Difference between revisions of "PC-Man's World"

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|text=
 
|text=
 
'''Release type:''' [[Shareware|Freeware]]<br />
 
'''Release type:''' [[Shareware|Freeware]]<br />
−
'''Release date:''' 1998<br />
+
'''Release date:''' [[1998]][[Category: 1998|Pc Man's World]]<br />
 
'''Levels:''' 5<br />
 
'''Levels:''' 5<br />
 
'''Author:''' [[Erwin Bergervoet]]<br />
 
'''Author:''' [[Erwin Bergervoet]]<br />
 +
'''Website:''' [http://members.chello.nl/~jtm.bergervoet/index800.htm GamesLab Productions]<br />
 
'''Related games:''' ''[[Pac]]''
 
'''Related games:''' ''[[Pac]]''
−
}}There’s nothing strange about cloning ''Pac-Man''. It’s probably one of the five most significant videogames ever made. Its appearance changed the whole face of the game industry. Without it we wouldn’t have ''Donkey Kong'', ''Super Mario Bros.'', or the aspiration-based design that the whole industry has been based on since 1985. What’s strange is, instead of going to the source, cloning someone else’s half-assed clone of ''Pac-Man''.
+
}}{{Disambig|A-J Games|Pac| or [[Gary Acord]]'s ''[[Zapak]]'', ''[[Pakdream]]'', or ''[[Pakmon]]''}}
  
−
If anything, Bergervoet’s game is probably better than ''[[Pac]]''. Strange and slightly creepy as it might be, he put more work into designing original environments and hazards. Rather like ''[[Glubada Pond]]'', ''Pac'' was just a study on [[Game-Maker]]’s goal structures; that game was trying to see how a pre-Miyamoto design style would work in a very specific post-''Keen'' design environment. As it turned out, not that well. To move on to the next level, the player has to cash in all accumulated dots at a door in the center of the level. To prevent any consumed dots from carrying over after death, the game had to give the player just one life -- a boring and frustrating compromise all around. And Bergervoet copied the game's tricks almost to the letter, down to the weeping Pac at death. Then he threw in scary interstitial screens, positing PC-Men in all manner of guises and professions.  
+
There’s nothing strange about cloning ''Pac-Man''. It’s probably one of the five most significant videogames ever made. Its appearance changed the whole face of the game industry. Without it we wouldn’t have ''Donkey Kong'', ''Super Mario Bros.'', or the aspiration-based design that the whole industry has been based on since 1985. What may be strange is the similarity of [[Bergervoet]]'s game to [[Pac|a certain other clone]] of ''Pac-Man''.
  
−
So that was kind of weird.  
+
Though the parallels are striking, down to the weeping character at death, ''PC-Man'' is probably a better game than ''Pac''. For one, Bergervoet put more work into designing original environments and hazards. Then he threw in scary interstitial screens, positing PC-Men in all manner of guises and professions. There is a whole storyline here, an element absent in most ''Pac-Man'' clones.
 +
 
 +
[[File:PC-Man.png|center]]
 +
 
 +
The main problems with ''PC-Man's World'' are the same that hinder ''Pac'', namely the compromises centered around [[Xferplay]]'s automatic counter rollover at death and the strictly location-based level progress mechanics. In other words, clearing all of the dots isn't enough; to move on you need to find and enter a goal -- and the game can't give the player more than one life, because if it did, any dots collected before death would stay collected while the level itself reset, rendering the whole collection mechanic meaningless.
  
 
==Story==
 
==Story==
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[[File:pc-man.png|thumb|320px|Level 1 of ''PC-Man's World'']]
 
[[File:pc-man.png|thumb|320px|Level 1 of ''PC-Man's World'']]
  
−
PC-Man lived with his family, in the tranquil forest of PC-Country. A computerspel is no computer game like nothing happened. But there was quite a bit.
+
PC-Man lived with his family, in the tranquil forests of PC-Land. Of course a PC game is no game if nothing happens. But on this day, there was quite a bit of fuss.
  
−
One day, computer-Man win throats, but when he came home from his five-mem lieleden fl turn.
+
One day, PC-Man went shopping. When he returned home, five of his relatives turned to him.
  
−
The others were left to stand open-mouthed, looking like a flower vase. PC-Man was, after all-natural verschrokken immediately and asked what was going on, to which his family said:
+
The others stood gaping, open-mouthed, at a flower vase. Of course PC-Man was shocked, and he immediately asked what was going on, to which his family said:
  
−
"This bottle is a Dungeon-spirit, which has 5 PCs to 5 different areas, you did. PC, can you help us to pin, PLEASE."
+
"This bottle is a Dungeon Spirit, which has taken five PCs from five different regions. Please, PC, will you help us?"
  
−
"Okay," PC-Man replied, "but where do I begin? Well, I suppose at the beginning. That would be in the desert where Cowboy PC vanished. Then on to the cemetery, to seek out Vampire PC one way or another."
+
"Okay," PC-Man replied, "but where do I begin? Well, I suppose at the beginning. That would be in the desert, where Cowboy PC belongs. Then on to the cemetery, to return Vampire PC. And from there... I guess we'll see what happens."
  
 
Good luck!
 
Good luck!
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: F10 About Game Maker
 
: F10 About Game Maker
  
−
==Credits==
+
== Credits ==
 +
 
 +
[[File:PC-MAN5.png|thumb|320px|Level 5 from ''PC-Man's World'']]
  
 
Programmed and graphic designed by [[Erwin Bergervoet]].
 
Programmed and graphic designed by [[Erwin Bergervoet]].
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Assistance: Vincent Bergervoet
 
Assistance: Vincent Bergervoet
  
−
Voting: His will expire
+
Voting: Have come due
  
 
Test Team
 
Test Team
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Thanks to [[Game-Maker]](tm).
 
Thanks to [[Game-Maker]](tm).
  
−
==Links==
+
== Availability ==
 +
 
 +
This game is known to have been distributed on local bulletin boards, contemporary to its development. Any other distribution is unknown.
 +
 
 +
== Archive History ==
 +
 
 +
In ~1998, the author made contact by email to share his recent games ([[PC-Man's World]] and [[QiQ]]) and solicit comments. Both games have been retained since this time.
 +
 
 +
== Links ==
  
 
<videoflash>PVMnRWX7t1s</videoflash>
 
<videoflash>PVMnRWX7t1s</videoflash>
  
−
==Downloads==
+
=== Interviews / Articles ===
 +
 
 +
* [http://www.diygamer.com/2010/09/gamemaker-archive-part-15c-easiest-lifting-act-iii/ The Easiest Lifting, Act III (DIYGamer)]
 +
 
 +
=== Misc. Links ===
 +
 
 +
* '''[http://www.aderack.com/game-maker/java/pc-man.php Play ''PC-Man's World'' online]'''
 +
 
 +
== Downloads ==
  
−
* [http://www.aderack.com/game-maker/downloads/pc-man.zip PC-Man's World] (750.0 kB)
+
* '''''[http://www.aderack.com/game-maker/downloads/pc-man.zip PC-Man's World]''''' (750.0 kB)
 +
* [[Media:PC-MAN1.png|Level 1 map]] (8.9 kB)
 +
* [[Media:PC-MAN2.png|Level 2 map]] (11.4 kB)
 +
* [[Media:PC-MAN3.png|Level 3 map]] (16.0 kB)
 +
* [[Media:PC-MAN4.png|Level 4 map]] (9.7 kB)
 +
* [[Media:PC-MAN5.png|Level 5 map]] (10.7 kB)  
  
−
[[Category:Game-Maker games]][[Category:Maze game]][[Category:Top-down]][[Category:Tributes]][[Category: Erwin Bergervoet]][[Category:Freeware]]
+
[[Category: Game-Maker games|Pc Man's World]]
 +
[[Category: Freeware|Pc Man's World]]
 +
[[Category: Erwin Bergervoet|Pc Man's World]]
 +
[[Category: Top-down|Pc Man's World]]
 +
[[Category: Maze game|Pc Man's World]]
 +
[[Category: Tributes|Pc Man's World]]
 +
[[Category: Old discoveries|Pc Man's World]]
 +
[[Category: Eponymous titles|Pc Man's World]]
 +
[[Category: Complete games|Pc Man's World]]
 +
[[Category: Netherlands|Pc Man's World]]
 +
[[Category: DIYGamer]]

Latest revision as of 18:30, 7 September 2016

PC-Man's World
Pc-man-title.gif

Release type: Freeware
Release date: 1998
Levels: 5
Author: Erwin Bergervoet
Website: GamesLab Productions
Related games: Pac


Not to be mistaken for A-J Games's Pac or Gary Acord's Zapak, Pakdream, or Pakmon.

There’s nothing strange about cloning Pac-Man. It’s probably one of the five most significant videogames ever made. Its appearance changed the whole face of the game industry. Without it we wouldn’t have Donkey Kong, Super Mario Bros., or the aspiration-based design that the whole industry has been based on since 1985. What may be strange is the similarity of Bergervoet's game to a certain other clone of Pac-Man.

Though the parallels are striking, down to the weeping character at death, PC-Man is probably a better game than Pac. For one, Bergervoet put more work into designing original environments and hazards. Then he threw in scary interstitial screens, positing PC-Men in all manner of guises and professions. There is a whole storyline here, an element absent in most Pac-Man clones.

PC-Man.png

The main problems with PC-Man's World are the same that hinder Pac, namely the compromises centered around Xferplay's automatic counter rollover at death and the strictly location-based level progress mechanics. In other words, clearing all of the dots isn't enough; to move on you need to find and enter a goal -- and the game can't give the player more than one life, because if it did, any dots collected before death would stay collected while the level itself reset, rendering the whole collection mechanic meaningless.

Story[edit]

Level 1 of PC-Man's World

PC-Man lived with his family, in the tranquil forests of PC-Land. Of course a PC game is no game if nothing happens. But on this day, there was quite a bit of fuss.

One day, PC-Man went shopping. When he returned home, five of his relatives turned to him.

The others stood gaping, open-mouthed, at a flower vase. Of course PC-Man was shocked, and he immediately asked what was going on, to which his family said:

"This bottle is a Dungeon Spirit, which has taken five PCs from five different regions. Please, PC, will you help us?"

"Okay," PC-Man replied, "but where do I begin? Well, I suppose at the beginning. That would be in the desert, where Cowboy PC belongs. Then on to the cemetery, to return Vampire PC. And from there... I guess we'll see what happens."

Good luck!

Instructions[edit]

Level 1 intertitle from PC-Man's World
Left - Go left
Right - Go right
Up - Go up
Down - Go down
F1 Help
F2 Status
F3 Sound On \ Off
F4 Music On \ Off
F5 Save Game
F6 Load Game
F10 About Game Maker

Credits[edit]

Level 5 from PC-Man's World

Programmed and graphic designed by Erwin Bergervoet.

Assistance: Vincent Bergervoet

Voting: Have come due

Test Team

Jos Bergervoet
Vincent Bergervoet
Eric Large
Roel Kuiper
and Saskia

Created by Multigames.

Thanks to Game-Maker(tm).

Availability[edit]

This game is known to have been distributed on local bulletin boards, contemporary to its development. Any other distribution is unknown.

Archive History[edit]

In ~1998, the author made contact by email to share his recent games (PC-Man's World and QiQ) and solicit comments. Both games have been retained since this time.

Links[edit]

Interviews / Articles[edit]

Misc. Links[edit]

Downloads[edit]

Retrieved from "https://aderack.com/game-maker/index.php?title=PC-Man%27s_World&oldid=22893"