Atomic Bomberman

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Atomic Bomberman

Developer(s)	Interplay
Publisher(s)	Interplay
Designer(s)	Jeremy Airey, Kurt W. Dekker
Release date(s)	1996
Genre(s)	Arcade game
Mode(s)	Single player, Multiplayer (10 players)
Rating(s)	ESRB: Kids to Adults
Platform(s)	Windows
Media	CD-ROM
System requirements	Windows 95/98, DirectX 3.0, Intel Pentium 90 or 100% compatible, 16MB RAM, 40MB free hard disk space, 2x CD-ROM drive, SVGA video card
Input	Keyboard, Control pad

Atomic Bomberman is a game by Interplay for the PC that was released in 1996. It was the first original Bomberman game to be developed for Windows, and the second game made for the PC, following 1992's Dyna Blaster.

The game is relatively unusual in the Bomberman series, as it was officially licensed from Hudson Soft and developed by an American team, while most titles in the series were developed in Japan. It has a different look and feel compared to other Bomberman titles as a result (despite basic gameplay being unchanged), using pre-rendered 3D characters and backgrounds as opposed to hand-drawn animated sprites, techno-inspired background music and the extensive use of voice samples during gameplay. The voice clips are by well-known voice actors Charles Adler and Billy West.

It is probably the first Bomberman title to have enabled network play over IPX network. Up to 10 human or AI players can play simultaneously over the network or on the same machine.

[edit] Level editor

The game has an ability (which is rather well hidden) to edit existing maps as well as to create new maps. Maps used by the game are in the form of .sch "Scheme" Files. A quick look in the options menu will show an extensive file list (xxxxx.sch), it is possible to edit any of these files or add to them. To do this, the player must go to the main menu, hold CTRL and tap E five times, and then release the CTRL key, the Main Menu will change to show a basic screen with 3 options, the first is to edit a level, the second is to start a new one, and the third is to go back to the main menu. The map edior is a simple interface, showing the map, dotted with different colours (0 to 9) to represent player spawns. The number keys choose which spawn to place, and the mouse cursor chooses where. A function called DENSITY chooses how "dense" the collection of breakable items are (as in any conventional map, there will be some uneven spaces). The Powerup Manager chooses the list of powerups to be included, how often, whether they can be destroyed and what happens when two conflicting powers are picked (such as Bomb Splooge versus Glove). The editor also sports a basic graphic interface, the player can switch between the "Green Acre" theme and a monochrome, patterned representation.

The controls for the editor are