Miner 2049er
Encyclopedia
Miner 2049er is a video game created by Bill Hogue that was released in 1982 by Big Five Software. The game was licensed in conjunction with International Computer Group (ICG). At the time of its release, Miner 2049'er was notable for having ten different screens, which was a large number for a platform game
. By way of comparison, Donkey Kong
had four screens, and most of the home versions had only three. The title 'Miner 2049er' is a play on the nickname 'Miner 49er' given to those who flocked to California during the gold rush of the mid-19th century.
's TRS-80
home computer. He created several games patterned after actual arcade game
s, such as Super Nova (Asteroids), Attack Force (Targ
), Cosmic Fighter (Astro Fighter
), Galaxy Invasion (Galaxian
), Meteor Mission II
(Lunar Rescue
), Robot Attack (Berzerk
), and Defense Command (Missile Command
). Robot Attack was the first commercial game for the TRS-80 to feature digitized voice.
By 1982, the TRS-80, with its low resolution monochrome graphics, was reaching the end of its lifespan, so Hogue wrote Miner 2049er for the Atari 800
. Due to a production delay, the game was first released on the Apple II
. It was widely licensed, distributed, and port
ed to many home systems.
After a false start in 1984 with the release of the sequel Scraper Caper, Hogue finally released in 1985 the official sequel, Bounty Bob Strikes Back. However, it never achieved the same level of success as its predecessor.
Miner 2049er made a comeback in the mobile gaming market with a re-release in 2007 by Magmic Inc
. This version contains two forms of the game. One is a faithful recreation of Hogue's Atari 800 original; the second a modernized version with new graphics and ten new levels. The remake received an IGN Editor's Choice Award and won the Best Revival category in the Best Of 2007 IGN awards. In 2011, Magmic added support for iOS
devices.
Bounty Bob is a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
on a mission to search through all of Nuclear Ned's abandoned uranium mines for the treacherous Yukon Yohan. Bob must claim each section of each mine by running over it. There are a wide variety of futuristic obstacles that he must deal with such as matter transporters, hydraulic scaffolds, and jet-speed floaters and he must also avoid radioactive creatures that have been left behind in the mines.
port).
Along the way, Bob encounters many objects left behind by past miners. By collecting these, bonus points are achieved and the radioactive creatures smile and turn green. While in this state, Bob can collect them and earn extra points.
Various obstacles in each mine aid and hinder Bob's progress. Ladders allow him to climb up or down to the next platform, Matter transporters teleport him to other matter transporters in that mine, chutes slide Bob off a platform (often against his will), and pulverizers crush Bob if he gets in their way.
Most levels contain some custom element, which varies from level to level. Pressing the space bar for several seconds skips a level. On the Atari 800, the player can key in the phone number on the title screen, followed by a level number to skip to that level.
series of games produced by Bug-Byte Software.
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...
. By way of comparison, Donkey Kong
Donkey Kong
is a fictional gorilla in the Donkey Kong and Mario series. He is roughly twice the size of a normal gorilla, weighing approximately 800 pounds. Donkey Kong first appeared in Nintendo's popular 1981 video game of the same name. Since then he has appeared in over 20 games in his own series, as well...
had four screens, and most of the home versions had only three. The title 'Miner 2049er' is a play on the nickname 'Miner 49er' given to those who flocked to California during the gold rush of the mid-19th century.
Overview
Under the name Big Five Software, Bill Hogue programmed commercial computer games in the late 1970s for Radio ShackRadio shack
Radio shack is a slang term for a room or structure for housing radio equipment.-History:In the early days of radio, equipment was experimental and home-built. The first radio transmitters used a noisy spark to generate radio waves and were often housed in a garage or shed. When radio was first...
's TRS-80
TRS-80
TRS-80 was Tandy Corporation's desktop microcomputer model line, sold through Tandy's Radio Shack stores in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The first units, ordered unseen, were delivered in November 1977, and rolled out to the stores the third week of December. The line won popularity with...
home computer. He created several games patterned after actual 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, such as Super Nova (Asteroids), Attack Force (Targ
Targ (video game)
-Description:The locale is described by the game cabinet as "The Crystal City": it is a simple 9x9 grid of roads demarcated by rectangular buildings. The player, piloting the Wummel, which looks like a small green car, maneuvers through the maze trying to shoot enemies and avoid collisions. Most...
), Cosmic Fighter (Astro Fighter
Astro Fighter
Astro Fighter is a two-dimensional, space shoot 'em up arcade game released in 1980. It was developed and published by Data East in Japan and was published outside of Japan by Gremlin/Sega.-Plot:...
), Galaxy Invasion (Galaxian
Galaxian
is an arcade game developed by Namco in 1979. It was published by Namco in Japan and was imported to North America by Midway in 1980. A fixed shooter-style game in which the player controls a spaceship at the bottom of the screen and shoots enemies descending in various directions, it was designed...
), Meteor Mission II
Meteor Mission II
Meteor Mission II is a clone of the Taito arcade game Lunar Rescue released by Big Five Software for the RadioShack/Tandy TRS-80 home computer ....
(Lunar Rescue
Lunar Rescue
Lunar Rescue is an arcade game released by Taito in 1979. It contains elements that resemble both Taito's own Space Invaders as well as Atari's Lunar Lander released that same year....
), Robot Attack (Berzerk
Berzerk
Berzerk is a multi-directional shooter video arcade game, released in 1980 by Stern Electronics of Chicago.-Gameplay:The player controls a green stick-figure, representing a "humanoid." Using a joystick , the player navigates a simple maze filled with many robots, who fire lasers back at the...
), and Defense Command (Missile Command
Missile Command
Missile Command is a 1980 arcade game by Atari, Inc. that was also licensed to Sega for European release. It is considered one of the most notable games from the Golden Age of Video Arcade Games...
). Robot Attack was the first commercial game for the TRS-80 to feature digitized voice.
By 1982, the TRS-80, with its low resolution monochrome graphics, was reaching the end of its lifespan, so Hogue wrote Miner 2049er for the Atari 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...
. Due to a production delay, the game was first released on the Apple II
Apple II series
The Apple II series is a set of 8-bit home computers, one of the first highly successful mass-produced microcomputer products, designed primarily by Steve Wozniak, manufactured by Apple Computer and introduced in 1977 with the original Apple II...
. It was widely licensed, distributed, and port
Porting
In computer science, porting is the process of adapting software so that an executable program can be created for a computing environment that is different from the one for which it was originally designed...
ed to many home systems.
After a false start in 1984 with the release of the sequel Scraper Caper, Hogue finally released in 1985 the official sequel, Bounty Bob Strikes Back. However, it never achieved the same level of success as its predecessor.
Miner 2049er made a comeback in the mobile gaming market with a re-release in 2007 by Magmic Inc
Magmic
Magmic Inc. is an Ottawa-based developer and publisher of mobile entertainment and lifestyle software. Founded in 2002, Magmic produces content based on both original and licensed intellectual property for a variety of handset models, including Java ME, BREW, Sidekick, Windows Mobile, Apple iPhone,...
. This version contains two forms of the game. One is a faithful recreation of Hogue's Atari 800 original; the second a modernized version with new graphics and ten new levels. The remake received an IGN Editor's Choice Award and won the Best Revival category in the Best Of 2007 IGN awards. In 2011, Magmic added support for iOS
IOS
iOS is an operating system for iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, and Apple TV.IOS may also refer to:-Companies and organisations:* Illinois Ornithological Society, American state-based bird club...
devices.
Story
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police , literally ‘Royal Gendarmerie of Canada’; colloquially known as The Mounties, and internally as ‘The Force’) is the national police force of Canada, and one of the most recognized of its kind in the world. It is unique in the world as a national, federal,...
on a mission to search through all of Nuclear Ned's abandoned uranium mines for the treacherous Yukon Yohan. Bob must claim each section of each mine by running over it. There are a wide variety of futuristic obstacles that he must deal with such as matter transporters, hydraulic scaffolds, and jet-speed floaters and he must also avoid radioactive creatures that have been left behind in the mines.
Gameplay
As Bounty Bob, the player's goal is to inspect every section of each mine in search of the evil Yukon Yohan while avoiding the various radioactive creatures that inhabit the mine. As Bounty Bob walks over a section of flooring, it fills with color. To complete the level, every section of flooring must be colored. There are ten mines in total (eleven in the ColecoVisionColecoVision
The ColecoVision is Coleco Industries' second generation home video game console which was released in August 1982. The ColecoVision offered arcade-quality graphics and gaming style, and the means to expand the system's basic hardware...
port).
Along the way, Bob encounters many objects left behind by past miners. By collecting these, bonus points are achieved and the radioactive creatures smile and turn green. While in this state, Bob can collect them and earn extra points.
Various obstacles in each mine aid and hinder Bob's progress. Ladders allow him to climb up or down to the next platform, Matter transporters teleport him to other matter transporters in that mine, chutes slide Bob off a platform (often against his will), and pulverizers crush Bob if he gets in their way.
Most levels contain some custom element, which varies from level to level. Pressing the space bar for several seconds skips a level. On the Atari 800, the player can key in the phone number on the title screen, followed by a level number to skip to that level.
Legacy
The game has been cited as the inspiration behind the Miner WillyMiner Willy
Miner Willy is a fictional character in a series of platform games for the ZX Spectrum, MSX, Amstrad CPC and the Commodore 64 home computers starring Miner Willy...
series of games produced by Bug-Byte Software.