Kool-Aid Man (video game)
| Kool-Aid Man | |
|---|---|
 Atari 2600 box art | |
| Developer(s) | Mattel[1] |
| Publisher(s) | Mattel (M Network division[1][2][3]) |
| Designer(s) | Atari 2600: Steve Tatsumi[2] Intellivision: Vladimir Hyrcenko[1] |
| Platform(s) | Atari 2600[2] Intellivision[1] |
| Release date(s) | Atari 2600: Intellivision: |
| Genre(s) | Action[1][2] |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
| Distribution | Cartridge |
Kool-Aid Man is an Atari 2600 video game based upon the television commercial character Kool-Aid Man. A second, unique video game cartridge was also made for the Intellivision.
Overview
Kool-Aid Man is centered around the Kool-Aid Man, the long time television mascot of the popular beverage Kool-Aid.
The target market of the beverage has always been young people, and as a result the beverage has always made an attempt to keep up with that market's interests. The Kool-Aid Man has appeared in commercials breaking through walls and riding skateboards, always attempting to stay cool in the eyes of children. In the 1980s, video games were the fresh new thing, and in 1983, Kool-Aid Man was released for the Atari 2600. A second, unique version of the game was later released for the Intellivision. The game remains as one of the most obvious product placements in video game history, and in a further attempt at marketing the beverage, the game could be obtained for free by mailing in 125 proof of purchase points.[4]
While it was initially available exclusively through mail-order, it was later released through traditional retail outlets.[3]
Gameplay
The game made up of very simple 2D computer graphics. The setting of the game is a simple pool of water, and the object of the game is to quench the “thirsties”.[5] Thirsties are round creatures that try to drink up all of the water in the pool.[5]
Hitting a thirsty who is not drinking water causes the player to be bumped back and lose time.[5] However, when a thirsty is drinking from the pool (an action indicated by a straw of variable length extending from the thirsty to the pool), he is vulnerable.[5] Hitting him will supposedly use Kool-Aid to quench his thirst, and thus saving the pool. Winning a level usually requires quenching around 30 thirsties, which will take the player to a faster level. The game is lost either by running out of time, or by losing all of the water in the pool.[5]
The Kool-Aid Man can obtain power-ups, giving him temporary invincibility.[6][7]
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References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 "Release information (Intellivision)". GameFAQs. Retrieved 2008-08-28.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 "Release information (Atari 2600)". GameFAQs. Retrieved 2008-08-28.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Bogost, Ian (August 5, 2011). How to Do Things with Videogames (Electronic Mediations). University of Minnesota Press. p. 68. ISBN 978-0-8166-7647-7.
- ↑ Kool-Aid Man video game ad at ToyAdz.com
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Kool-Aid Man for Atari 2600 at MobyGames
- ↑ What can you tell me about the Kool-Aid Man Atari 2600 video game at Stason.org
- ↑ Kool-Aid Man at VideoGameCritic.net
External link
The Atari 2600 version of Kool-Aid Man can be played for free in the browser at the Internet Archive