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Jawbreaker (video game)
Encyclopedia
Jawbreaker is a video game programmed by John Harris
and released in 1981
for the Atari 400/800
by On-line Systems
. It is essentially a Pac-Man
clone, in that a small yellow set of jaws is moved around the map to pick up small dots while avoiding the "jawbreakers" which roll around the map. If the jaws bite the jawbreaker they will be destroyed and the player will lose a life. It was released for the Atari 2600
and later the Apple II
.
(1981) under On-Line Systems. A port to the Commodore 64
was released in 1983, but coded by Doug Whittaker.
on the Atari 400/800, Apple II, and Texas Instruments TI99/4A. These ports were not coded by John Harris, and were instead contracted to Dan Drew.
John Harris (software developer)
John D. Harris is a well-known computer programmer, hacker, and author of some classical 1980s Atari computer games.A lot of work carried out early in John's career is considered as groundbreaking in the industry...
and released in 1981
1981 in video gaming
-Events:* November -** The British video game magazine Computer and Video Games starts.** Game & Watch - released in Sweden.* Arnie Katz and Bill Kunkel found Electronic Games, the first magazine on video games and generally recognized as the beginning of video game journalism.-Notable releases:*...
for the Atari 400/800
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...
by On-line Systems
Sierra Entertainment
Sierra Entertainment Inc. was an American video-game developer and publisher founded in 1979 as On-Line Systems by Ken and Roberta Williams...
. It is essentially a Pac-Man
Pac-Man
is an arcade game developed by Namco and licensed for distribution in the United States by Midway, first released in Japan on May 22, 1980. Immensely popular from its original release to the present day, Pac-Man is considered one of the classics of the medium, virtually synonymous with video games,...
clone, in that a small yellow set of jaws is moved around the map to pick up small dots while avoiding the "jawbreakers" which roll around the map. If the jaws bite the jawbreaker they will be destroyed and the player will lose a life. It was released 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...
and later the Apple II
Apple II
The Apple II is an 8-bit home computer, one of the first highly successful mass-produced microcomputer products, designed primarily by Steve Wozniak, manufactured by Apple Computer and introduced in 1977...
.
Ports
John Harris also developed and released ports of the game for the Atari 2600 under Tigervision (1982), and the Apple IIApple II
The Apple II is an 8-bit home computer, one of the first highly successful mass-produced microcomputer products, designed primarily by Steve Wozniak, manufactured by Apple Computer and introduced in 1977...
(1981) under On-Line Systems. A port to 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...
was released in 1983, but coded by Doug Whittaker.
Legacy
A follow up entitled Jawbreaker II was released in 19831983 in video gaming
-Events:* A major shakeout of the video game industry begins. By 1986, total video games sales will decrease from US$3.2 billion to US$0.1 billion.* MCA Universal files suit against Nintendo, claiming that the latter company's video arcade hit Donkey Kong violated Universal's copyright on King Kong...
on the Atari 400/800, Apple II, and Texas Instruments TI99/4A. These ports were not coded by John Harris, and were instead contracted to Dan Drew.
External links
- Jawbreaker Scans of the Atari 2600 version's box, cartridge, manual and various screenshots.