''Preppie!'' is an
action video game for
Atari 8-bit computers
The Atari 8-bit computers, formally launched as the Atari Home Computer System, are a series of home computers introduced by Atari, Inc., in 1979 with the Atari 400 and Atari 800. The architecture is designed around the 8-bit MOS Technology 650 ...
published by
Adventure International
Adventure International was an American video game publisher, video game publishing company that existed from 1979 until 1986. It was started by Scott Adams (game designer), Scott and Alexis Adams. Their games were notable for being the first i ...
in 1982. It was programmed by
Russ Wetmore
Russ Wetmore is an American programmer and video game designer best known for writing commercial games and applications for Atari 8-bit computers in the early to mid 1980s. His '' Frogger''-inspired '' Preppie!'' was published by Adventure Inte ...
of Star Systems Software, whose name is prominently on the box cover.
[ Leaning on the preppy trend of the early 1980s, the game follows prep schooler Wadsworth Overcash as he navigates the hazards of a country club to retrieve golf balls.][ ''Preppie!'' borrows heavily from ]Konami
, commonly known as Konami, , is a Japanese multinational entertainment company and video game developer and video game publisher, publisher headquartered in Chūō, Tokyo, Chūō, Tokyo. The company also produces and distributes trading card ...
's '' Frogger'',[ with lanes of traffic in the bottom half of the screen and a river crossing the top portion. Alligators are an element from both ''Frogger'' and preppy fashion; an open-mouthed gator is the icon of shirt brand Izod. Reviewers recognized the game as derivative, but called the music and visuals some of the best for Atari 8-bit computers.
''Preppie!'' was followed by a maze game, '']Preppie! II
''Preppie! II '' is a video game written by Russ Wetmore for Atari 8-bit computers and published by Adventure International in 1983. Subtitled "The continuing saga of Wadsworth Overcash", it is a sequel to 1982's '' Frogger''-inspired '' Prepp ...
'', from the same author in 1983. A third game in the series was mentioned in a 1983 interview, but never materialized. In 2016, Russ Wetmore released the source code
In computing, source code, or simply code or source, is a plain text computer program written in a programming language. A programmer writes the human readable source code to control the behavior of a computer.
Since a computer, at base, only ...
for both ''Preppie! games.
Gameplay
Like '' Frogger'', the player must cross lanes of traffic, then jump between floating objects to reach the other side of a river. The frog is recast as a preppy, and the setting moved to a country club where traffic consists of golf carts and reel mower-pushing groundskeeper
Groundskeeping is the activity of tending an area of land for aesthetic or functional purposes, typically in an institutional setting. It includes mowing grass, trimming hedges, pulling weeds, planting flowers, etc. The United States Department o ...
s. Canoes, logs, and alligator
An alligator, or colloquially gator, is a large reptile in the genus ''Alligator'' of the Family (biology), family Alligatoridae in the Order (biology), order Crocodilia. The two Extant taxon, extant species are the American alligator (''A. mis ...
s occupy the water.
Instead of simply getting to the other side as in ''Frogger'', the goal is to retrieve all of the golf balls and return them to the bottom of the screen. Each ball requires a separate trip. The golf balls appear either in the strip between the two areas or on the far side of the river.[
There are ten levels. A bonus preppie is given for reaching 8,000 points.][
]
Development
Programmer Russ Wetmore borrowed an Atari 800 from Adventure International founder Scott Adams with the intent of writing a video game.[ Wetmore's then-spouse, Diana, suggested a "cartoonish" style of game.][ Wetmore took inspiration from the preppy fad spawned by 1980's '' The Official Preppy Handbook''. He wrote the game on in eight weeks using the Atari Macro Assembler. Being more familiar with Z80 assembly language from programming the ]TRS-80
The TRS-80 Micro Computer System (TRS-80, later renamed the Model I to distinguish it from successors) is a desktop microcomputer developed by American company Tandy Corporation and sold through their Radio Shack stores. Launched in 1977, it is ...
, he used macros to give a Z80 flavor to 6502 code.[
Like ''Frogger'', the music consists of multiple short pieces strung together. These include an arrangement of Humoresque Op. 101 No. 7 by ]Antonín Dvořák
Antonín Leopold Dvořák ( ; ; 8September 18411May 1904) was a Czech composer. He frequently employed rhythms and other aspects of the folk music of Moravia and his native Bohemia, following the Romantic-era nationalist example of his predec ...
and " The Fountain in the Park".
Reception
In a 1982 review for '' Antic'', Robert DeWitt concluded "Al has a real winner here, even if the 'cover' concept is only remotely related to the game." Bill Kunkel of ''Electronic Games
''Electronic Games'' was the first dedicated video game magazine published in the United States and ran from October 15, 1981, to 1997 under different titles. It was co-founded by Bill Kunkel, Joyce Worley, and Arnie Katz.
History
The h ...
'' called it a "''Frogger''-inspired delight." He clarified: "Sure it sounds familiar, but what elevates ''Preppie!'' from the score of ''Frogger''-clones on the software market is the enchanting four-part harmony sound effects and the stunning graphics."[
John J. Anderson of '' Creative Computing Video & Arcade Games'' stated that although gameplay is not original "the implementation is gorgeous."] A '' COMPUTE!'' review also lauded the graphics and stated, "this program easily ranks among the best games to appear for the Atari computer to date." ''The Book of Atari Software 1983'' gave a rating of B-minus, writing "Animation and graphics are very good" and "I can't say it's very original in design; but, like ''Frogger'', it is lots of fun."
In an "Antic Pix Ten" article, ''Antic'' chose ''Preppie!'' as "among the most popular, interesting, and valuable programs yet written for your amusement." In the January 1983 issue of ''Joystik'', David and Sandy Small included ''Preppie!'' on a similar list of their ten "most heavily played, and most recommended, games."
Legacy
''Preppie!'' was followed by ''Preppie! II
''Preppie! II '' is a video game written by Russ Wetmore for Atari 8-bit computers and published by Adventure International in 1983. Subtitled "The continuing saga of Wadsworth Overcash", it is a sequel to 1982's '' Frogger''-inspired '' Prepp ...
'' in 1983, also by Wetmore. The sequel is an abstract maze video game with a goal of painting all of the corridors pink by moving through them. Elements of the original return as obstacles, including giant frogs, golf carts, and lawn mowers.
Wetmore mentioned a possible third game in the series when interviewed by ''Electronic Games
''Electronic Games'' was the first dedicated video game magazine published in the United States and ran from October 15, 1981, to 1997 under different titles. It was co-founded by Bill Kunkel, Joyce Worley, and Arnie Katz.
History
The h ...
'' in 1983, giving the tentative title as ''Preppies in Space''.[ He was asked about this in 2005, and his response was posted to the AtariAge forums:
]
See also
*'' Pacific Coast Highway'' (1982)
References
Bibliography
*
*
*
*
*
* {{cite magazine , title=Preppie! review , magazine=Computers & Electronics , number=21 , page=102 , date=March 1983
External links
''Preppie!''
at Atari Mania
1982 video games
Adventure International games
Atari 8-bit computer games
Atari 8-bit computer-only games
Commercial video games with freely available source code
Top-down video games
Video game clones
Video games developed in the United States