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Q-Bert Creators Get Interviewed

Posted by simoniker on from the coily-knows-you're-a-parceltongue dept.

Thanks to an anonymous reader for pointing to an Arcadeperfect.com interview with the three original creators of Gottlieb's classic arcade game Q*Bert. As the interview says, "Developed at Gottlieb's Northlake plant and released in 1982, Q*Bert is a lesson unto both the players and creators of video games. Designed and programmed by Warren Davis with sound by David Thiel and art by Jeff Lee, the antics of the game's title character and his nemesis, Coily, are a unique and vital touchstone in the history of gaming." And yes, there really was an unreleased sequel called Faster Harder More Challenging Q*Bert, quite apart from the rare Q*Bert's Qubes.

13 comments

  1. Faster Harder? by Psycik · · Score: 2, Interesting

    That looks essentially like the QBert I had for my old Atari... Was it released for the console but not for the arcade?

  2. Useful Link by Andy_R · · Score: 2, Informative

    The article assumes you have read Jeff Lee's history of Q*Bert but doesn't include a link.

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  3. Informative links by Mensa+Babe · · Score: 5, Informative

    That looks essentially like the QBert I had for my old Atari... Was it released for the console but not for the arcade?

    Well, it's actually quite complicated. Take a look at The History of Q*Bert according to Jeff Lee. It's a very intresting read and provides full and informative background. Also, I'm sure everyone would love refreshing mamories reading The Adventures of Q*bert by John Robinson on-line, together with original pictures drawn by the famous Al Moraski! Of course everyone remembers that the original version was indeed "a breakthrough in 2600 graphics" but did you know that there is a freeware Gameboy Color ROM available? Really, you can download it from here. In my opinion Paul Chinn's idea to port Q*bert to Gameboy was unquestionably insightful.

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    1. Re:Informative links by great+throwdini · · Score: 1
      In my opinion Paul Chinn's idea to port Q*bert to Gameboy was unquestionably insightful.

      Interesting that he had a hand in the Majesco GBC port and then went and reverse-engineered / developed another version (albeit lacking sound at the moment). There was a version of QBert for the original Game Boy system, too, though I don't recall which company produced it. Most interesting is that the original GB version places the entire play area on the screen at once, whereas the latter two GBC versions scroll a larger play area on the screen. It's unfortunate none of the three fit all the pieces together (sound, color, fixed-screen action).

    2. Re:Informative links by Suppafly · · Score: 1

      Why do you people keep modding mensatroll up, don't you even read what s/he posts?

  4. Please mod parent up! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Please mod parent up! It's very informative.

  5. Will Ferrel by willr7 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Will Ferrel cam up with Q-Bert and Dig-Dug. And he came up for the name of the game Frogger - which was originally called "Highway Crossing Frog"

    Watch the sass Captain Sassy Pants.

    1. Re:Will Ferrel by DoNotTauntHappyFunBa · · Score: 1

      Oh, if only I had mod points today!

      I believe this should be "Funny" instead of "Informative," as it refers to Ferrell's take on the Architect character in the Matrix Reloaded spoof that kicked off the recent MTV Movie Awards. The bit quoted in the parent is hilarious, with perfect delivery by Ferrell.

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  6. Slashdot whipper-snappers don't remember Q*bert. by uncoveror · · Score: 3, Funny

    Slashdot whipper-snappers don't remember Q*bert. I guess that is why so few are posting on this thread. Us old-timers remember the game well. I was a lot of fun. Back then, you could play a game for a quarter!

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  7. Not good news for our generation... by RobertB-DC · · Score: 1

    From the article: ACPF: Finally, for the peace of mind of the gaming community, how is life treating you at the moment?

    Wow, these are some mighty depressing quotes:

    Jeff: ...I work mostly to satisfy myself and am easily pleased. I like trying my hand at a variety of tasks...

    Translation: He has no life, to speak of.

    Warren: ...Iâ(TM)m working on a prototype of a new game at the moment. I recently directed a short film, and I continue to work as an actor on stage and occasionally on screen.

    Why didn't he just say he's working on the Great American Novel? As in, he's bought the typewriter and blank paper...

    David: ...My new challenge it to prove to potential employers that I have something to offer as my last game audio is older than the many of the companies that I am applying to.

    The most damning eventuality of all: the expert buggy-whip maker returns to the business, only to find that the Model T has been invented. Myself, I used to be a pretty good "C" programmer... and got sidetracked into the Visual Basic world just as something called "C Plus Plus" was being developed...

    Overall, it's not good news for the generation that was *there* when Pac Man and Space Invaders were new. As much as we'd like to think "everything old is new again", it's more like "they put a car park on the piece of land..."

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