#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, Cynthia Sommerville, Glen Yamakawa, Robert Zalot.

Additional Art: Arthur Koch.

Special Thanks: Steve Landrum, Robert J. (RJ) Mical, Dave Needle.

LYNXED IN

New Podcast for the Atari 8-Bit Computers!

There’s another Atari podcast in town, and that town is actually in New Zealand. The XLXE Podcast covers Atari 8-bit computers and other shenanigans. It is hosted by Adam and Bob, and they’re very informative and a lot of fun to listen to, especially with those funny accents. It really is great to hear a podcast about Atari from someplace other than the USA. Plus they’ve already got two episodes up on the feeds already. But be warned: it’s not NSFW. So plug in your earbuds and give this wonderful podcast a try. You can find the podcast at their Twitter page here.

Let’s All Give the Retro Video Gamer Forums Some Love!

The administrators of The Retro Video Gamer forums has sent out a call to arms to all of the retro video gaming community: I would like to appeal to those who are real retro supporters. Surely a retro forum is now a rare breed. Unless we continue to use the site [and] strike up convos, then sadly the RVG forums will continue to decline and I want to stop that. Once its gone that will be too late. So please take a moment, as I can’t simply allow constant promo threads of your YouTube channels or podcast feeds (but you’re more than welcome to bump them). Please put your expertise into the site; there are a million and one topics for you all to participate in so please come and keep a retro forum about your retro gaming hobby alive. P.S.: Along with the above we will be performing a zero poster cull, so any new members who have yet to do an intro thread please pop on and post one now to avoid the cull. Cheers all. So to all of my listeners, please consider supporting Eugenio, Jamie, and others at the Retro Video Gamer website at www.retrovideogamer.co.uk. Thank you!

LYNX LYNKS

Information About Chip’s Challenge:

Atari Age title info/rarity guide for Chip’s Challenge

Atari Gamer title info/rarity guide for Chip’s Challenge

Digital Press title info/rarity guide