Talk:Lode Runner

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1 Featured a Level Designer
2 "Borrowed" from Choplifter
3 Doug Smith not inventor
4 clones?

[edit] Featured a Level Designer

The NES version also had a level designer included.

As did the Mac version.Nimrand 01:54, 11 January 2007 (UTC)

As did the original Apple II version. They all had it. Added that info. — Frecklefoot | Talk 15:20, 11 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] "Borrowed" from Choplifter

Rxsherm added this comment:

The animated characters in Lode Runner were "borrowed" from Choplifter, an earlier Broderbund title.

I'd like to see some proof of this. Just because they looked similar, it doesn't prove anything. They only had about 16 pixels to play with--anything that small is bound to look similar. Anyone have a site or other reference to confirm this assertion? — Frecklefoot | Talk 18:05, August 15, 2005 (UTC)

Actually, the Lode Runner sprites are 11 x 11, which adds up to 121 pixels ... even in the black and white presentation, with each pixel either on and off, this is roughly an equivalent amount of data to the key in 128-bit encryption, which as we all know is quite strong because of the enormous number of possible combinations. Put it this way -- there are 2.6 x 10^36 (i.e. 2.6 trillion trillion trillions) possible combinations of pixels in that little 11x11 square ... what are the chances that the pixel layouts in Lode Runner would be IDENTICAL (not just in one frame but in every step of the sprite animation as well) to those in Choplifter? There is no chance of that. These drawings are unique and visually identical -- and Doug Smith worked for the company that created the antecedent, so no source is needed for this. Just as I wouldn't require a source to point out that the Darth Vader in Empire Strikes Back is obviously copied from the Darth Vader in Star Wars, I shouldn't need a source for this, either. They are not "similar" -- they are identical. This observation should stay.--65.93.204.146 00:00, 26 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Doug Smith not inventor

This sentence was removed without explanation:

"Doug Smith did not invent the original game but bought the rights from another student at the University of Washington for $10,000 after he got Brøderbund Software interested in the game."

Why was this removed? If true, I think it is of interest. Is there evidence one way or the other? --Mike Van Emmerik 12:20, 11 February 2006 (UTC)

shouldn't there be proof before taking credit away from Doug Smith? /64.13.18.28 06:11, 27 February 2006 (UTC)

Doug Smith began the first few weeks of development with a partner, who bailed out before the summer was done. I have no idea if the 'bought the rights' story is true, but it is plausible -- however, even if true that he bought out his former partner's interest, it takes nothing away from Smith's authorship of the game. He was in from the beginning and was obviously the only one motivated to complete the task.--65.93.204.146 07:53, 26 March 2007 (UTC)