Adam's Birthday Game
Release type: Freeware
Release date: November 17, 1992
Levels: 1
Author: Alan Caudel
Website: DummyDuck.com
Related games: The Adam's Birthday Saga Continues, Adam's B-Day 3: The Saga Continues, Adam 97, Adam 98, Adam 99, Adam 2000, Dummy Duck
What do you do when it's 1992 and you're in middle school, and someone just bought you a tool to quickly whip together computer games? You show it off to your friends, of course. Look at me; I'm doing the impossible. And you know it's me, because I'm doing it for you.
One of Alan Caudel's very first projects was a birthday present for longtime friend Adam Tyner. The result is much like everyone's first game (e.g., Kirk Voodia); a perfunctory exercise with roughly blocked-out sprites and a working-on-it grasp of the engine's physics. The real appeal to a project like this is its very existence, an appeal that it gets to live out twice; first by virtue of its original creation, then again in its novelty as a gift. There are plenty of games starring a friend of the designer, but Adam's Birthday is on the earnest end of that range.
Something else to the game's credit: momentum. It's a short game, at one largely horizontal level, yet nearly every beat is tied to one of a continual string of setpieces. There's always something going on, pulling the player forward. Part of that may be an impulse to do everything, as one has in a first project in any medium. Part of it comes from Caudel's offbeat sense of humor, which results in a curious impulsiveness both in the design and its flow.
Adam's Birthday shares backgrounds with Caudel's other alpha game, Off the Page (aka Dummy Duck 1); which came first is unclear, but their gaudiness suits both projects equally. Something else these two games would share is a long string of sequels, more so than any of Caudel's other works. Nearly every year from 1992-2000, he delivered another birthday present. Some are more considered than others. As a sequence, they give a good sense of Caudel's growth both in art and design.
If there is one legacy to Adam's Birthday, it may be that role as a touchstone. The games themselves are largely throwaway; an inside joke between two friends. Yet in that informality, they carry an honesty that amplifies their use as a point of reference for all of Caudel's other work -- and by extension, that of Adam Tyner as well...
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|---|---|---|
| (Overview) | Adam '92 | Adam '93 |
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Story[edit]
It is Adam Tyner's Birthday!!! He wants a present, but can't find his party. It is at the other end of his house.
As Adam continues through the house, he will run across many different creatures, such as monkey, mud, and Mr. Dot. He must find his fierce attack dog, Mister Bear. When he does, he can throw him high in the air, or low on the ground. Mister Bear can get rid of almost everybody
(Hint: jumping on enemies takes energy away. Only Bear and Dummy's gift can get rid of enemies.)
When he finds Bear, he must turn on the tub to give Bear a bath. When Adam gets close to the party, he will find a block with Dummy Duck on it. It is a present from Dummy. Stupid Dummy forgot to include the directions, so you have to press the right key to get it to work.
At the party, Adam can get points by having cake. He can grab balloons by jumping and hitting "P". Defeat the level boss to get the present.
If Adam falls, don't worry, he will land eventually.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ADAM!!
FROM ALL OF US!!
Instructions[edit]
To Move our hero around the house, use the left and right arrow keys.
To jump, press up.
You can jump diagonally by pressing "7" or "9".
You can pick up the items (such as Mister Bear, or balloons), and use them by pushing "P".
Push "D" to drop an item.
The special items are...
- Mister Bear - press space bar, or Enter to throw.
- Dummy Duck Block - fires a special weapon. Push the right key to use it. Can you find the right key?????
When you pick up Bear, you may want to press "P" about 5-7 time (sometimes it doesn't work right).
Credits[edit]
This game is designed exclusively for Mr. Adam Tyner by none other than the world's greatest game maker -
with his notorious helper Dummy Duck and his friends.
Please play this game as much as you wish with our best wishes. For help or technical assistance please send $5000.00 for 5 minutes on our Toll-free hotline. Or if you don't have $5000, call anyway and maybe we can help you.
Have Fun.
Availability[edit]
This game is not known to have been distributed in any form, prior to its addition to the Archive.
Archive History[edit]
On October 20, 2010, Caudel posted a comment to a YouTube video of Peach the Lobster, under the name dummyduckrulz; following up the conversation, on June 29, 2011 he provided a link to a collection of games recently uncovered by Adam Tyner. This initial archive included:
Links[edit]
Downloads[edit]
- Adam's Birthday Game (90 kB)
- Game map (10 kB)
