Spot: The Video Game
Encyclopedia
Spot: The Video Game is a video game developed and produced by Virgin Mastertronic in 1990/1991 for the Amiga
, Atari ST
, DOS
computers, Game Boy
and NES
. It is the first video game to feature the then current 7up mascot "Spot", and was later followed up by platformers
Cool Spot
and Spot goes to Hollywood
. Gameplay is similar to the board game "Reversi
" and the videogame "Ataxx
".
Initially the Amiga and Atari ST versions of the game were known as Infection, and were due to be released as budget titles. When the license was added the price increased, however the non-branded Infection version of the game was released by developer Gary Dunne as freeware
in 1994.
", Spot: The Video Game offered an animated approach to moving the pieces. Depending on the proximity and direction of the move, the Spot character would appear as the moving piece and do a dance, roller skate, cart wheel, dive, fall backwards, etc. to the destination location. The player wishing to move would first select the piece they desired to move, followed by selecting the destination location.
The NES version allowed up to 4 players, each designated by a specific color. Human players would hand off controllers so all members could make their moves when their turn arose.
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...
, DOS
DOS
DOS, short for "Disk Operating System", is an acronym for several closely related operating systems that dominated the IBM PC compatible market between 1981 and 1995, or until about 2000 if one includes the partially DOS-based Microsoft Windows versions 95, 98, and Millennium Edition.Related...
computers, Game Boy
Game Boy
The , is an 8-bit handheld video game device developed and manufactured by Nintendo. It was released in Japan on , in North America in , and in Europe on...
and NES
Nes
-Localities:In Norway:* Nes, Akershus, a municipality in the county of Akershus in Norway* Nes, Buskerud, a municipality in the county of Buskerud in Norway* Nes, Hedmark, a former municipality in the county of Hedmark in Norway...
. It is the first video game to feature the then current 7up mascot "Spot", and was later followed up by platformers
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...
Cool Spot
Cool Spot
Cool Spot was a mascot for 7 Up beginning in the late 80s. During this time, the red spot in the 7 Up logo was anthropomorphized: given arms, legs, a mouth, and sunglasses....
and Spot goes to Hollywood
Spot Goes To Hollywood
Spot Goes to Hollywood is a platform video game released by Virgin Interactive for the Mega Drive/Genesis as the sequel to Cool Spot. A Sega Saturn and PlayStation version was later released, featuring different levels but similar gameplay to the original version...
. Gameplay is similar to the board game "Reversi
Reversi
Reversi is a board game involving abstract strategy and played by two players on a board with 8 rows and 8 columns and a set of distinct pieces for each side. Pieces typically are disks with a light and a dark face, each face belonging to one player...
" and the videogame "Ataxx
Ataxx
Ataxx is a board game that first appeared in 1990 as an arcade video game by The Leland Corporation. It also appeared in 1990 as the video game Spot and later as the Microscope Puzzle from the 1993 CD-ROM game The 7th Guest...
".
Initially the Amiga and Atari ST versions of the game were known as Infection, and were due to be released as budget titles. When the license was added the price increased, however the non-branded Infection version of the game was released by developer Gary Dunne as freeware
Freeware
Freeware is computer software that is available for use at no cost or for an optional fee, but usually with one or more restricted usage rights. Freeware is in contrast to commercial software, which is typically sold for profit, but might be distributed for a business or commercial purpose in the...
in 1994.
Gameplay
While the gameplay is similar to "ReversiReversi
Reversi is a board game involving abstract strategy and played by two players on a board with 8 rows and 8 columns and a set of distinct pieces for each side. Pieces typically are disks with a light and a dark face, each face belonging to one player...
", Spot: The Video Game offered an animated approach to moving the pieces. Depending on the proximity and direction of the move, the Spot character would appear as the moving piece and do a dance, roller skate, cart wheel, dive, fall backwards, etc. to the destination location. The player wishing to move would first select the piece they desired to move, followed by selecting the destination location.
The NES version allowed up to 4 players, each designated by a specific color. Human players would hand off controllers so all members could make their moves when their turn arose.