Avoid the Noid
Encyclopedia
Avoid the Noid is a platform
computer game for the Commodore 64
and MS-DOS
, written in 1989 to promote Domino's Pizza
. It was modeled after the company's ad campaign during the late 1980s. The ads featured a "noid" that destroyed pizzas and must be avoided.
version was developed by BlueSky Software
and ShareData was the publisher for both versions. In the game, you must deliver a pizza
to Doom Industries on the top floor of an apartment building
while avoiding the Noid
creatures and their trap
s as you go.
The protagonist pizza delivery
boy can walk, run, roll and perform impressive somersaulting leaps. He is armed with a limited amount of Noid Avoiders, which when activated remove all Noids from the screen. Each screen consists of three floors; the player runs right on the first, takes the elevator up to the second, runs left, takes the elevator up to the third, and runs right once more. Hidden trapdoors are plentiful, dropping the player down to the next lower floor. Various pieces of classical music play on each screen.
Within the elevators, the player is safe - but Noids often run out of them and attempt to knock the player down in the corridors. If not avoided by jumping or rolling, the protagonist is stunned and the Noid will then proceed to destroy the pizza. When all pizzas are gone the game ends. Later rooms include heat-seeking (i.e. pizza-seeking) missiles being fired from the doors, as well as Noids wielding bazookas. After losing a life, the player is treated to a close-up of a sneering Noid.
Several elevators are locked, requiring the player to find keys. These are hidden in the coin return slot of the various phones that hang on the wall. Certain other phones contain a digit, three of which are required for a digital lock near the top floor. However, the player must listen carefully to the phone ringing; searching a wrong phone causes a Noid (on the other end of the line) to blow up the phone, destroying your pizza once more. Ironically, one of the topmost phones in the building contains two bonus pizzas.
Finally, to open the door to the penthouse where the pizza is to be delivered, the player must visit the roof to obtain three more keys. Noids come by in planes and drop water balloons (with impressive splash damage); needless to say, water ruins your pizza.
Platform game
A platform game is a video game characterized by requiring the player to jump to and from suspended platforms or over obstacles . It must be possible to control these jumps and to fall from platforms or miss jumps...
computer game for the Commodore 64
Commodore 64
The Commodore 64 is an 8-bit home computer introduced by Commodore International in January 1982.Volume production started in the spring of 1982, with machines being released on to the market in August at a price of US$595...
and MS-DOS
MS-DOS
MS-DOS is an operating system for x86-based personal computers. It was the most commonly used member of the DOS family of operating systems, and was the main operating system for IBM PC compatible personal computers during the 1980s to the mid 1990s, until it was gradually superseded by operating...
, written in 1989 to promote Domino's Pizza
Domino's Pizza
Domino's Pizza, Inc. is an international pizza delivery corporation headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America. Founded in 1960, Domino's is the second-largest pizza chain in the United States and has over 9,000 corporate and franchised stores in 60 countries and all 50 U.S....
. It was modeled after the company's ad campaign during the late 1980s. The ads featured a "noid" that destroyed pizzas and must be avoided.
Gameplay
The Commodore 64Commodore 64
The Commodore 64 is an 8-bit home computer introduced by Commodore International in January 1982.Volume production started in the spring of 1982, with machines being released on to the market in August at a price of US$595...
version was developed by BlueSky Software
BlueSky Software
BlueSky Software was an American software company situated in California formed in 1988 and had a successful run for 12 years before closing down in March 2001, when parent company Interplay was in financial trouble.- Atari 7800 :* Basketbrawl...
and ShareData was the publisher for both versions. In the game, you must deliver a pizza
Pizza
Pizza is an oven-baked, flat, disc-shaped bread typically topped with a tomato sauce, cheese and various toppings.Originating in Italy, from the Neapolitan cuisine, the dish has become popular in many parts of the world. An establishment that makes and sells pizzas is called a "pizzeria"...
to Doom Industries on the top floor of an apartment building
Tower block
A tower block, high-rise, apartment tower, office tower, apartment block, or block of flats, is a tall building or structure used as a residential and/or office building...
while avoiding the Noid
Noid
The Noid is an advertising character for Domino's Pizza created in the 1980s. He was a villainous red-suited character with red rabbit ears who attempted to ruin Domino's pizza but was constantly thwarted. The Noid was created in 1986 by Group 243, the advertising agency for Domino's Pizza and was...
creatures and their trap
Trap (tactic)
A trap is a device intended to catch an intruder or prey. "Trap" may also refer to the tactic of catching or harming an adversary. Conversely it may also mean a hindrance for change, being caught in a trap.-Device:*Animal trapping*Bird trapping...
s as you go.
The protagonist pizza delivery
Pizza delivery
Pizza delivery is a service in which a pizzeria delivers a pizza to a customer. Delivery is normally made with an automobile, motor scooter, or bicycle.- Ordering :...
boy can walk, run, roll and perform impressive somersaulting leaps. He is armed with a limited amount of Noid Avoiders, which when activated remove all Noids from the screen. Each screen consists of three floors; the player runs right on the first, takes the elevator up to the second, runs left, takes the elevator up to the third, and runs right once more. Hidden trapdoors are plentiful, dropping the player down to the next lower floor. Various pieces of classical music play on each screen.
Within the elevators, the player is safe - but Noids often run out of them and attempt to knock the player down in the corridors. If not avoided by jumping or rolling, the protagonist is stunned and the Noid will then proceed to destroy the pizza. When all pizzas are gone the game ends. Later rooms include heat-seeking (i.e. pizza-seeking) missiles being fired from the doors, as well as Noids wielding bazookas. After losing a life, the player is treated to a close-up of a sneering Noid.
Several elevators are locked, requiring the player to find keys. These are hidden in the coin return slot of the various phones that hang on the wall. Certain other phones contain a digit, three of which are required for a digital lock near the top floor. However, the player must listen carefully to the phone ringing; searching a wrong phone causes a Noid (on the other end of the line) to blow up the phone, destroying your pizza once more. Ironically, one of the topmost phones in the building contains two bonus pizzas.
Finally, to open the door to the penthouse where the pizza is to be delivered, the player must visit the roof to obtain three more keys. Noids come by in planes and drop water balloons (with impressive splash damage); needless to say, water ruins your pizza.
Music
The game uses various digitized versions of classical music for each level.- Street Level: Bach Orchestral Suite #2
- Levels 1-3:
- Levels 4-6:
- Levels 7-9
- Levels 10-12: Paganini Caprice 24?
- Levels 13-15
- Levels 16-18
- Levels 19-21
- Levels 22-24
- Levels 25-27
- Levels 28-30
- Roof Level: Wagner Ride of the Valkyries