David's Midnight Magic
Encyclopedia
David's Midnight Magic is an early computer
pinball
simulation written by David Snider and released by Brøderbund
in 1982. (The game was published in Europe by Ariolasoft
).
and Atari 8-bit
platforms. Along with Raster Blaster
and Night Mission, David's Midnight Magic represented the first wave of home computer pinball simulations available with relatively realistic pinball features. In a review by Computer Gaming World
, Midnight Magic was flatly stated as a better game than Raster Blaster. However, the review also lamented the requirement of removing write protection
from the floppy, thus voiding the warranty, in order to save high scores.
David's Midnight Magic is closely modeled after the popular real-life pinball table Black Knight
, released by Williams
in 1980. The computer simulation, unlike Black Knight, contains bright colors such as green, pink, and blue (depending somewhat on the version of the game) in contrast to Black Knight's darker medieval theme. Atari
released a pinball game called Midnight Magic
for the Atari 2600
that plays differently than the similarly named David's Midnight Magic.
David Snider's brother Eric later used his first name in the title of Eric's Ultimate Solitaire
.
In 2005, a Visual Pinball
recreation of David's Midnight Magic was created called David's Midnight Magic 2005 which is rendered with modern 3D graphics.
Computer
A computer is a programmable machine designed to sequentially and automatically carry out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations. The particular sequence of operations can be changed readily, allowing the computer to solve more than one kind of problem...
pinball
Pinball
Pinball is a type of arcade game, usually coin-operated, where a player attempts to score points by manipulating one or more metal balls on a playfield inside a glass-covered case called a pinball machine. The primary objective of the game is to score as many points as possible...
simulation written by David Snider and released by Brøderbund
Brøderbund
Brøderbund Software, Inc. was an American maker of computer games, educational software and The Print Shop productivity tools. It was best known as the original creator and publisher of the popular Carmen Sandiego games. The company was founded in Eugene, Oregon, but moved to San Rafael,...
in 1982. (The game was published in Europe by Ariolasoft
Ariolasoft
Ariolasoft GmbH, later known as United Software, was a German computer game developer, publisher and distributor. It started as the software subsidiary of Ariola Records...
).
Summary
The game was originally released for the Apple II computer platform and was later released for 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...
and Atari 8-bit
Atari 8-bit family
The Atari 8-bit family is a series of 8-bit home computers manufactured from 1979 to 1992. All are based on the MOS Technology 6502 CPU and were the first home computers designed with custom coprocessor chips...
platforms. Along with Raster Blaster
Raster Blaster
Raster Blaster is a 1981 computer pinball game for the Apple II resembling the classic Firepower table.-Summary:This video game was written and designed by Bill Budge and published by BudgeCo. It showed a fullscreen high resolution display of a pinball game table...
and Night Mission, David's Midnight Magic represented the first wave of home computer pinball simulations available with relatively realistic pinball features. In a review by Computer Gaming World
Computer Gaming World
Computer Gaming World was a computer game magazine founded in 1981 by Russell Sipe as a bimonthly publication. Early issues were typically 40-50 pages in length, written in a newsletter style, including submissions by game designers such as Joel Billings , Dan Bunten , and Chris Crawford...
, Midnight Magic was flatly stated as a better game than Raster Blaster. However, the review also lamented the requirement of removing write protection
Write protection
Write protection is any physical mechanism that prevents modification or erasure of valuable data on a device. Most commercial software, audio and video is sold pre-protected.-Examples:...
from the floppy, thus voiding the warranty, in order to save high scores.
David's Midnight Magic is closely modeled after the popular real-life pinball table Black Knight
Black Knight (pinball)
Black Knight is a 1980 pinball game designed by Steve Ritchie and released by Williams Electronics.This game is known for its two-level playfield , and introduced the patented "Magna-Save", in which a player-controlled magnet is used to prevent outlane drains. This was first of a series of four...
, released by Williams
Williams (gaming company)
WMS Industries, Inc. is an American electronic gaming and amusement company based in Waukegan, Illinois. The company's main operating subsidiaries are WMS Gaming and Orion Gaming. WMS traces its roots as far back as 1943, the Williams Manufacturing Company, founded by Harry E. Williams...
in 1980. The computer simulation, unlike Black Knight, contains bright colors such as green, pink, and blue (depending somewhat on the version of the game) in contrast to Black Knight's darker medieval theme. Atari
Atari
Atari is a corporate and brand name owned by several entities since its inception in 1972. It is currently owned by Atari Interactive, a wholly owned subsidiary of the French publisher Atari, SA . The original Atari, Inc. was founded in 1972 by Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney. It was a pioneer in...
released a pinball game called Midnight Magic
Midnight Magic (Atari 2600)
Midnight Magic is a video game released for the Atari 2600 video game console in 1987, although on-screen it displays a copyright of 1984. The delay is most likely due to the video game crash of 1983. As Atari's second attempt at a video game simulation of pinball, Midnight Magic features more...
for the Atari 2600
Atari 2600
The Atari 2600 is a video game console released in October 1977 by Atari, Inc. It is credited with popularizing the use of microprocessor-based hardware and cartridges containing game code, instead of having non-microprocessor dedicated hardware with all games built in...
that plays differently than the similarly named David's Midnight Magic.
David Snider's brother Eric later used his first name in the title of Eric's Ultimate Solitaire
Eric's Ultimate Solitaire
Eric's Ultimate Solitaire is a commercial solitaire game developed by Delta Tao Software for the Macintosh. The game was later ported to Linux by Loki Software....
.
In 2005, a Visual Pinball
Visual Pinball
Visual Pinball is a freeware video game engine for pinball tables and similar games e.g. pachinko machines. The software is composed of an editor and the simulator part itself. It runs on Microsoft Windows...
recreation of David's Midnight Magic was created called David's Midnight Magic 2005 which is rendered with modern 3D graphics.