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Atomix (computer game)
Encyclopedia
Atomix is a transport puzzle
video game developed by Günter Krämer (as "Softtouch") and published by Thalion Software
, released for the Commodore Amiga and other personal computers in late 1990. The object of the game is to assemble molecules from compound atoms by moving the atoms on a two-dimensional playfield.
Atomix was received positively; reviewers noted the game's addictiveness and enjoyable gameplay, though criticized its repetitiveness.
; the faster the puzzle is completed, the more score is given.
Each puzzle must be completed within a time limit; otherwise the game ends, though the player can spend some of his score to restart the failed puzzle instead. The entire game consists of 30 puzzles of increasing difficulty. In addition, after every five puzzles, there is a bonus level where the player must move laboratory flask
s filled with various amount of liquid to arrange them from empty to full.
The game also offers a two-player mode, where two players are working on the same puzzle; they are taking turns which last up to thirty seconds.
reviewed a pre-release version in its May, 1990 issue. It was almost a complete version of the game although it lacked sound.
Initially the game was released for Amiga
, Atari ST
and the IBM PC
; as of May 1990, the C64 version was not yet planned , and was only released a few months later. A ZX Spectrum
version was also planned. It was to be distributed by U. S. Gold, but was never released.
The game was published for Enterprise 128
in 2006, this version was written by Zoltán Povázsay from Hungary.
However, certain reviewers criticized the game for its repetitiveness and stated that it lacked replayability. Some reviewers also wrote about the game's unoriginality, noting similarities to earlier games, Xor and Leonardo.
Graphics were generally considered adequate, though not spectacular; Zzap!64
called them "a bit dull and repetitive" and "simplistic, but slick and effective", while CU Amiga remarked that despite their simplicity, they "create a nice, tidy display". The soundtrack was found enjoyable, though the Commodore Format
reviewer considered it annoyingly repetitive.
Atomix has been the subject of scientific research in computational complexity theory
. When generalized
to puzzles of arbitrary sizes, the problem of determining whether an Atomix puzzle has a solution is PSPACE-complete
. Some heuristic approaches have been considered.
Transport puzzle
Transport puzzles are logistical puzzles, which often represent real-life transport problems.-Description:In transport puzzles you move persons and/or objects through a given landscape. As in rearrangement puzzles, no piece is ever lost or added to the board...
video game developed by Günter Krämer (as "Softtouch") and published by Thalion Software
Thalion Software
Thalion Software was a personal computer game company, during the time of the 16-bit home computers, like the Atari ST and Amiga.The company was formed by members of the Atari ST demo scene in October 1988, in Gütersloh, Germany. The main aim of Thalion Software was to produce cutting edge...
, released for the Commodore Amiga and other personal computers in late 1990. The object of the game is to assemble molecules from compound atoms by moving the atoms on a two-dimensional playfield.
Atomix was received positively; reviewers noted the game's addictiveness and enjoyable gameplay, though criticized its repetitiveness.
Gameplay
Atomix takes place on a playfield, consisting of a number of walls, with the atoms scattered throughout. The player is tasked with assembling a molecule from the atoms; more specifically, the atoms must be arranged into a specific shape, identical with the shape of the molecule displayed on the left side of the screen. The player can choose an atom and move it in any of the four cardinal directions; however, a moved atom keeps sliding in one direction until it hits a wall or another atom. Solving the puzzles requires strategic planning in moving the atoms, and on later levels with little free space, even finding room for the completed molecule can be a problem. Once the molecule is assembled, the player receives scoreScore (game)
In games, score refers to an abstract quantity associated with a player or team. Score is usually measured in the abstract unit of points, and events in the game can raise or lower the score of different parties...
; the faster the puzzle is completed, the more score is given.
Each puzzle must be completed within a time limit; otherwise the game ends, though the player can spend some of his score to restart the failed puzzle instead. The entire game consists of 30 puzzles of increasing difficulty. In addition, after every five puzzles, there is a bonus level where the player must move laboratory flask
Laboratory flask
Laboratory flasks are vessels which fall into the category of laboratory equipment known as glassware. In laboratory and other scientific settings, they are usually referred to simply as flasks...
s filled with various amount of liquid to arrange them from empty to full.
The game also offers a two-player mode, where two players are working on the same puzzle; they are taking turns which last up to thirty seconds.
Development
Amiga FormatAmiga Format
Amiga Format was a British computer magazine for Amiga computers, published by Future Publishing. The magazine lasted 136 issues from 1989 to 2000. The magazine was formed when, in the wake of selling ACE to EMAP, Future split the dual-format title ST/Amiga Format into two separate publications...
reviewed a pre-release version in its May, 1990 issue. It was almost a complete version of the game although it lacked sound.
Initially the game was released for Amiga
Amiga
The Amiga is a family of personal computers that was sold by Commodore in the 1980s and 1990s. The first model was launched in 1985 as a high-end home computer and became popular for its graphical, audio and multi-tasking abilities...
, Atari ST
Atari ST
The Atari ST is a home/personal computer that was released by Atari Corporation in 1985 and commercially available from that summer into the early 1990s. The "ST" officially stands for "Sixteen/Thirty-two", which referred to the Motorola 68000's 16-bit external bus and 32-bit internals...
and the IBM PC
IBM PC
The IBM Personal Computer, commonly known as the IBM PC, is the original version and progenitor of the IBM PC compatible hardware platform. It is IBM model number 5150, and was introduced on August 12, 1981...
; as of May 1990, the C64 version was not yet planned , and was only released a few months later. A ZX Spectrum
ZX Spectrum
The ZX Spectrum is an 8-bit personal home computer released in the United Kingdom in 1982 by Sinclair Research Ltd...
version was also planned. It was to be distributed by U. S. Gold, but was never released.
The game was published for Enterprise 128
Enterprise 128
The Enterprise is a Zilog Z80 based home computer first released in 1985. There are two variants, the Enterprise 64 with 64 kB of RAM, and the Enterprise 128 with 128 kB.- Hardware :- CPU, memory and ASIC chips :...
in 2006, this version was written by Zoltán Povázsay from Hungary.
Reception
Atomix received warm reactions from reviewers. They stated it was highly enjoyable and addictive despite its high difficulty level. Reviewers also pointed out the possible educational application of the game.However, certain reviewers criticized the game for its repetitiveness and stated that it lacked replayability. Some reviewers also wrote about the game's unoriginality, noting similarities to earlier games, Xor and Leonardo.
Graphics were generally considered adequate, though not spectacular; Zzap!64
Zzap!64
Zzap!64 was a computer games magazine covering games on the Commodore International series of computers, especially the Commodore 64 . It was published in the UK by Newsfield Publications Ltd and later by Europress Impact....
called them "a bit dull and repetitive" and "simplistic, but slick and effective", while CU Amiga remarked that despite their simplicity, they "create a nice, tidy display". The soundtrack was found enjoyable, though the Commodore Format
Commodore Format
Commodore Format was a British magazine for users of the Commodore 64 home computer. All sixty-one issues of the magazine were produced by Future Publishing. These came towards the end of the machine's commercial life - from October 1990 until October 1995....
reviewer considered it annoyingly repetitive.
Atomix has been the subject of scientific research in computational complexity theory
Computational complexity theory
Computational complexity theory is a branch of the theory of computation in theoretical computer science and mathematics that focuses on classifying computational problems according to their inherent difficulty, and relating those classes to each other...
. When generalized
Generalized game
In computational complexity theory, a generalized game is a game that has been generalized so that it can be played on a board of any size. For example, generalized chess is the game of chess played on an n-by-n board, with 2n pieces on each side.Complexity theory studies the asymptotic difficulty...
to puzzles of arbitrary sizes, the problem of determining whether an Atomix puzzle has a solution is PSPACE-complete
PSPACE-complete
In complexity theory, a decision problem is PSPACE-complete if it is in the complexity class PSPACE, and every problem in PSPACE can be reduced to it in polynomial time...
. Some heuristic approaches have been considered.