Qwak! (arcade game)

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Qwak!
Developer(s)	Atari Inc.
Distributor(s)	Atari Inc.
Platform(s)	Arcade
Release date	^{North America} 1974
Genre(s)	shooter
Input methods	optical gun
Cabinet	unique
CPU	discrete
Sound	Amplified Mono (one channel)
Display	Horizontal orientation, raster (black and white), Standard Resolution.

Qwak! is a 1 player arcade game by Atari Inc., originally released in 1974. It simulates duck hunting, where by players fire at flying on-screen ducks using a rifle with a light gun attached to the end.^[1]

1 Technology
2 Gameplay
3 Legacy
4 References

[edit] Technology

The game is housed in a custom cabinet that includes a light gun. The game PCB is composed of discrete technology and incldues Atari/Kee's Durastress technlogy.^[2]

Marsh reeds and a tree branch are provided by a screen overlay representing perspective of looking up from the ground.^[1]

The game can be set by the operator to have time limits, extended time and free games. ^[2]

[edit] Gameplay

One duck flies across the screen at a time, giving the player three shots to hit it. A hunting dog runs out and collects the fallen prize if the player was successful with their aim.^[2]

[edit] Legacy

In 1982, Atari Inc. developed a prototype for a duck themed game also similarly entitled Qwak. With the goal of "Help mama duck and her three ducklings get home safely", the player shifts picture blocks into place to create a safe path for the ducks to get home. There were 15-puzzles with cute animations, and a player's score is determined by how long the ducks are on-screen and by how many get home safely.^[3] The developers are unsure whether this was originally designed for a touch-screen or not. It could have been a joystick game that happened to be in development when they were interested in evaluating touch-screen technology. They felt that the touch-screen would make a more intuitive interface, but were apparently wrong. The most common comment at the focus-group was "could you put a joystick or buttons on it. It would be easier"...^[4]