battle with King Tyrannus and Konjuro. Or they would have, if the series hadn't been cut at this point.
Contest
The contest for Waterworld was canceled at the last minute. The two previous winners received $15,000 each and the winners of the preliminary round were each given $2,000.
The winner of this contest was supposed to win the "Crown of Life," which was made of
gold and encrusted withaquamarines ,diamond s, greentourmalines ,rubies , andsapphires . It was valued at $25,000 when the game came out. As the contest was never held, it is very likely that the Crown of Life grand prize is now owned by Jack Tramiel.Fact|date=July 2007Airworld
"Airworld" was never finished, but according to
programmer Tod Frye , its room structure was going to be based upon theI Ching . Additionally, Tod Frye was planning on representing each room from 0 to 63 with a six-bit number. Each bit would control a different aspect of the rules for that room ("e.g.", whether the player had to avoid or capture the enemies, whether the enemies attacked or avoided the player, whether the player or the enemies moved fast or slow) but this concept never got out of the design phase, and yielded some unplayable combinations, such as a slow player that had to capture fast moving enemies that avoided the player.The winner of this contest was supposed to win a "
Philosopher's Stone ," which in this case was a large chunk of whitejade in a 18Kgold box encrusted withdiamond s,emeralds ,citrines , andrubies , valued at $25,000. As this game was never even finished, it is very likely that the Philosopher's Stone grand prize is now owned byJack Tramiel .Fact|date=July 2007Trivia
Sounds from "Swordquest: Earthworld" were used in the 2002 movie "Solaris" directed by Steven Soderbergh and starring George Clooney. The sounds are used to represent the spaceship breaking up.
Two prototypes of the original "Airworld" cartridge are widely rumored to exist, possibly owned by Frye or other members of the development team.
References
* [http://www.atariprotos.com/2600/software/airworld/airworld.htm Atari Protos SwordQuest: AirWorld]
* [http://www.atariprotos.com/2600/software/earthworld/earthworld.htm Atari Protos SwordQuest: EarthWorld]
* [http://www.atariprotos.com/2600/software/fireworld/fireworld.htm Atari Protos SwordQuest: FireWorld]
* [http://www.atariprotos.com/2600/software/waterworld/waterworld.htm Atari Protos SwordQuest: WaterWorld]
* [http://www.atariage.com/software_page.html?SoftwareLabelID=541 AtariAge entry for "Swordquest: Earthworld]
* [http://www.atariage.com/software_page.html?SoftwareLabelID=542 AtariAge entry for "Swordquest: Fireworld]
* [http://www.atariage.com/software_page.html?SoftwareLabelID=543 AtariAge entry for "Swordquest: Waterworld]
* [http://www.atariage.com/comics/index.html AtariAge Comic Book Archive]
* [http://www.tripoint.org/sq/sq.html The SwordQuest Comic Book Archive]
**
* [http://www.atarihq.com/2678/swordqst.html Swordquest Interview With Michael Rideout]
* [http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/Lair/9260/sqfw.html Photos of the SwordQuest:FireWorld Contest] , the chalice and the sword, photographs found abandoned in a shoebox of old Atari games.External links
*moby game|id=/swordquest-earthworld|name="SwordQuest: EarthWorld"
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