Qix

Qix
File:Qix Poster.png Arcade flyer
Developer(s)	Taito (original): Alien Technology (AMI) Atari (Home computers) Knight Technologies (Lynx) Nintendo R&D1 (GB) Takara (FM-7)
Publisher(s)
Designer(s)	Randy Pfeiffer Sandy Pfeiffer
Platforms	Arcade Amiga, Apple II, Apple IIGS, Atari 8-bit, Atari 5200, Atari Lynx, Commodore 64, DOS, FM-7, Game Boy, Mobile Phone, Nintendo Entertainment System, PC
Release date(s)	1981 Arcade Atari 5200 FM-7 Atari 8-Bit Amiga Apple II Commodore 64 PC Game Boy Nintendo Entertainment System Atari Lynx Mobile Phone
Genre(s)	Action
Mode(s)	Up to 2 players, alternating turns
Cabinet	Standard and cocktail
Arcade system	Qix Hardware
Display	Vertical orientation, Raster, standard resolution: 256x240

Qix (pronounced "kicks") is an arcade game released by Taito America Corporation in 1981. The objective of Qix is to fence off, or claim, a supermajority of the playfield. At the start of each level, the playing field is a large, empty rectangle, containing the Qix--a sticklike entity that performs graceful but unpredictable motions within the confines of the rectangle.

Qix was ported to the contemporary Atari 5200 and Atari 8-bit computers, then was brought to a wide variety of systems in the late 1980s and early 1990s: Commodore 64 (1989), DOS (1989), Amiga (1989) (graphically enhanced), Apple IIgs (1990), Game Boy (1990) (available on 3DS Virtual Console), Nintendo Entertainment System (1991), and Atari Lynx (1991).

Gameplay

File:Qixingame.png

Screenshot of Qix gameplay

The player controls a marker that can move around the edges of the rectangle. Holding down one of the draw buttons allows the marker to move into unclaimed territory and draw lines ("Stix") in an attempt to create a closed shape. If completed, the captured area (defined as the side opposite of where the Qix is) becomes filled in with a solid color and points are awarded. To complete a level, the player must claim 75% of the playfield (adjustable by the arcade operator to be between 50% and 90%).

The player's marker can move at two different speeds; areas drawn exclusively at the slower speed (orange-red on the screenshot shown) are worth double points. It cannot cross or backtrack along any Stix in progress.

A life is lost if the Qix touches any uncompleted Stix or if the marker is touched by any of the Sparx – enemies that traverse all playfield edges except uncompleted Stix. In addition, if the marker stops while drawing, a fuse will appear and burn along the uncompleted Stix toward the marker; if it reaches the marker, the player loses one life. The fuse disappears once the player moves the marker again. The player has no defenses against the enemies and must out-maneuver them in order to survive.

A meter at the top of the screen counts down to the release of additional Sparx, and the mutation of all Sparx into Super Sparx which can chase the marker along uncompleted Stix.

After the player completes two levels, the difficulty increases by the inclusion of multiple Qixes, additional Sparx, speed increases, and the eventual appearance of only Super Sparx. In levels with multiple Qixes, the player can also complete the level by splitting the playfield into two regions, each containing at least one Qix.

Ports and re-releases

Qix spawned a minor revision called Qix II-Tournament in 1982, which was followed by Super Qix in 1987. Another sequel, Twin Qix, reached prototype stage in 1995, but was never commercially released. The later game Volfied, also known as Ultimate Qix on Sega Genesis/Mega Drive or Qix Neo on PlayStation, was created as an additional sequel to Qix and also released on several mobile phones.

The Game Boy version of Qix was developed by Nintendo and features at least two intermissions in which Mario is involved: in one, he is in the middle of a desert wearing Mexican clothing and playing a guitar with a vulture looking on; in another one, he's with Luigi and Princess Peach.

In 1999, a port for the Game Boy Color was released called Qix Adventure. This version features a new "Adventure" mode where the player travels a map screen, taking on various opponents which appear on the playing field. Although optional, enclosing this opponent in the box will open a treasure chest, which can also be enclosed, giving the player an item.

The original arcade version of Qix has been re-released in various Taito game collections which include Taito Legends 2 and Taito Legends Power-Up. Qix is also available via the online game-playing services GameTap and Arcade Boss.

On December 9, 2009, Taito released for the Xbox Live Arcade an improved version of Qix: Qix++.

Reception

Electronic Games in 1983 reported that the arcade version of Qix "grabbed the gaming world with its color and imaginative design. Almost immediately it rose to the top of the charts." Its popularity quickly declined, however; Taito's Keith Egging stated "Qix was conceptually too mystifying for gamers ... It was impossible to master and once the novelty wore off, the game faded." Video magazine reviewed the Atari 5200 version of the game in its "Arcade Alley" column, reporting similar reactions among home console gamers. Reviewers described the game as a "sleeper hit" and a "cult phenomenon loved by a few and ignored by the blasto brigade". Qix was praised as "the territorial imperative in game form" and it was suggested that the game had been the inspiration for a new "area-filling contest" genre. Qix received a Certificate of Merit in the category of "1984 Best Videogame Audio-Visual Effects (16K or more ROM)" at the 5th annual Arkie Awards. Computer Gaming World in 1989 called the computer version of Qix "a fascinating game. It is highly recommended to those who are at one with the universe ... I do love and hate it so".

Legacy

Clones of Qix include the 1983 MS-DOS based clone Styx, the Gals Panic games, and Art Class, a mini-game in the 2006 PS2 game Bully. ANALOG Computing published a type-in machine language clone for the Atari 8-bit family under the name Fill 'Er Up.

External Links

• Official Nintendo website (Japanese)
• Official Virtual Console website (Japanese)
• Official Virtual Console website (English)