Savage Pond
Encyclopedia
Savage Pond is an arcade-style pond simulation game which was written by Peter Judd for the Acorn Electron
and BBC Micro
and Gwyll Jones for the 16k versions of the Atari 8-bit family
of home computers in 1983 and the Commodore 64
in 1984. It was originally released under the Argus Press
label Starcade and was reissued in 1985 when Argus acquired the Bug-Byte
budget label.
with the player taking the role of a tadpole
. The aim of the game is to build up a colony of frogs while avoiding the many hazards. The setting and characters are all quite true to life which was quite unique at the time. Most contemporary arcade game
s, even if not set in space, such as Frogger
(with frogs that can't swim) and Centipede (which is basically a space shoot 'em up with characters that look like insects), were far from realistic. The instructions include descriptions of all the 'cast' including their Latin names and information not relevant to the game itself. Although it may appear to be an educational game it is actually a fast-paced arcade game.
. The only hazard in the pond are the hydra
clinging to the bottom of the pond that will sting and kill the tadpole if they touch. There is also a dragonfly
that occasionally flies over the pond and drops an egg
. The egg can be eaten but if left to hatch, the larva
will escape (but again can be eaten) and return as a nymph
which will chase the tadpole until it catches and eats it or becomes exhausted and leaves to chrysalise and become another dragonfly. In order to build the frog colony, many 'evolutions' must take place, most of which increase the number of hazards. Blood worms regularly fall into the water and must be collected. After five worms are eaten, a beetle
larva appears. If this is eaten quickly, the pond 'evolves'. In Colony 1 this means the introduction of jellyfish
(similar to the hydra but stay at the top of the pond), the dumping of radioactive waste
(which leaves the sides and bed of the pond deadly) and finally a move to Colony 2. This begins with the same hazards as Colony 1 but with a more complicated pond with an underwater cave area which makes swimming about more difficult. The pond continues to 'evolve', first with the appearance of your first frog
. This sits on a log and can be used to eat the passing dragonflies. It also acts as an extra life as if all three tadpoles are lost, the frog will reproduce before leaving with its mate for a different colony. You must create another frog before the pond can continue to 'evolve'. Further 'evolutions' include the water spider
(which can trap the tadpole with its web line
) and water fleas which can eat your spawn (spare lives). Colony 3 adds bumble bees
which have apparently been affected by the radiation so attack your frog (in the only real exception to the true to life use of the rest of the creatures in the game). You can now build up a colony of frogs.
Acorn Electron
The Acorn Electron is a budget version of the BBC Micro educational/home computer made by Acorn Computers Ltd. It has 32 kilobytes of RAM, and its ROM includes BBC BASIC along with its operating system....
and BBC Micro
BBC Micro
The BBC Microcomputer System, or BBC Micro, was a series of microcomputers and associated peripherals designed and built by Acorn Computers for the BBC Computer Literacy Project, operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation...
and Gwyll Jones for the 16k versions of the Atari 8-bit family
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...
of home computers in 1983 and 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...
in 1984. It was originally released under the Argus Press
Argus Press
Argus Press is a British publishing company. It was acquired by British Electric Traction in 1966, and became the publishing arm of that company.-Argus Newspapers:...
label Starcade and was reissued in 1985 when Argus acquired the Bug-Byte
Bug-Byte
Bug-Byte Software Ltd. was a company founded in 1980 by Tony Baden and Tony Milner, two Oxford chemistry graduates. It was one of the first to develop a range of 8-bit computer games during the early 1980s, for Sinclair, Commodore and other home computer brands, particularly for the Spectrum...
budget label.
Overview
The game is set in a pondPond
A pond is a body of standing water, either natural or man-made, that is usually smaller than a lake. A wide variety of man-made bodies of water are classified as ponds, including water gardens, water features and koi ponds; all designed for aesthetic ornamentation as landscape or architectural...
with the player taking the role of a tadpole
Tadpole
A tadpole or polliwog is the wholly aquatic larval stage in the life cycle of an amphibian, particularly that of a frog or toad.- Appellation :...
. The aim of the game is to build up a colony of frogs while avoiding the many hazards. The setting and characters are all quite true to life which was quite unique at the time. Most contemporary arcade game
Arcade game
An arcade game is a coin-operated entertainment machine, usually installed in public businesses such as restaurants, bars, and amusement arcades. Most arcade games are video games, pinball machines, electro-mechanical games, redemption games, and merchandisers...
s, even if not set in space, such as Frogger
Frogger
Frogger is an arcade game introduced in 1981. It was developed by Konami, and licensed for worldwide distribution by Sega/Gremlin. The object of the game is to direct frogs to their homes one by one. To do this, each frog must avoid cars while crossing a busy road and navigate a river full of...
(with frogs that can't swim) and Centipede (which is basically a space shoot 'em up with characters that look like insects), were far from realistic. The instructions include descriptions of all the 'cast' including their Latin names and information not relevant to the game itself. Although it may appear to be an educational game it is actually a fast-paced arcade game.
Gameplay
The game begins with Colony 1, which is a simple, peaceful pond. The tadpole character can swim around the pond eating amoebaAmoeba
Amoeba is a genus of Protozoa.History=The amoeba was first discovered by August Johann Rösel von Rosenhof in 1757. Early naturalists referred to Amoeba as the Proteus animalcule after the Greek god Proteus, who could change his shape...
. The only hazard in the pond are the hydra
Hydra viridissima
Hydra viridissima also known as the green hydra, is a cosmopolitan species of hydra found in both temperate and tropical fresh waters. The characteristic green colour comes from cells of the unicellular alga Chlorella within the cells of the gastrodermis.When disturbed, the hydra retracts to a...
clinging to the bottom of the pond that will sting and kill the tadpole if they touch. There is also a dragonfly
Dragonfly
A dragonfly is a winged insect belonging to the order Odonata, the suborder Epiprocta or, in the strict sense, the infraorder Anisoptera . It is characterized by large multifaceted eyes, two pairs of strong transparent wings, and an elongated body...
that occasionally flies over the pond and drops an egg
Egg (biology)
An egg is an organic vessel in which an embryo first begins to develop. In most birds, reptiles, insects, molluscs, fish, and monotremes, an egg is the zygote, resulting from fertilization of the ovum, which is expelled from the body and permitted to develop outside the body until the developing...
. The egg can be eaten but if left to hatch, the larva
Larva
A larva is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle...
will escape (but again can be eaten) and return as a nymph
Nymph (biology)
In biology, a nymph is the immature form of some invertebrates, particularly insects, which undergoes gradual metamorphosis before reaching its adult stage. Unlike a typical larva, a nymph's overall form already resembles that of the adult. In addition, while a nymph moults it never enters a...
which will chase the tadpole until it catches and eats it or becomes exhausted and leaves to chrysalise and become another dragonfly. In order to build the frog colony, many 'evolutions' must take place, most of which increase the number of hazards. Blood worms regularly fall into the water and must be collected. After five worms are eaten, a beetle
Beetle
Coleoptera is an order of insects commonly called beetles. The word "coleoptera" is from the Greek , koleos, "sheath"; and , pteron, "wing", thus "sheathed wing". Coleoptera contains more species than any other order, constituting almost 25% of all known life-forms...
larva appears. If this is eaten quickly, the pond 'evolves'. In Colony 1 this means the introduction of jellyfish
Jellyfish
Jellyfish are free-swimming members of the phylum Cnidaria. Medusa is another word for jellyfish, and refers to any free-swimming jellyfish stages in the phylum Cnidaria...
(similar to the hydra but stay at the top of the pond), the dumping of radioactive waste
Radioactive waste
Radioactive wastes are wastes that contain radioactive material. Radioactive wastes are usually by-products of nuclear power generation and other applications of nuclear fission or nuclear technology, such as research and medicine...
(which leaves the sides and bed of the pond deadly) and finally a move to Colony 2. This begins with the same hazards as Colony 1 but with a more complicated pond with an underwater cave area which makes swimming about more difficult. The pond continues to 'evolve', first with the appearance of your first frog
Frog
Frogs are amphibians in the order Anura , formerly referred to as Salientia . Most frogs are characterized by a short body, webbed digits , protruding eyes and the absence of a tail...
. This sits on a log and can be used to eat the passing dragonflies. It also acts as an extra life as if all three tadpoles are lost, the frog will reproduce before leaving with its mate for a different colony. You must create another frog before the pond can continue to 'evolve'. Further 'evolutions' include the water spider
Diving bell spider
The diving bell spider or water spider, Argyroneta aquatica, is the only species of spider known to live entirely under water.Argyroneta aquatica is found in northern and central Europe and northern Asia up to latitude 62°N. It is the only spider known to spend its whole life under water...
(which can trap the tadpole with its web line
Spider web
A spider web, spiderweb, spider's web or cobweb is a device built by a spider out of proteinaceous spider silk extruded from its spinnerets....
) and water fleas which can eat your spawn (spare lives). Colony 3 adds bumble bees
Bumblebee
A bumble bee is any member of the bee genus Bombus, in the family Apidae. There are over 250 known species, existing primarily in the Northern Hemisphere although they are common in New Zealand and in the Australian state of Tasmania.Bumble bees are social insects that are characterised by black...
which have apparently been affected by the radiation so attack your frog (in the only real exception to the true to life use of the rest of the creatures in the game). You can now build up a colony of frogs.