Questprobe: Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox video game series |
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| ⚫ | '''''Questprobe''''' |
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| title = Questprobe |
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| image = Questprobe_Series_Logo.png |
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| caption = Series logo |
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| genre = [[Graphic adventure]]<br>[[Interactive Fiction]] |
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| developer = [[Adventure International]] |
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| publisher = Adventure International |
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| creator = [[Scott Adams (game designer)|Scott Adams]] |
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| platforms = [[Apple II]], [[Atari 8-bit]], [[Commodore 64]], [[MS-DOS]], [[Acorn Electron]], [[ZX Spectrum]], [[MSX]], [[TRS-80 Color Computer]] |
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| released = 1984-1985 |
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| first release version = [[Questprobe featuring The Hulk]] |
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| first release date = May 1, 1984 |
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| latest release version = Questprobe featuring Human Torch and the Thing |
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| latest release date = 1985 |
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}} |
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| ⚫ | '''''Questprobe''''' is a trilogy of [[graphic adventure]] [[video game]]s featuring [[Marvel Comics]] characters. The three games are ''[[Questprobe featuring The Hulk]]'', ''[[Questprobe featuring Spider-Man]]'' and ''[[Questprobe: Featuring Human Torch and the Thing|Questprobe featuring Human Torch and Thing]]''. |
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The games were designed by [[Scott Adams (game designer)|Scott Adams]], developed by [[Adventure International]] and the first was originally released in [[1978 in video gaming|1978]] for the [[Commodore 16]] with the sequels being published each following year. The games were later updated with graphics and ported to [[Commodore International|Commodore 64/128]], [[Apple II]], [[Amstrad CPC]], [[Atari 8-bit]] [[ZX Spectrum]], [[IBM PC clone|PC]] in [[1984 in video gaming|1984]] and [[1985]]. |
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==History== |
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A ''Questprobe'' comic book tie-in was also released. The events of ''Questprobe'' were later followed up on in the ''[[Marvel Fanfare]]'' and ''[[Quasar (comics)|Quasar]]'' series. |
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In 1983, [[Marvel Comics]] searched for a licensee for use of its characters in a home computer game, and approached [[Adventure International]]; its founder and CEO [[Scott Adams (game designer)|Scott Adams]] was interested in the venture as an avid reader of Marvel since his childhood, and the two parties agreed to a contract on December 1, 1983.<ref name=PowerPlay>{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/commodore-power-play-13/page/n75/mode/2up |title=Probing ''Questprobe'' |last=Jermaine |first=John |date=March 1985 |magazine=[[Commodore Power/Play]] |publisher=Contemporary Marketing |pages=74–77 |issn=0739-8018}}</ref> Marvel's ten-year license for Adventure's use of its characters was Marvel's first long-term license,<ref>{{Cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/Page_6_Magazine_10/page/18/mode/2up |title=Scott Adams Interview |last=Gould |first=Steve |magazine=[[Page 6]] |issue=10 |date=August 1984 |page=19}}</ref> as well as Adventure's first use of licensed characters. Adams, given unlimited freedom in creating the games, spent an afternoon coordinating a rough overview of the series with Marvel writer [[John Byrne (comics)|John Byrne]], and [[Bob Budiansky]] would oversee the entire project. The series title came from Adams's attempt to formulate a title that would indicate the player's involvement in a search. The [[Hulk]] was selected as the star of the first installment because of his widespread recognition among general audiences,<ref name=PowerPlay/> and the game would be the Hulk's first appearance within the medium.<ref name="GameSpotSuperFun">{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/gallery/17-super-fun-times-the-hulk-showed-up-in-video-gam/2900-135/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170424095535/https://www.gamespot.com/gallery/17-super-fun-times-the-hulk-showed-up-in-video-gam/2900-135/ |title=17 Super Fun Times the Hulk Showed Up in Video games |last=Walden |first=Matthew |website=[[GameSpot]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |date=May 4, 2015 |archive-date=April 24, 2017 |access-date=February 2, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[Questprobe featuring The Hulk]]'' was released on May 1, 1984, for the [[Acorn Electron]], [[Apple II]], [[Atari 8-bit computers]], [[BBC Micro]], [[Commodore 64]], [[Dragon 32/64|Dragon 32]], [[IBM PC compatible]]s, and [[ZX Spectrum]].<ref name="HG101">{{cite web |url=http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/questprobe-featuring-the-hulk/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190718201951/http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/questprobe-featuring-the-hulk/ |title=''Questprobe Featuring The Hulk'' |last=Kalata |first=Kurt |website=Hardcore Gaming 101 |date=July 14, 2019 |archive-date=July 18, 2019 |access-date=September 14, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/Page_6_Magazine_10/page/18/mode/2up |title=''Questprobe featuring The Hulk'' advertisement |magazine=[[Page 6]] |issue=10 |date=August 1984 |page=18}}</ref> The game's release was accompanied by a comic similarly titled ''Questprobe'', with the first issue centering on the Hulk being tricked into saving a doomed planet.<ref name="RunReview">{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/run-magazine-13/page/n15/mode/2up |title=Software Gallery: ''Questprobe: The Hulk'' |last=Jermaine |first=John |magazine=[[Run (magazine)|Run]] |publisher=[[IDG Communications]] |issue=13 |date=January 1985 |page=14}}</ref> Because [[wholesaler]]s had no provisions for distributing comics, Adventure International decided to reduce the size of subsequent issues in order to package the comics along with the games.<ref name="MicroAdventurerReview">{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/MicroAdventurer11-Sep84/page/n7/mode/2up |title=Adventure International: ''The Incredible Hulk'' |last=Williams |first=Noel |magazine=Micro Adventurer |publisher=Sunshine Books |issue=11 |date=September 1984 |pages=8–9}}</ref> |
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In January 1985, Adams revealed that he was developing a second ''Questprobe'' game with [[Al Milgrom]] based on [[Spider-Man]], and disclosed plans to release a new game every three to five months, with a projected total of twelve or thirteen games. Subsequent games involving [[Human Torch]] and [[Captain America]] were planned at the time, as were potential games showcasing [[Iron Man]] and a villain character.<ref name=PowerPlay/> |
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==Cancelled X-Men game== |
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The fourth title in the series was to include the [[X-Men]]. This game was partly coded by Scott Adams but never saw the light of day as a published game, as Adventure International became bankrupt during its development in 1986.<ref>{{cite journal|journal=[[GamesTM]]|publisher=[[Imagine Publishing]]|title=Great Scott|pages=40–41|author=GamesTM Staff|series=The Ultimate Retro Companion|year=2010|volume=3|isbn=978-1-906078-56-0}}</ref> |
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==Comic book tie-ins== |
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A ''Questprobe'' comic book tie-in was also released. Originally intended as a 12-issue miniseries, this series was canceled after issue #3 (November 1985) due to [[Adventure International]]'s bankruptcy.<ref>[http://www.comics.org/series/2888/ ''Questprobe''] at the [[Grand Comics Database]]</ref> The story intended for issue #4, featuring the X-Men, was published in ''[[Marvel Fanfare]]'' #33 (July 1987).<ref>[http://www.comics.org/issue/43105/ ''Marvel Fanfare'' #33] at the Grand Comics Database</ref> |
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The events of the ''Questprobe'' comic book were later followed up on in the ''[[Quasar (comics)|Quasar]]'' series. The Chief Examiner from the game and comics received an entry in the ''[[Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe|Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition]]'' #2 (January 1986). |
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==References== |
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{{Reflist}} |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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*{{moby game|id=-group/scott-adams-questprobe-series|name=''Questprobe'' series}} |
* {{moby game|id=-group/scott-adams-questprobe-series|name=''Questprobe'' series}} |
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*[http://www. |
* [http://www.uvlist.net/groups/info/questprobe ''Questprobe'' series] at Universal Videogame List |
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* [https://ifdb.org/search?searchfor=series:Questprobe ''Questprobe'' series] at the Interactive Fiction Database |
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{{Adventure International}} |
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{{adventure-videogame-stub}} |
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{{Disney franchises}} |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:1980s interactive fiction]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Adventure International games]] |
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| ⚫ | |||
[[Category:Interactive fiction based on works]] |
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[[Category:Marvel Comics storylines]] |
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[[Category:Single-player video games]] |
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[[Category:Video game franchises introduced in 1984]] |
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[[Category:Video games based on Marvel Comics]] |
[[Category:Video games based on Marvel Comics]] |
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| ⚫ | |||
Latest revision as of 13:17, 11 November 2024
| Questprobe | |
|---|---|
 Series logo | |
| Genre(s) | Graphic adventure Interactive Fiction |
| Developer(s) | Adventure International |
| Publisher(s) | Adventure International |
| Creator(s) | Scott Adams |
| Platform(s) | Apple II, Atari 8-bit, Commodore 64, MS-DOS, Acorn Electron, ZX Spectrum, MSX, TRS-80 Color Computer |
| Original release | 1984-1985 |
| First release | Questprobe featuring The Hulk May 1, 1984 |
| Latest release | Questprobe featuring Human Torch and the Thing 1985 |
Questprobe is a trilogy of graphic adventure video games featuring Marvel Comics characters. The three games are Questprobe featuring The Hulk, Questprobe featuring Spider-Man and Questprobe featuring Human Torch and Thing.
History
[edit]In 1983, Marvel Comics searched for a licensee for use of its characters in a home computer game, and approached Adventure International; its founder and CEO Scott Adams was interested in the venture as an avid reader of Marvel since his childhood, and the two parties agreed to a contract on December 1, 1983.[1] Marvel's ten-year license for Adventure's use of its characters was Marvel's first long-term license,[2] as well as Adventure's first use of licensed characters. Adams, given unlimited freedom in creating the games, spent an afternoon coordinating a rough overview of the series with Marvel writer John Byrne, and Bob Budiansky would oversee the entire project. The series title came from Adams's attempt to formulate a title that would indicate the player's involvement in a search. The Hulk was selected as the star of the first installment because of his widespread recognition among general audiences,[1] and the game would be the Hulk's first appearance within the medium.[3] Questprobe featuring The Hulk was released on May 1, 1984, for the Acorn Electron, Apple II, Atari 8-bit computers, BBC Micro, Commodore 64, Dragon 32, IBM PC compatibles, and ZX Spectrum.[4][5] The game's release was accompanied by a comic similarly titled Questprobe, with the first issue centering on the Hulk being tricked into saving a doomed planet.[6] Because wholesalers had no provisions for distributing comics, Adventure International decided to reduce the size of subsequent issues in order to package the comics along with the games.[7]
In January 1985, Adams revealed that he was developing a second Questprobe game with Al Milgrom based on Spider-Man, and disclosed plans to release a new game every three to five months, with a projected total of twelve or thirteen games. Subsequent games involving Human Torch and Captain America were planned at the time, as were potential games showcasing Iron Man and a villain character.[1]
Cancelled X-Men game
[edit]The fourth title in the series was to include the X-Men. This game was partly coded by Scott Adams but never saw the light of day as a published game, as Adventure International became bankrupt during its development in 1986.[8]
Comic book tie-ins
[edit]A Questprobe comic book tie-in was also released. Originally intended as a 12-issue miniseries, this series was canceled after issue #3 (November 1985) due to Adventure International's bankruptcy.[9] The story intended for issue #4, featuring the X-Men, was published in Marvel Fanfare #33 (July 1987).[10] The events of the Questprobe comic book were later followed up on in the Quasar series. The Chief Examiner from the game and comics received an entry in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition #2 (January 1986).
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Jermaine, John (March 1985). "Probing Questprobe". Commodore Power/Play. Contemporary Marketing. pp. 74–77. ISSN 0739-8018.
- ^ Gould, Steve (August 1984). "Scott Adams Interview". Page 6. No. 10. p. 19.
- ^ Walden, Matthew (May 4, 2015). "17 Super Fun Times the Hulk Showed Up in Video games". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on April 24, 2017. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
- ^ Kalata, Kurt (July 14, 2019). "Questprobe Featuring The Hulk". Hardcore Gaming 101. Archived from the original on July 18, 2019. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
- ^ "Questprobe featuring The Hulk advertisement". Page 6. No. 10. August 1984. p. 18.
- ^ Jermaine, John (January 1985). "Software Gallery: Questprobe: The Hulk". Run. No. 13. IDG Communications. p. 14.
- ^ Williams, Noel (September 1984). "Adventure International: The Incredible Hulk". Micro Adventurer. No. 11. Sunshine Books. pp. 8–9.
- ^ GamesTM Staff (2010). "Great Scott". GamesTM. The Ultimate Retro Companion. 3. Imagine Publishing: 40–41. ISBN 978-1-906078-56-0.
- ^ Questprobe at the Grand Comics Database
- ^ Marvel Fanfare #33 at the Grand Comics Database
External links
[edit]- Questprobe series at MobyGames
- Questprobe series at Universal Videogame List
- Questprobe series at the Interactive Fiction Database
