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This is based upon the style of game started by Q*BERT which appeared in arcades in the early 1980's, a time considered by some to be the high point of video game design. The graphics and sound may not have been anything to write home about, the memory may have been limited but we did a lot with what we had. In 1983 SGN (Star Gaming Network) brought home two versions of Qube Hopper, one for the Commodore VIC=20 and the Atari 400/800 series. Programmed by Patrick J. Barrett III and Glen Merrill, these early versions were quite limited. Like Q*BERT every screen was a pyramid. While you played, balls fell from the top of the screen and you had to avoid them. In 1987 the Commodore 64 version was written. This version added other characters and the balls bounced down the pyramids. In 1990, Star Gaming Network (SGN) became SGN/Starline. In the line of first titles under the SGN/Starline Banner was Qube Hopper for the Commodore Amiga. This version is the closest relative of the current Windows 95 Edition. The capabilities of the Amiga added much to the original design including background music, colorful backgrounds, fluid animation, different shaped qubes, different boards for different levels, and most important, a construction set to make your own levels. In 1993, Super Qube Hopper Version 2.0 was written for the Commodore Amiga. Though never released, this is the version Super Qube Hopper for the PC has been modeled from. In 1994 a PC version first arrived. Versions 2.1 through 2.4 were identical to Super Qube Hopper for the Commodore Amiga only without the background music. Versions 3.X added Multimedia support, including digital voice. Finally Version 4.0 added the capability of playing a music CD as background music (This feature is NOT available in the Windows version). The Windows version was changed to Super Ice Qube Hopper and given a snow theme. |
