puzzle video game
Puzzle video games make up a broad genre of video games that emphasize puzzle solving. The types of puzzles can test problem-solving skills, including logic, pattern recognition, sequence solving, spatial recognition, and word completion.
H ...
developed by husband and wife team Randy and Sandy Pfeiffer and published in arcades by Taito America. ''Qix'' is one of a handful of games made by
Taito
is a Japanese company that specializes in video games, toys, arcade cabinets and game centers, based in Shinjuku, Tokyo. The company was founded by Michael Kogan in 1953 as the importing vodka, vending machines and jukeboxes into Japan. I ...
's American division. At the start of each level, the playing field is a large, empty rectangle, containing the ''Qix'', a stick-like entity that performs graceful but unpredictable motions within the confines of the rectangle. The objective is to draw lines that close off parts of the rectangle to fill in a set amount of the playfield.
''Qix'' was ported to the contemporary
Atari 5200
The Atari 5200 SuperSystem or simply Atari 5200 is a home video game console introduced in 1982 by Atari, Inc. as a higher-end complement for the popular Atari Video Computer System. The VCS was renamed to the Atari 2600 at the time of the 520 ...
(1982), Atari 8-bit family (1983), and Commodore 64 (1983), then was brought to a wide variety of systems in the late 1980s and early 1990s:
MS-DOS
MS-DOS ( ; acronym for Microsoft Disk Operating System, also known as Microsoft DOS) is an operating system for x86-based personal computers mostly developed by Microsoft. Collectively, MS-DOS, its rebranding as IBM PC DOS, and a few ope ...
compatible operating systems (1989), Amiga (1989), another version for the C64 (1989),
Apple IIGS
The Apple IIGS (styled as II), the fifth and most powerful of the Apple II family, is a 16-bit personal computer produced by Apple Computer. While featuring the Macintosh look and feel, and resolution and color similar to the Amiga and Atari ST ...
(1990),
Game Boy
The is an 8-bit fourth generation handheld game console developed and manufactured by Nintendo. It was first released in Japan on April 21, 1989, in North America later the same year, and in Europe in late 1990. It was designed by the same t ...
Atari Lynx
The Atari Lynx is a hybrid 8/16-bit fourth generation handheld game console released by Atari Corporation in September 1989 in North America and 1990 in Europe and Japan. It was the first handheld game console with a color liquid-crystal disp ...
(1991).
Gameplay
Controls consist of a four-direction joystick and two buttons: "Slow Draw" and "Fast Draw".
The player controls a diamond-shaped marker that initially moves along the edges of the playfield. Holding down one of the draw buttons allows the marker to draw a line (''Stix'') in unclaimed territory in an attempt to create a closed shape. A captured area is filled with color and points awarded. Areas drawn with Slow Draw (orange-red in the screenshot) are worth double. The titular ''Qix'' is a colorful geometric figure in constant and random motion. The Qix will not actively seek out the marker, and it will not harm the marker if it collides with it while the marker is traversing the edge of the playfield or of any captured area. However, if the Qix collides with the marker as it is drawing a Stix before a new area is captured (or it touches the exposed Stix), one life is lost.
The marker cannot cross or backtrack along the line being drawn. If the marker stops while drawing, a fuse appears and burns along the line toward the marker; if it reaches the marker, the player loses one life. The fuse disappears once the marker is moved. If the player draws into a position where it cannot proceed any further, the fuse is triggered. The
attract mode
This list includes terms used in video games and the video game industry, as well as slang used by players.
0–9
A
...
calls this a "Spiral Death Trap".
''Sparx'' are enemies that traverse all playfield edges except unfinished Stix. A life is lost if one hits the marker. A meter at the top of the screen counts down to the release of additional Sparx and the mutation of all Sparx into Super Sparx, which can chase the marker along uncompleted Stix.
To complete a level, the player must claim a 75% percentage of the playfield (adjustable to be between 50% and 90%). If a level is completed by exceeding the minimum area percentage, a bonus is awarded for every 1% beyond the threshold.
Starting in level three, the player faces two Qixes. Splitting the playfield into two regions, each containing one Qix, ends the level. No immediate bonus is awarded for this, but a bonus multiplier is applied to the scoring in all subsequent levels. This multiplier starts at two and increases by one for every additional splitting of the Qix, to a maximum of nine. Levels also add additional Sparx and the eventual appearance of only Super Sparx.
Reception
Upon release, ''Qix'' was a commercial hit. In 1983, ''
Electronic Games
An electronic game is a game that uses electronics to create an interactive system with which a player can play. Video games are the most common form today, and for this reason the two terms are often used interchangeably. There are other common ...
'' reported that the game exceeded Taito's expectations, quickly rising to being one of the most popular titles of the year. The magazine attributes the game's success to it being unlike any other game at the time, specifically for its unique premise and gameplay mechanics. A year after its debut, its popularity declined and the game became largely forgotten. Keith Egging, Taito's "Director of Creativity", told ''Electronic Games'': "''Qix'' was conceptually too mystifying for gamers. ..It was impossible to master and once the novelty wore off, the game faded". In Japan, it was the fifth highest-grossing arcade game of 1981. The game has since been dubbed a
sleeper hit
In the entertainment industry, a sleeper hit is a film, television series, music release, video game, or some other entertainment product that was initially unsuccessful on release but became a success later on. A sleeper hit may have little prom ...
.
''Qix'' and its home conversions have received largely positive reviews. The game was praised for its original concept and ideas, and has been described as a cultural phenomenon. ''
Video
Video is an electronic medium for the recording, copying, playback, broadcasting, and display of moving visual media. Video was first developed for mechanical television systems, which were quickly replaced by cathode-ray tube (CRT) syst ...
'', who reviewed the
Atari 5200
The Atari 5200 SuperSystem or simply Atari 5200 is a home video game console introduced in 1982 by Atari, Inc. as a higher-end complement for the popular Atari Video Computer System. The VCS was renamed to the Atari 2600 at the time of the 520 ...
release, applauded its gameplay and bizarre yet interesting premise. They reported similar reactions from players, who enjoyed its mechanics and gameplay. ''Video'' staff described the game as being a " cult phenomenon loved by a few and ignored by" more hardcore gamers. The home computer versions of ''Qix'' were praised by Russel Sipe of '' Computer Gaming World'' for its fascinating gameplay and for welcoming newcomers.
Retrospective coverage of ''Qix'' has also been positive. ''
AllGame
RhythmOne , previously known as Blinkx, and also known as RhythmOne Group, is an American digital advertising technology company that owns and operates the web properties AllMusic, AllMovie, and SideReel.
Blinkx was founded in 2004, went publ ...
''s Brett Alan Weiss commended ''Qix'' for its addictive gameplay, technological accomplishments, and responsive controls. While he believed the graphics and sound effects were overly simplistic and crude, he said the game as a whole is "abstract minimalism at its videogame best". ''
Retro Gamer
''Retro Gamer'' is a British magazine, published worldwide, covering retro video games. It was the first commercial magazine to be devoted entirely to the subject. Launched in January 2004 as a quarterly publication, ''Retro Gamer'' soon became ...
'' staff enjoyed ''Qix'' particularly for its addictive nature. They compared its concept to that of the
, a toy that allowed its user to draw straight lines across a small screen. The staff believed the game's simplicity was also one of its strong points, alongside its sound effects for being satisfying to hear.
Accolades
At the 5th annual
Arkie Awards
An electronic game is a game that uses electronics to create an interactive system with which a player can play. Video games are the most common form today, and for this reason the two terms are often used interchangeably. There are other common ...
in 1984, ''Qix'' received the Certificate of Merit in the category of "1984 Best Videogame Audio-Visual Effects (16K or more ROM)". In 1995, Flux magazine ranked the game 94th on their "Top 100 Video Games." In 1997, the staff at ''
Electronic Gaming Monthly
''Electronic Gaming Monthly'' (often abbreviated to ''EGM'') is a monthly American video game magazine. It offers video game news, coverage of industry events, interviews with gaming figures, editorial content and product reviews.
History
The m ...
'' listed the Nintendo Entertainment System version at #100 on their "100 Best Games of All Time" for its risk-versus-reward system and scoring. The
Killer List of Videogames
Killer List of Videogames (KLOV) is a website featuring an online encyclopedia devoted to cataloging arcade games past and present. It is the video game department of the International Arcade Museum, and has been referred to as "the IMDb for pl ...
listed it as #27 in their "Top 100 Video Games" list.
Legacy
Sequels
''Qix II - Tournament'' (1982) is a version of the original ''Qix'' with a new color scheme and which awards an extra life when 90% or more of the screen is enclosed. ''Super Qix'' was released in 1987. Another sequel, ''Twin Qix'', reached a prototype stage in 1995, but was never commercially released. The later game ''
Volfied
is an arcade video game designed by Fukio Mitsuji and released by Taito in 1989. It is a successor to '' Qix'', with extra features and a futuristic science fiction aesthetic, rather than ''Qix''s abstract geometry style; the player pilots a sma ...
'', also known as ''Ultimate Qix'' on Sega Genesis or ''Qix Neo'' on PlayStation, was created as an additional sequel to ''Qix'' and also released on several
mobile phone
A mobile phone, cellular phone, cell phone, cellphone, handphone, hand phone or pocket phone, sometimes shortened to simply mobile, cell, or just phone, is a portable telephone that can make and receive calls over a radio frequency link whi ...
s.
The 1990 Game Boy port of ''Qix'' was published by Nintendo with intermissions in which
Mario
is a character created by Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. He is the title character of the ''Mario'' franchise and the mascot of Japanese video game company Nintendo. Mario has appeared in over 200 video games since his cre ...
is involved. In one, he is seen in a desert wearing Mexican clothing and playing a guitar with a vulture looking on. The outfit later appears as a costume that Mario can wear in ''
Super Mario Odyssey
is a 2017 platform game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch. An entry in the ''Super Mario'' series, it follows Mario and his new ally Cappy—a sentient hat that allows Mario to control other characters and objects†...
''. The Game Boy port was released as a Nintendo 3DS
Virtual Console
A virtual console (VC) – also known as a virtual terminal (VT) – is a conceptual combination of the keyboard and display for a computer user interface. It is a feature of some Unix-like operating systems such as Linux, BSD, illumos, Uni ...
title in Japan on June 15, 2011, and in North America and Europe on July 7.
In 1999, a remake for the Game Boy Color was released called ''
Qix Adventure
''Qix Adventure'' is a 1999 video game developed by Coconuts Japan Entertainment and published by Taito for the Game Boy Color. An English port of the game was developed by Evolution Entertainment for the United Kingdom in 2000. The game is a puz ...
''. The player travels on a map screen, taking on opponents which appear on the playing field. Although optional, enclosing an opponent in the box opens a treasure chest, which can also be enclosed, giving the player an item. ''Battle Qix'' was released for the PlayStation in 2002 by Success, under their ''Super 1500 Lite'' budget title series. It includes a remake of the original ''Qix'' alongside a competitive multiplayer mode. Taito released a new version of ''Qix'' for the
Xbox Live Arcade
Xbox Live Arcade (XBLA) is a digital video game download service available through the Xbox Games Store, Microsoft's digital distribution network for the Xbox 360. It focuses on smaller downloadable games from both major publishers and independent ...
Windmill Software
Windmill Software is a Canadian software company. Windmill Software today publishes property management software and management information system software, but the company is more notable for its past role as a developer, marketer, publisher, ...
)
* ''
Frenzy
''Frenzy'' is a 1972 British thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock. It is the penultimate feature film of his extensive career. The screenplay by Anthony Shaffer was based on the 1966 novel ''Goodbye Piccadilly, Farewell Leicester Squa ...
'' (1984, Acorn Electron and BBC Micro,
Micro Power
Micro Power was a British company established in the early 1980s by former accountant Bob Simpson. The company was best known as a video game publisher, originally under the name Program Power. It also sold many types of computer hardware and s ...
)
* ''
Xonix
''Xonix'' is a video game written for MS-DOS compatible operating systems by Ilan Raab and Dani Katz. It is similar in concept to Taito's 1982 arcade video game '' Qix''. The objective is to fence off sections of a playfield while avoiding bounc ...
'' (1984, MS-DOS)
* ''Qiks'' (1984, Tandy Color Computer, Spectral Associates)
* ''Quix'' (1984, Tandy Color Computer, Tom Mix Software)
* ''Torch 2081'' (1986, Amiga, Digital Concepts)
* ''Zolyx'' (1987, Commodore 64, Commodore 16/Plus-4, Amstrad CPC, and ZX Spectrum,
Firebird
Firebird and fire bird may refer to:
Mythical birds
* Phoenix (mythology), sacred firebird found in the mythologies of many cultures
* Bennu, Egyptian firebird
* Huma bird, Persian firebird
* Firebird (Slavic folklore)
Bird species
''Various sp ...
Cacoma Knight in Bizyland
''Cacoma Knight in Bizyland'', known in Japan as is a Super NES video game created by Datam Polystar. Seta USA created the English version of the game. The Japanese version is copyrighted in 1992, and the English version is copyrighted in 199 ...
'' (1992-1993, Super NES/Famicom, Datam Polystar/Seta USA)
* ''Super Xonix'' (1996, IBM PC), a 2 player version
* ''
Dancing Eyes
is a 1996 puzzle arcade video game developed and published in Japan by Namco. It features gameplay reminiscent of arcade games like '' Qix'' — players control a monkey named Urusu-San as he must complete each level by destroying all of the t ...
'' (1996, arcade,
Namco
was a Japanese multinational video game and entertainment company, headquartered in ÅŒta, Tokyo. It held several international branches, including Namco America in Santa Clara, California, Namco Europe in London, Namco Taiwan in Kaohsiung, ...
), a 3D version of the eroge subgenre, similar to the above ''Gals Panic''
* ''AirXonix'' (2000-2001, Microsoft Windows, AxySoft)
* ''Prometheus/Qrax'' (1997, MacOS, Quarter Note Software)
In 2011, ''Den of Geek'' included ''Qix'' on a list of the top 10 most cloned video games.