''Boxing'' is a multiplayer sports

video game Video games, also known as computer games, are electronic games that involves interaction with a user interface or input device such as a joystick, controller, keyboard, or motion sensing device to generate visual feedback. This fee ...

written by Tom Loughry and published by

Mattel Electronics The Intellivision is a home video game console released by Mattel Electronics in 1979. The name is a portmanteau of "intelligent television". Development began in 1977, the same year as the launch of its main competitor, the Atari 2600. In 1984, ...

for its Intellivision video game system in 1981. The game simulates a 15-round

boxing Boxing (also known as "Western boxing" or "pugilism") is a combat sport in which two people, usually wearing protective gloves and other protective equipment such as hand wraps and mouthguards, throw punches at each other for a predetermine ...

match with the goal of knocking out the opponent; at the time of the game's release a real-life professional boxing match may have lasted up to 15 rounds.

Gameplay

''Boxing'' allows each player to select one of six boxers, each with a different set of strengths and weaknesses. To start the game one must select a fighting speed by pushing the numbers one, two or three on the keypad or the directional disc. The #3 is the slowest speed, #2 is medium speed, #1 is medium fast and the directional disc is the fastest. Once a desirable speed has been selected then one must choose a boxer. The #1 blue boxer has strong defensive skills while the #2 red boxer has strong offensive power. The #3 tan boxer has strong endurance, and the #4 and #5 the dark green and light green boxers each have a balanced skill set. The #6 yellow boxer is considered "unpredictable," and will be given a random set of abilities by the computer. All boxers are right handed and the players may not choose the same boxer. After the selections are made, the two boxers are placed within a simulated

boxing ring A boxing ring, often referred to simply as a ring or the squared circle, is the space in which a boxing match occurs. A modern ring consists of a square raised platform with a post at each corner. Four ropes are attached to the posts and pulled p ...

and the match begins. Each round of the match lasts 90 seconds in simulated time; compared to three minutes in real life. Player 1 always faces towards the right, while Player 2 always faces to the left. Using the controller's directional pad, players can move their boxers closer to or away from their opponent in order to throw punches. Punches are thrown using the keypad on the controller. Punches using the boxer's left arm are thrown using the keys on the left side of the pad, and punches using the right arm are mapped to the keys on the right side. There are four types of punches used: a feint punch, a head punch, a chest punch and a stomach punch. The keys in the middle allow the player to duck or to pull his punches. A player wins the match if they are able to knock out the opposing boxer, either with a single punch or if the boxer is unable to get to his feet within ten seconds. The computer determines if a boxer is able to continue. If no knockout occurs, the round winner is determined by points. Players score points each time a punch is landed successfully, with the player who scored the most points winning that round. If neither player is knocked out by the end of the fifteenth round, the player that has the most cumulative points is named the winner. A "double knockdown" is possible but it is extremely rare to have a "double knockout" which results in a draw.

Legacy

''Boxing'' has been re-released in the ''

Intellivision Lives! ''Intellivision Lives!'' is a compilation of over 60 Intellivision video games, originally produced by Mattel Electronics and INTV Corporation between 1978 and 1990. Using original game code and software emulation, ''Intellivision Productions' ...

'' compilation and on

Microsoft's Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational corporation, multinational technology company, technology corporation producing Software, computer software, consumer electronics, personal computers, and related services headquartered at th ...

Game Room Game Room was a social gaming service for the Xbox 360 video game system, Microsoft Windows PCs, and Windows Phone 7. Launched on March 24, 2010, Game Room let players download classic video games and compete against each other for high scores. ...

'' service in May 2010.

References

{{reflist 1981 video games Boxing video games Intellivision games Intellivision-only games Mattel video games North America-exclusive video games Video games developed in the United States