The Hobbit (1982 video game): Difference between revisions

From Tolkien Gateway
m (Bot: European Date Format - 30 August)
m (Added DEFAULTSORT)
(11 intermediate revisions by 5 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{expansion}}{{disambig-more|The Hobbit|[[The Hobbit (disambiguation)]]}}
{{expansion}}{{disambig-more|The Hobbit|[[The Hobbit (disambiguation)]]}}
{{video game infobox
{{video game infobox
| image=[[Image:Hobbit videogame 1982-1-.jpg]]
| image=[[File:The Hobbit (1982 video game) - cover.jpg]]
| name=The Hobbit
| name=The Hobbit
| developer=[[Melbourne House|Beam Software]]
| developer=[[Melbourne House|Beam Software]]
Line 8: Line 8:
| releasedate=[[1982]]
| releasedate=[[1982]]
| genre=Illustrated text-adventure
| genre=Illustrated text-adventure
|}}'''''The Hobbit''''' (also known as '''The Hobbit Software Adventure''' in North America and Australia) was the first licensed video game based on Tolkien's work, being the first part of ''[[The Tolkien Trilogy]]'' (also known as ''[[The Tolkien Software Adventure Series]]''). The game was designed by [[Philip Mitchell]] and [[Veronika Megler]],<ref name="WoS">[http://www.worldofspectrum.org/infoseekid.cgi?id=0006440 World of Spectrum] (retrieved at 14 August 2010)</ref> and every game included a copy of ''[[The Hobbit]]'' and an instruction book.<ref name="Newspaper">[http://www.worldofspectrum.org/showmag.cgi?mag=ZXComputing/Issue8304/Pages/ZXComputing830400076.jpg ''ZX Computing'', iss. 8304, p. 76] reproduced at [http://www.worldofspectrum.org/archive.html World of Spectrum - Archive] (retrieved at 14 August 2010)</ref> There are 80 locations in the game of which 30 were illustrated by [[Kent Rees]].<ref name="Newspaper"/>  
|}}'''''The Hobbit''''' (also known as '''The Hobbit Software Adventure''' in North America and [[Australia]]) was the first licensed video game based on Tolkien's work, being the first part of ''[[The Tolkien Trilogy]]'' (also known as ''[[The Tolkien Software Adventure Series]]''). The game was designed by [[Philip Mitchell]] and [[Veronika Megler]],<ref name="WoS">[http://www.worldofspectrum.org/infoseekid.cgi?id=0006440 World of Spectrum] (retrieved at 14 August 2010)</ref> and every game included a copy of ''[[The Hobbit]]'' and an instruction book.<ref name="Review p. 76">{{webcite|author=Phil Garratt|articleurl=http://www.worldofspectrum.org/showmag.cgi?mag=ZXComputing/Issue8304/Pages/ZXComputing830400076.jpg|articlename=Software Review: The Hobbit|website=[http://www.worldofspectrum.org WorldOfSpectrum.com]|accessed=23-Dec-2011}}</ref> There are 80 locations in the game of which 30 were illustrated by [[Kent Rees]].<ref name="Review p. 76"/>  


In [[1984]] [[David Elkan]] published a book, ''[[A Guide to Playing The Hobbit]]'', to help players complete the game.<ref>[[David Elkan]], ''[[A Guide to Playing The Hobbit]]'' ([[1984]]: Melbourne House) ISBN 0-86161-161-6</ref> Beam Software originally planned a sequel, ''[[Where Hobbits Dare]]'', but was cancelled.<ref name="FAQ"/>
In [[1984]] [[David Elkan]] published a book, ''[[A Guide to Playing The Hobbit]]'', to help players complete the game.<ref>[[David Elkan]], ''[[A Guide to Playing The Hobbit]]'' ([[1984]]: Melbourne House) ISBN 0-86161-161-6</ref> Beam Software originally planned a sequel, ''[[Where Hobbits Dare]]'', but was cancelled.<ref name="FAQ"/>
==Plot==
[[File:The Hobbit (1982 video game) - Dale ruins.gif|300px|thumb|The Ruins of [[Dale]].]]The player controls [[Bilbo Baggins]] - the main character - on his quest to [[Lonely Mountain|the Lonely Mountain]], in company with the [[Dwarves|Dwarf]] [[Thorin]]. On their way, they meet characters like [[Gandalf]] and [[Gollum]] and are confronted by [[Trolls]], [[Wargs]] and [[Goblins]]. Eventually Bilbo and Thorin reach the Lonely Mountain and plunder the lair of [[Smaug]].<ref name="Review p. 76"/><ref name="Review p. 78">{{webcite|author=Phil Garratt|articleurl=http://www.worldofspectrum.org/showmag.cgi?mag=ZXComputing/Issue8304/Pages/ZXComputing830400078.jpg.jpg|articlename=Software Review: The Hobbit|website=[http://www.worldofspectrum.org WorldOfSpectrum.com]|accessed=23-Dec-2011}}</ref>
[[File:The Hobbit (1982 video game) - trolls' cave.gif|288px|thumb|The [[Trolls|Troll]]s' Cave.]]
==Featured Characters==
*[[Bilbo Baggins]]<ref name="Review p. 76"/>
*[[Thorin]]<ref name="Review p. 76"/>
*[[Gandalf]]<ref name="Review p. 76"/>
*[[Gollum]]<ref name="Review p. 78"/>
*[[Smaug]]<ref name="Review p. 76"/>
*[[Beorn]]
*[[Elrond]]
*[[Bard]]
==Featured Locations==
*The [[Trolls|Troll]]'s Cave
*[[Misty Mountains]]<ref name="Review p. 76"/>
*[[Mirkwood]]
*[[Dale]]


== Reception ==
== Reception ==
Line 20: Line 42:
* ''[[The Boggit]]'', a parody video game of ''The Hobbit''
* ''[[The Boggit]]'', a parody video game of ''The Hobbit''
* ''[[The Hobbit]]'', the book by [[J.R.R. Tolkien]]
* ''[[The Hobbit]]'', the book by [[J.R.R. Tolkien]]
* ''[[The Hobbit (2003 video game)|The Hobbit]]'', a [[2003]] video game published by [[Vivendi]]


== External Links ==
== External Links ==
Line 29: Line 52:


{{references}}
{{references}}
{{title|italics}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hobbit (1982 video game)}}
[[Category:Amstrad CPC games]]
[[Category:Amstrad CPC games]]
[[Category:Apple Macintosh games]]
[[Category:Apple Macintosh games]]

Revision as of 16:13, 12 November 2014

"...It is a long tale..." — Aragorn
This article or section needs expansion and/or modification. Please help the wiki by expanding it.
The name The Hobbit refers to more than one character, item or concept. For a list of other meanings, see The Hobbit (disambiguation).
The Hobbit (1982 video game) - cover.jpg
The Hobbit
Video game
DeveloperBeam Software
PublisherMelbourne House, Tansoft (The Hobbit) and Addison-Wesley (The Hobbit Software Adventure)
PlatformThe Hobbit: Amiga (never released), Amstrad CPC, BBC B, Commodore 64, Dragon 32, MSX, Oric-1, ZX-Spectrum[1]
The Hobbit Software Adventure: Apple II, Commodore 64, Macintosh, MS-DOS[1][2]
Release date1982
GenreIllustrated text-adventure

The Hobbit (also known as The Hobbit Software Adventure in North America and Australia) was the first licensed video game based on Tolkien's work, being the first part of The Tolkien Trilogy (also known as The Tolkien Software Adventure Series). The game was designed by Philip Mitchell and Veronika Megler,[3] and every game included a copy of The Hobbit and an instruction book.[4] There are 80 locations in the game of which 30 were illustrated by Kent Rees.[4]

In 1984 David Elkan published a book, A Guide to Playing The Hobbit, to help players complete the game.[5] Beam Software originally planned a sequel, Where Hobbits Dare, but was cancelled.[2]

Plot

The Ruins of Dale.

The player controls Bilbo Baggins - the main character - on his quest to the Lonely Mountain, in company with the Dwarf Thorin. On their way, they meet characters like Gandalf and Gollum and are confronted by Trolls, Wargs and Goblins. Eventually Bilbo and Thorin reach the Lonely Mountain and plunder the lair of Smaug.[4][6]

The Trolls' Cave.

Featured Characters

Featured Locations

Reception

With a retail price of £14.95,[7] The Hobbit, sold over 100,000 copies in the first two years,[8] and had sold over a million copies by the end of the decade.

In 1983's Golden Joystick Awarda it was the winner of the category Best Strategy Game and came second in the category Game of the Year.[3]

See Also

External Links

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Tolkien Games (retrieved 16 August 2010)
  2. 2.0 2.1 FAQS, Tolkien Games (retrieved 16 August 2010)
  3. 3.0 3.1 World of Spectrum (retrieved at 14 August 2010)
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 Phil Garratt, "Software Review: The Hobbit", WorldOfSpectrum.com (accessed 23 December 2011)
  5. David Elkan, A Guide to Playing The Hobbit (1984: Melbourne House) ISBN 0-86161-161-6
  6. 6.0 6.1 Phil Garratt, "Software Review: The Hobbit", WorldOfSpectrum.com (accessed 23 December 2011)
  7. Rusel DeMaria and Johnny L. Wilson, High Score!: The Illustrated History of Electronic Games, (Berkeley, California: McGraw-Hill/Osborne,2002), p. 347, ISBN 0-07-222428-2
  8. Mike Gerrard, "Adventuring into an Unknown World", in The Guardian, 1984-08-30, section Micro Guardian/Futures, p. 13