MIDI Maze
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MIDI Maze | |
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Maze | |
Mode(s) | Multiplayer |
MIDI Maze, also known as Faceball 2000, is a networked
Gameplay
Up to 16 computers can be networked in a "MIDI Ring" by daisy chaining MIDI ports that are built into the Atari ST series.
The game area occupies only roughly a quarter of the screen and consists of a
The game is started by a designated master machine, which sets rules, divides players into teams, and selects a maze. A number of mazes come with the game, and additional mazes can be constructed using a text-editor.
Development
The original MIDI Maze team at Xanth Software F/X consisted of James Yee as the business manager, Michael Park as the graphic and networking programmer, and George Miller writing the AI and drone logic.[citation needed]
Ports
A Game Boy version was developed by Xanth, and published in 1991 by Bullet-Proof Software, with the title Faceball 2000.[3] James Yee, owner of Xanth, had the idea of porting the 520ST application to the Game Boy. George Miller was hired to rewrite the AI-based drone logic, giving each drone a unique personality trait.[citation needed] This version allows two players with a Game Link Cable, or up to four players with the Four Player Adapter.
It is often rumored that the Game Boy version would allow up to 16 players by daisy-chaining Four Player Adapters, which is not the case. According to programmer Robert Champagne, the game does contain a 16-player mode; however, it requires a special connector that would be bundled with the game, to create a "chain" of Game Link Cables. As Nintendo did not allow them to do so, that connector was never released, so the 16-player mode cannot be enabled using Game Boy systems.[4] However, a method exists for players to daisy chain Game Boy Advance link cables, where each purple end connects to the hub of another cable and the gray ends connecting to a Game Boy Advance, to allow up to 15 players.[5]
A Super Nintendo version, also titled Faceball 2000, was released in 1992, supporting two players in split-screen mode. This version features completely different graphics and levels from the earlier Game Boy version. A variety of in-game music for this version was composed by George "The Fat Man" Sanger.[6]
A Game Gear version, also titled Faceball 2000, was released to the Japanese market by Riverhill Soft.[7] It is a colorized version of the monochrome Game Boy version, supporting two players with two handheld consoles connected by the Gear-to-Gear Cable.
A PC-Engine CD-ROM version, titled only Faceball (フェイスボール), was released in Japan by Riverhill Soft.[citation needed]
Unreleased ports
A port of MIDI Maze for the
According to Robert Champagne, other unreleased ports were worked on at Xanth, including IBM PC and NES.[10]
A port for Nintendo's Virtual Boy console, to be titled NikoChan Battle (ニコちゃんバトル) in Japan, was almost completed, but canceled as the system was discontinued in late 1995.[11] A prototype was found in 2013, and the ROM was subsequently released.[12][13]
Reception
Aggregator | Score |
---|---|
GameRankings | 51.67% (SNES)[14] 73.75 (GB)[15] |
Publication | Score |
---|---|
Computer and Video Games | 35/100 (SNES)[16] |
Video Games (DE) | 59% (SNES)[17] |
In 1994, Sandy Petersen reviewed the game for Dragon magazine, giving it 2 out of 5 stars.[18] Super Gamer magazine gave an overall review score of 82% writing: "Ultra successful on the little Game Boy, this 3-D maze shoot-'em-up has been totally uprated for the SNES."[19]
Entertainment Weekly picked Faceball 2000 as the #5 greatest game available in 1991, saying: "The Game Boy meets virtual reality (i.e., artificial, computer-enhanced, first-person perspective). In Faceball 2000, you assume the identity of a Holographically Assisted Physical Pattern Yielded for Active Computerized Embarkation — or HAPPYFACE — and hunt down your opponents. You can play alone or link up with as many as three additional players. More fun than real-life tag, and much more stimulating."[20] CNET Gamecenter called MIDI Maze one of the 10 most innovative computer games of all time.[21] In 2018, Den of Geek ranked the game 25th on their "25 Underrated Game Boy Games."[22]
Legacy
Personal Computer World said that in 1987, MIDI Maze introduced the concept of deathmatch combat, using the built-in MIDI ports of the Atari ST for networking.[23]
MIDI-Maze II was later developed by Markus Fritze for Sigma-Soft and released as shareware.[citation needed]
iMaze is an open source clone of the game for Unix-like systems.[24]
See also
- Maze War
- Wayout
References
- ^ "25 years of Pac-Man". MeriStation. July 4, 2005. Archived from the original on 2011-09-29. Retrieved 2011-05-06. (Translation)
- GamesRadar. October 8, 2010. p. 5. Retrieved 2011-04-27.
- ^ Schiffmann, William. "In your Face! New toy will wow Game Boy owners." Chicago Sun-Times. 1992-05-22. Retrieved 2012-10-21 via HighBeam Research URL.
- ^ Komarechka, Don. "Interview with Robert Champagne". Faceball 2000 GB. Archived from the original on 2010-05-09. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
- ^ "Faceball 2000 - The 3D First Person Shooter for the original Game Boy that supported 16 players!". Reddit. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
- ^ City Zone - Faceball 2000 (SNES Music) By George Sanger, retrieved 2022-06-03
- ^ Komarechka, Don. "Interview: EPO talks to Darren Stone about Faceball 2000 Archived 2010-01-08 at the Wayback Machine." Electric Pickle Online. 2006-03-19. Retrieved 2012-10-21.
- ^ Reichert, Matt. "MIDI Maze". AtariProtos.com. Retrieved 2007-11-27.
- ^ "Atari 400 800 XL XE MIDI Maze : Scans, dump, download, screenshots, ads, videos, catalog, instructions, roms". Atari Mania. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
- ^ Komarechka, Don. "Interview with Robert Champagne". Faceball 2000 GB. Archived from the original on 2010-05-09. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
- ^ "NikoChan Battle for Virtual Boy". GameFAQs. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
- ^ Suszek, Mike. "Lost Virtual Boy game NikoChan Battle found and being re-released". Engadget. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
- ^ "Niko-Chan Battle (Prototype)". Hidden Palace. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
- ^ "Faceball 2000 SNEA Review Score". Archived from the original on 2019-05-13.
- ^ "Faceball 2000 Game Boy Review Score". Archived from the original on 2019-05-22.
- ^ "Faceball 2000". Computer and Video Games. No. 138. May 1993. p. 95. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
- ^ Paul, Michael (December 1992). "Faceball 2000". Video Games (in German). p. 55. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
- ^ Petersen, Sandy (January 1994). "Eye of the Monitor". Dragon. No. 201. pp. 57–62.
- ^ "Faceball 2000 SNES Review". Super Gamer (2). United Kingdom: Paragon Publishing: 122. May 1994. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
- ^ Video Games Guide, Bob Strauss, November 22, 1991, EW.com
- ^ Features - The Hall of Game Innovation, GAMECENTER.COM, ...Midi Maze...Hybrid Arts...Derivatives: Doom and its countless clones...
- ^ Freiburg, Chris (2018-08-27). "25 Underrated Game Boy Games". Den of Geek. Retrieved 2022-01-09.
- ^ Thomson, Iain (February 21, 2008). "Gaming Timeline". Personal Computer World. Archived from the original on June 29, 2014. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
- ^ Wilson, Hamish (2023-01-23). "Building a Retro Linux Gaming Computer - Part 26: Coming to You Live". GamingOnLinux. Retrieved 2023-02-20.
External links
- MIDI Maze at Atari Mania
- Faceball 2000, #25 of 1UP'sEssential 50
- Darren Stone (Xanth Programmer) talks about Faceball 2000, at EPO