Qwak!
| Qwak! | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Atari Inc. |
| Platform(s) | Arcade |
| Release | North America 1974 |
| Genre(s) |
Shooter Gun game |
| 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, whereby 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]
References
- 1 2 "Atari Coin-OP/Arcade Systems". Retrieved 2007-12-28.
- 1 2 3 "Atari: The Lost Years of the Coin-Op, 1971–1975, Part III". Retrieved 2007-12-28.
- ↑ "Qwak (1982) at KLOV". Retrieved 2007-12-28.
- ↑ "System 16 - 6502 Colour Raster Hardware (Atari)". Retrieved 2007-12-28.
- ↑ "Controller's History Dynamite from 1UP.com". Retrieved 2007-12-28.