1982 · Action · Arcade

Name This Game

Atari exclusive

You have discovered a long-sought-after buried treasure, and just when you thought you have discovered a long-sought-after troubles were over, things get really tough! There's a persistent shark who thinks that the treasure belongs to him, and he is after you! As if that were not enough to contend with, there's a big old octopus sitting right above your trove who keeps reaching down to check things out.

Released: 1982
Platforms: Atari 2600
Genres: Action Arcade Shooter
Developers: —
Publishers: US Games
Perspective: Side view
Themes: Action
Country: United States
Languages: English

About

Name This Game and Win $10,000, usually shortened to Name This Game, is a 1983 video game developed by U.S. Games for the Atari 2600.

Keywords

shark
aquatic
underwater gameplay

Media

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Gameplay

The player controls a scuba diver who must protect a treasure from an octopus at the top of the screen: The octopus tries to capture the treasure with its tentacles. Meanwhile, a great white shark tries to distract the diver by swimming back and forth toward the bottom of the screen.

The diver loses a life if he is captured by the shark or the octopus's tentacles, or if the air meter runs out. The diver can refill his air meter by touching a long pole which extends from a boat that appears from time to time.

Development

The game was conceived by Rob Dubren in February 1982. , who owned the video game license for Jaws at the time. After Parker Bros. lost the license, the game was shown to Jim Wickstead of James Wickstead Design Associates (JWDA) in July 1982.

From August to October, JWDA programmed the game with "plenty of input" from Dubren. S. Games as Guardians of Treasure. According to sound designer Todd Marshall, most or all of the programming was done by Sylvia Day and the graphics were done by Robin McDaniel Ballweg.

Reception

Jim Clark of Videogaming and Computer Gaming Illustrated said there was nothing "innovative" about the game, but that it was "effectively presented." C. Meade was more negative, claiming the many obstacles in close proximity "tends to create confusion rather than challenge." The Video Game Update recommended the game and thought the game had "good graphical touches" such as the hair of the diver's friend blowing in the breeze.

Electronic Games claimed "if ever a videogame deserved a name, this one does." They found it to be "highly playable and satisfying" In Germany, TeleMatch reviewed Octopus calling it a compelling title which stands on its own compared to Shark Attack and Shark! Shark!. Brett Weiss in 2007 called it "enjoyable" and considered the octopus to be an "impressive and imposing visual."

Legacy

In 1994, Digital Press held its own naming contest for the game. The winning title, coined by Russ Perry Jr., was Going Under, which alluded not only to the game content, but to the final days of its publisher.