09.15.2018 - By Mark Little
#PA2028, Published by Atari Corp.
Here I cover one of the best-known games of all time, Chip’s Challenge, released in September of 1989; it is one of the five launch titles for the original Atari Lynx. In this episode I’ve included a complete survey of the credits, gameplay, music, and sound effects for Chip’s Challenge. Plus, as usual, I have reviews, listener feedback, current prices, some trivia, and some fun facts about the game. So grab a bag of chips and munch down while you listen; this game is a real puzzler!
CHIP’S CHALLENGE VITAL STATISTICS
Release Date: September of 1989
Initial Retail Price: $34.95
Cartridge Information: 128kb stereo cartridge available in all three styles (flat, ridged, and curved lip)
Game Genre: Puzzle/maze game for one player.
Screen Playfield Orientation: Landscape (horizontal).
Ports to Other Systems: The Amstrad CPC (1990), Atari ST (1990), The Commodore Amiga (1990), The Commodore 64 (1990), DOS (1990), The ZX Spectrum (1990), Windows 3.x (1991) and Windows (2015).
Sequels: Chip’s Challenge 2 for Windows (2015), Chuck’s Challenge 3D for Linux (2014), Macintosh (2014), Windows (2014), Android (2016), iPad (2016), and iPhone (2016)
Game Levels: 144, plus 4 undocumented special levels.
Number of Players: 1 (no ComLynx support).
Packaging: Full-color standard-tab regular-size carton (5 3/8″ by 4 3/8″ by 7/8″). There were two styles: one with the gray vertical band of Lynx font faux embossed broken x’s along the right side of the carton, and one without the band.
Instruction Manual: A 24-page (including front and back covers) stapled regular-sized booklet manual in monochrome in English, measuring the usual 4 7/8” high by 3 ¾” wide.
CHIP’S CHALLENGE CREDITS
Developer: Epyx, Inc.
Original Design: Chuck Sommerville.
Art: Paul Vernon.
Sound and Music: Alex (LX) Rudis.
Level Design: Bill Darrah, James Donald, Peter Engelbrite, Victoria Hanson, R.G. Gowdy, Stephen Jungels, Scott Nelson, Chuck Sommerville, Pete Wierzbicki.
Testing: Dung Dang, Bob Friesen, John McGowan, Tom Schumacher,