Clowns and Balloons is a circus-themed video game written by Frank Cohen for Atari 8-bit computers and published in 1982 by Datasoft.[1][2] The game was also released for the TRS-80 Color Computer, written by Steve Bjork who had released a similar game called Space Ball for the TRS-80 in 1980.[3][4][5]Clowns and Balloons is a clone of the 1977 arcade game Circus. A variant of Breakout, the player moves a trampoline left and right to catch a bouncing clown who pops rows of balloons at the top of the screen with his head.
The object of Clowns and Balloons is to move a trampoline under a clown and bounce it high enough into the air to burst the balloons at the top of the screen. The player moves the trampoline horizontally with the joystick or paddles. There are three levels of difficulty.[6]
There is a bonus for clearing each row of balloons completely starting from the bottom and working up. If the balloons are not cleared in order, the row refills. The clown bounces at different angles depending on where they land on the trampoline.
Receptionedit
Charles Brannon, who reviewed the game for Compute! magazine, liked the game: "The animation remains fairly simple, though smooth. The sound and music are some of the best I've heard. Despite the simple theme, Clowns and Balloons turned out to be great fun, and inspired hours of frenzied joystick twisting."[7]Page 6 admired the graphics and sound, calling them an impressive demonstration of the Atari's capabilities. However, they stated: "Playing required a lot of perseverence to get used to the speed of movement of the joystick. In fact I was beginning to get bored before I got good enough to burst the first set of balloons [...]".[8] David Plotkin of SoftSide remarked that the game is easy to play but "requires quick reflexes and considerable skill" to master and recommended the paddle rather than the joystick. Plotkin echoed Page 6's sentiment regarding the presentation, stating: "The programmers at DataSoft understand the Atari's features very well."[9] John Anderson in the book The Creative Atari praised the game, writing that fans of Circus would "especially appreciate the sophistication of Clowns and Balloons" and saying it "may well be the most addictive game I have seen since Threshold."[6]
^Ausburg, Cray (July 1986). "Building an OS-9 Support Network". The Rainbow. Vol. V, no. 12. p. 88. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
^"Radio Shack has the Color Computer Software You Want at New Low Prices!". The Rainbow. Vol. V, no. 1. August 1985. p. 187. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
^"Space Ball (1980) by Steve Bjork for the Radio Shack TRS-80 Model 1/3". YouTube. 16 March 2024.
^ abAnderson, John (1983). "Part III. Hardware and Software". In Small, David; Small, Sandy; Blank, George (eds.). The Creative Atari. Morris Plains, NJ: Creative Computing Press. pp. 186–187. ISBN0-916688-34-8. LCCN 82-71997.
^Brannon, Charles (October 1982). "Compute! ISSUE 29 / OCTOBER 1982 / PAGE 127".
^"Clows & Balloons". Page 6. No. 1. December 1982. p. 15. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
^Plotkin, David (November 1982). "An Atari Christmas". SoftSide. No. 35. pp. 90–91. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
The Atari 8-bit version ofClowns and Balloons can be played for free in the browser at the Internet Archive
The TRS-80 Color Computer version ofClowns and Balloons can be played for free in the browser at the Internet Archive
January 01, 1970
clowns, balloons, circus, themed, video, game, written, frank, cohen, atari, computers, published, 1982, datasoft, game, also, released, color, computer, written, steve, bjork, released, similar, game, called, space, ball, 1980, clone, 1977, arcade, game, circ. Clowns and Balloons is a circus themed video game written by Frank Cohen for Atari 8 bit computers and published in 1982 by Datasoft 1 2 The game was also released for the TRS 80 Color Computer written by Steve Bjork who had released a similar game called Space Ball for the TRS 80 in 1980 3 4 5 Clowns and Balloons is a clone of the 1977 arcade game Circus A variant of Breakout the player moves a trampoline left and right to catch a bouncing clown who pops rows of balloons at the top of the screen with his head Clowns and BalloonsPublisher s DatasoftDesigner s Atari 8 bitFrank CohenTRS 80 Color ComputerSteve BjorkPlatform s Atari 8 bit TRS 80 Color ComputerRelease1982Genre s Action Contents 1 Gameplay 2 Reception 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksGameplay edit nbsp A clown in mid air about to pop a balloon The object of Clowns and Balloons is to move a trampoline under a clown and bounce it high enough into the air to burst the balloons at the top of the screen The player moves the trampoline horizontally with the joystick or paddles There are three levels of difficulty 6 There is a bonus for clearing each row of balloons completely starting from the bottom and working up If the balloons are not cleared in order the row refills The clown bounces at different angles depending on where they land on the trampoline Reception editCharles Brannon who reviewed the game for Compute magazine liked the game The animation remains fairly simple though smooth The sound and music are some of the best I ve heard Despite the simple theme Clowns and Balloons turned out to be great fun and inspired hours of frenzied joystick twisting 7 Page 6 admired the graphics and sound calling them an impressive demonstration of the Atari s capabilities However they stated Playing required a lot of perseverence to get used to the speed of movement of the joystick In fact I was beginning to get bored before I got good enough to burst the first set of balloons 8 David Plotkin of SoftSide remarked that the game is easy to play but requires quick reflexes and considerable skill to master and recommended the paddle rather than the joystick Plotkin echoed Page 6 s sentiment regarding the presentation stating The programmers at DataSoft understand the Atari s features very well 9 John Anderson in the book The Creative Atari praised the game writing that fans of Circus would especially appreciate the sophistication of Clowns and Balloons and saying it may well be the most addictive game I have seen since Threshold 6 See also edit nbsp Video games portal Other games written by Frank Cohen Cohen s Towers 1983 Ghost Chaser 1984 Ollie s Follies 1984 The Scrolls of Abadon 1984 Other games written by Steve Bjork Space Ball 1980 Canyon Climber 1982 Mega Bug 1982 The Sands of Egypt 1982 Pitfall II Lost Caverns 1984 Super Pitfall 1986 References edit Hague James The Giant List of Classic Game Programmers Clowns and Balloons Atari Mania Ausburg Cray July 1986 Building an OS 9 Support Network The Rainbow Vol V no 12 p 88 Retrieved June 1 2023 Radio Shack has the Color Computer Software You Want at New Low Prices The Rainbow Vol V no 1 August 1985 p 187 Retrieved March 20 2024 Space Ball 1980 by Steve Bjork for the Radio Shack TRS 80 Model 1 3 YouTube 16 March 2024 a b Anderson John 1983 Part III Hardware and Software In Small David Small Sandy Blank George eds The Creative Atari Morris Plains NJ Creative Computing Press pp 186 187 ISBN 0 916688 34 8 LCCN 82 71997 Brannon Charles October 1982 Compute ISSUE 29 OCTOBER 1982 PAGE 127 Clows amp Balloons Page 6 No 1 December 1982 p 15 Retrieved June 1 2023 Plotkin David November 1982 An Atari Christmas SoftSide No 35 pp 90 91 Retrieved June 1 2023 External links editClowns and Balloons at MobyGames The Atari 8 bit version of Clowns and Balloons can be played for free in the browser at the Internet Archive The TRS 80 Color Computer version of Clowns and Balloons can be played for free in the browser at the Internet Archive Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Clowns and Balloons amp oldid 1224116819, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
