Qwak! (arcade game)

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]

Technology

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

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]

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]

• Nintendo produced a clone of Qwak! for the Famicom in 1984, called Duck Hunt.^[5]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Atari Coin-OP/Arcade Systems". http://www.atarimuseum.com/videogames/arcade/arcade70.html. Retrieved 2007-12-28. 
2. ^ ^{a b c} "Atari: The Lost Years of the Coin-Op, 1971 – 1975, Part III". http://www.armchairarcade.com/aamain/content.php?article.102. Retrieved 2007-12-28. 
3. ^ "Qwak (1982) at KLOV". http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?game_id=9215. Retrieved 2007-12-28. 
4. ^ "System 16 - 6502 Colour Raster Hardware (Atari)". http://www.system16.com/hardware.php?id=764. Retrieved 2007-12-28. 
5. ^ "Controller's History Dynamite from 1UP.com". http://www.1up.com/do/feature?cId=3143627. Retrieved 2007-12-28.