Technician Ted
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| Technician Ted | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Steve Marsden, David Cooke |
| Publisher(s) | Hewson Consultants |
| Release date(s) | 1984 |
| Genre(s) | Platform game |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
| Rating(s) | N/A |
| Platform(s) | Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum |
| Media | Cassette |
| Input | Keyboard, Joystick |
Technician Ted, also known as The Chip Factory: Featuring Technician Ted, is a platform computer game for the Amstrad CPC and ZX Spectrum home computers that was published in 1984 by Hewson Consultants.
It was followed-up by a sequel, Costa Capers, in 1985. A 128K special edition (called Technician Ted: The Megamix - see below) was published in 1986.
Contents |
[edit] Plot
Technician Ted is an enthusiastic young computer hacker who works at the chip factory. He begins his work every day at 8.30am and must complete 21 tasks before clocking-off at 5.00pm. Unfortunately, his boss hasn't told him what the tasks are or where they are located. Ted speaks to his mate who tells him that his first job is to get to his desk and from there he must make his way to the "Silicon Slice Store".[1]
[edit] Gameplay
Technician Ted is a flick-screen platform game made up of many different named screens. On many of these screens there are two boxes which must be touched in the correct order (the first one will be flashing) in order to complete the task.[1] Some of these tasks must be completed within a time-limit making it important for the player to guide Ted from one box to the other as quickly as possible.[1]
As well as the tasks, Ted must avoid the various monsters that lurk in the factory and make sure he completes all of his tasks within the game's time limit so he can finish his day.
The game was primarily notable at the time for the extreme accuracy of its collision detection, in contrast with other similar games. It also featured a sprite-animated loading screen, a significant technical achievement on the Spectrum at the time.
[edit] Critical response
When reviewed in Crash magazine the game scored an Overall 96%[2]. Technician Ted was also placed at number 84 in the Your Sinclair official top 100, despite been given only 6/10 by this magazine on it's original release. On the game's re-release on the Rack-It label in 1989, Your Sinclair had revised it's score to 8/10[3]
[edit] Technician Ted - The Megamix
In 1986, Hewson published a special version of the game exclusively for 128K ZX Spectrums called Technician Ted - The Megamix. As well as featuring 100 extra rooms,[4] this version also has three-channel chip music[4] and the tasks have been numbered in order to make the order they are to be done in easier to understand.[4]
[edit] Trivia
- The in-game music is an adaptation of the Radetzky March by Johann Strauss Sr.
- The ZX Spectrum version features an animated loading screen with rows of Technician Teds marching from left to right and back again across the display.[2]
- The first ever person to complete Technician Ted was David Adams. Completed on a ZX Spectrum 48k, he wrote the walkthrough guide that was later published in Amstrad User. David was rewarded with a trip around Hewson Consultants as well as a plaque, emblazoned with a real silicon chip[citation needed].
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Technician Ted instructions. Retrieved on January 30, 2007.
- ^ a b CRASH review from 1985. Retrieved on January 29, 2007.
- ^ Your Sinclair issue 41 at the Your Sinclair Rock'n'Roll Years.
- ^ a b c CRASH previews, 1986. Retrieved on January 29, 2007.
[edit] External links
- Technician Ted at World of Spectrum
- Technician Ted at CPC Zone
