The Death Trap: Difference between revisions
I think in this particular case, it is valid to direct readers exploring that category to this page to learn more about Uematsu's involvement and learn something; I'm not wedded to this position, so if you still disagree, ping me on the talk page and we can hash it out |
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{{nihongo|'''''The Death Trap'''''|ザ・デストラップ}} is a [[interactive fiction|text adventure]] video game developed and published by [[Square Co.|Square]] for the [[NEC PC-8801]], [[PC-9801|NEC PC-9801]], and [[Fujitsu FM-7]] in [[1984 in video gaming|1984]]. The game and its supporting computer platforms were only released in [[Japan]]. |
{{nihongo|'''''The Death Trap'''''|ザ・デストラップ}} is a [[interactive fiction|text adventure]] video game developed and published by [[Square Co.|Square]] for the [[NEC PC-8801]], [[PC-9801|NEC PC-9801]], and [[Fujitsu FM-7]] in [[1984 in video gaming|1984]]. The game and its supporting computer platforms were only released in [[Japan]]. |
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''The Death Trap'' is the first game developed by Square, created before they were even an independent company. At the time, Square was a software branch of Den-Yu-Sha, a Japanese power line manufacturing firm; it was not until [[1986 in video gaming|1986]] that [[Square Co., Ltd.]] was independently established. Square followed up with a sequel to ''The Death Trap'' in [[1985 in video gaming|1985]] called ''Will: The Death Trap II''. Square's third and final text adventure game was called ''Alpha'', released in 1986, and tells a [[science fiction]] story in the same style as ''The Death Trap''. The company's next game, ''[[Suishō no Dragon]]'', was an early [[point-and-click adventure game]] and their subsequent games were in a variety of other genres before settling on the [[role-playing video game]] with ''[[Final Fantasy (video game)|Final Fantasy]]''. Project EGG, a licensed [[emulator]] for [[home computer]] games, included ''The Death Trap'', ''Will'', and ''Alpha'' together in its limited edition "Classic PC-Game Collection" on September 8, 2013, alongside ''[[Cruise Chaser Blassty]]'' and ''Genesis''—other Square games released between 1984 and 1987.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.amusement-center.com/project/egg/special/package_10th/|title=限定生産『CLASSIC PC-GAME COLLECTION -THE DEATH TRAP・WILL・ALPHA・BLASSTY・GENESIS-』好評販売中！ / レトロゲーム総合配信サイト プロジェクトＥＧＧ |language=Japanese |publisher=Project EGG |date=2013-09-06 |accessdate=2016-02-01}}</ref> |
''The Death Trap'' is the first game developed by Square, created before they were even an independent company. At the time, Square was a software branch of Den-Yu-Sha, a Japanese power line manufacturing firm; it was not until [[1986 in video gaming|1986]] that [[Square Co., Ltd.]] was independently established. Square followed up with a sequel to ''The Death Trap'' in [[1985 in video gaming|1985]] called ''Will: The Death Trap II''. Square's third and final text adventure game was called ''[[Alpha (video game)|Alpha]]'', released in 1986, and tells a [[science fiction]] story in the same style as ''The Death Trap''. The company's next game, ''[[Suishō no Dragon]]'', was an early [[point-and-click adventure game]] and their subsequent games were in a variety of other genres before settling on the [[role-playing video game]] with ''[[Final Fantasy (video game)|Final Fantasy]]''. Project EGG, a licensed [[emulator]] for [[home computer]] games, included ''The Death Trap'', ''Will'', and ''Alpha'' together in its limited edition "Classic PC-Game Collection" on September 8, 2013, alongside ''[[Cruise Chaser Blassty]]'' and ''Genesis''—other Square games released between 1984 and 1987.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.amusement-center.com/project/egg/special/package_10th/|title=限定生産『CLASSIC PC-GAME COLLECTION -THE DEATH TRAP・WILL・ALPHA・BLASSTY・GENESIS-』好評販売中！ / レトロゲーム総合配信サイト プロジェクトＥＧＧ |language=Japanese |publisher=Project EGG |date=2013-09-06 |accessdate=2016-02-01}}</ref> |
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==Gameplay== |
==Gameplay== |
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''The Death Trap'' received little attention at the time of release, though it was successful enough for Square to immediately go on to create a sequel: ''Will: The Death Trap II''. Hironobu Sakaguchi, Hiromichi Tanaka, Harunobu Kato and Hiromi Nakada continued developing games for Square, while the rest of those credited left.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.retropc.net/fm-7/museum/database/staff/220100200.html|title=Oh!FM-7：スタッフリスト／ウィル|first=|last=Laver|publisher=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.retropc.net/fm-7/museum/database/staff/220100300.html|title=Oh!FM-7：スタッフリスト／アルファ|first=|last=Laver|publisher=}}</ref> |
''The Death Trap'' received little attention at the time of release, though it was successful enough for Square to immediately go on to create a sequel: ''Will: The Death Trap II''. Hironobu Sakaguchi, Hiromichi Tanaka, Harunobu Kato and Hiromi Nakada continued developing games for Square, while the rest of those credited left.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.retropc.net/fm-7/museum/database/staff/220100200.html|title=Oh!FM-7：スタッフリスト／ウィル|first=|last=Laver|publisher=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.retropc.net/fm-7/museum/database/staff/220100300.html|title=Oh!FM-7：スタッフリスト／アルファ|first=|last=Laver|publisher=}}</ref> |
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== |
==Sequel== |
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=== ''Will: The Death Trap II'' === |
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{{Infobox video game |
{{Infobox video game |
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| title = Will: The Death Trap II |
| title = Will: The Death Trap II |
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Much like its predecessor, ''Will'' is an interactive fiction game, which relies on simple command lines from the user's input to progress through the game. As opposed to the earlier "text adventures", with only text as output, ''Will'' provides graphical feedback by using pictures. Square recruited a [[postgraduate education|postgraduate student]] from [[Keio University]] to program the [[bitmap]] graphics of ''Will''. The game is considered one of the first [[Computer animation|animated]] [[computer games]].<ref name="paper">{{cite journal | first = Daiji | last = Fujii | title = Entrepreneurial choices of strategic options in Japan's RPG development | publisher = Faculty of Economics, [[Okayama University]] | date = January 2006 | url = http://www.e.okayama-u.ac.jp/~dfujii/Option.pdf | format = PDF | accessdate = 2008-04-26 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20070930074121/http://www.e.okayama-u.ac.jp/~dfujii/Option.pdf |archivedate = September 30, 2007 |quote = To solve this problem programmatically, the team employed a postgraduate student from Keio University—one of the best private universities, located in Tokyo and Yokohama—and Japan’s first animated PC game, Will, was released in 1985. One hundred thousand copies of Will were sold, which was a major commercial success at the time.}}</ref> ''Will'' sold 100,000 copies in Japan, which, while less than its predecessor, was a major [[List of best-selling PC video games|commercial success]] at the time of its release.<ref name="paper" /> |
Much like its predecessor, ''Will'' is an interactive fiction game, which relies on simple command lines from the user's input to progress through the game. As opposed to the earlier "text adventures", with only text as output, ''Will'' provides graphical feedback by using pictures. Square recruited a [[postgraduate education|postgraduate student]] from [[Keio University]] to program the [[bitmap]] graphics of ''Will''. The game is considered one of the first [[Computer animation|animated]] [[computer games]].<ref name="paper">{{cite journal | first = Daiji | last = Fujii | title = Entrepreneurial choices of strategic options in Japan's RPG development | publisher = Faculty of Economics, [[Okayama University]] | date = January 2006 | url = http://www.e.okayama-u.ac.jp/~dfujii/Option.pdf | format = PDF | accessdate = 2008-04-26 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20070930074121/http://www.e.okayama-u.ac.jp/~dfujii/Option.pdf |archivedate = September 30, 2007 |quote = To solve this problem programmatically, the team employed a postgraduate student from Keio University—one of the best private universities, located in Tokyo and Yokohama—and Japan’s first animated PC game, Will, was released in 1985. One hundred thousand copies of Will were sold, which was a major commercial success at the time.}}</ref> ''Will'' sold 100,000 copies in Japan, which, while less than its predecessor, was a major [[List of best-selling PC video games|commercial success]] at the time of its release.<ref name="paper" /> |
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{{clear}} |
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=== ''Alpha'' === |
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{{Infobox video game |
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| title = Alpha |
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| image = |
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| developer = Square |
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| publisher = Square |
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| writer = [[Hiromichi Tanaka]] |
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| composer = [[Nobuo Uematsu]] |
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| engine = |
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| released = {{vgrelease|JP|July 8, 1986}} |
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| genre = Interactive fiction<br/>Adventure game<br/>Visual novel |
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| modes = Single-player |
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| platforms = NEC PC-8801, NEC PC-9801, Fujitsu FM-7, [[Sharp X1]] |
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}} |
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{{nihongo|'''''Alpha'''''|アルファ}} is a graphical text adventure game developed and published by Square, released for the NEC PC-8801, NEC PC-9801, Fujitsu FM-7, and Sharp X1 systems in 1986. Like its predecessors, ''Alpha'' uses a [[text parser]] to interpret the player's instructions and displays the results on screen. |
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''Alpha'' is set in the future after the Earth's natural resources have been [[resource depletion|completely drained]]. Humanity is forced to embark on a centuries-long trip to the titular planet on the space ship ''Daedalus''.<ref name="amuse">{{cite web |url=http://www.amusement-center.com/project/egg/cgi/ecatalog-detail.cgi?product_id=1136 |title=ALPHA /EGG |language=Japanese |publisher=Project EGG |date=2013-12-24 |accessdate=2016-02-01}}</ref> Because technology for [[suspended animation]] does not exist, only the distant descendants of the original passengers and crew are alive by the time the game takes place. The main character, Chris, begins the game with [[amnesia]] and a terrorist attack quickly draws her into a revolution which aims to overthrow the dictatorial ''Daedalus'' computer system.<ref name="amuse"/> As Chris interacts with the revolutionary group, she uncovers the true nature of Alpha, the ''Daedalus'', and herself.<ref name="JP">{{cite book | author = [[山下章]] | title = チャレンジ!!パソコン AVG & RPG II | year = 1987 | publisher = 電波新聞社 | edition = 1987年10月20日の改装小型版(オリジナルは1987年1月) |language=Japanese | pages = 73–82}}</ref><!--more plot details from an unreliable source: http://retrogaming.blog128.fc2.com/blog-entry-35.html--> |
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''Alpha'' is one of [[Nobuo Uematsu]]'s earliest video game soundtracks. A promotional soundtrack was released on [[flexi disc]] on August 7, 1986. It contains the tracks "Prologue ~Theme from Alpha~" and "CHRIS".<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.squareenixmusic.com/reviews/dave/alpha.shtml| title = Alpha | publisher = Square Enix Music Online | author = Dave| date = | accessdate = 2008-04-17}}</ref> The game was praised at its release for its animation quality and the rich facial expressions of its characters.<ref name="amuse"/> A prison sequence that is repeated multiple times throughout the game became notorious among fans for depicting Chris naked.<ref name="JP"/> |
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{{clear}} |
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*{{vndb|4523}} |
*{{vndb|4523}} |
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*{{vndb|4544|title=Will: The Death Trap II}} |
*{{vndb|4544|title=Will: The Death Trap II}} |
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*{{vndb|4524|title=Alpha}} |
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*{{Mobygames|/death-trap__}} |
*{{Mobygames|/death-trap__}} |
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{{Square Enix franchises}} |
{{Square Enix franchises}} |
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[[Category:1984 video games]] |
[[Category:1984 video games]] |
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[[Category:1985 video games]] |
[[Category:1985 video games]] |
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[[Category:1986 video games]] |
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[[Category:Japan-exclusive video games]] |
[[Category:Japan-exclusive video games]] |
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[[Category:Square Enix franchises]] |
[[Category:Square Enix franchises]] |
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[[Category:Video games scored by Nobuo Uematsu]] |
[[Category:Video games scored by Nobuo Uematsu]] |
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[[Category:Video games developed in Japan]] |
[[Category:Video games developed in Japan]] |
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[[Category:Video games featuring female protagonists]] |
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[[Category:Visual novels]] |
[[Category:Visual novels]] |
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Revision as of 17:55, 2 June 2019
| The Death Trap | |
|---|---|
 Promotional Art for The Death Trap | |
| Developer(s) | Square |
| Publisher(s) | Square |
| Designer(s) | Hironobu Sakaguchi |
| Platform(s) | NEC PC-8801, NEC PC-9801, Fujitsu FM-7 |
| Release | |
| Genre(s) | Interactive fiction Visual novel Adventure game |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
The Death Trap (ザ・デストラップ) is a text adventure video game developed and published by Square for the NEC PC-8801, NEC PC-9801, and Fujitsu FM-7 in 1984. The game and its supporting computer platforms were only released in Japan.
The Death Trap is the first game developed by Square, created before they were even an independent company. At the time, Square was a software branch of Den-Yu-Sha, a Japanese power line manufacturing firm; it was not until 1986 that Square Co., Ltd. was independently established. Square followed up with a sequel to The Death Trap in 1985 called Will: The Death Trap II. Square's third and final text adventure game was called Alpha, released in 1986, and tells a science fiction story in the same style as The Death Trap. The company's next game, Suishō no Dragon, was an early point-and-click adventure game and their subsequent games were in a variety of other genres before settling on the role-playing video game with Final Fantasy. Project EGG, a licensed emulator for home computer games, included The Death Trap, Will, and Alpha together in its limited edition "Classic PC-Game Collection" on September 8, 2013, alongside Cruise Chaser Blassty and Genesis—other Square games released between 1984 and 1987.[1]
Gameplay
The Death Trap is a text adventure game, which relies on simple command lines from the user's input to progress through the game. As opposed to most "text adventures", with only text as output, The Death Trap provides graphical feedback using still pictures.
The game's plot is set during the 1980s. In the game, the Cold War has become tense, and many countries have begun to prepare for a global-scale war, working on new weapons. One of such countries is the mysterious "B country" in Eastern Africa, which in an attempt to create biological weapons kidnaps the famous scientist Dr. Gitanes. An agent named Benson is sent to B country in order to rescue the doctor and avert the new threat to world peace.
Development
The Death Trap was the first game developed by Square, a computer game software branch of Den-Yū-Sha Electric Company. Masashi Miyamoto, who founded Square in September 1983, believed that it would be more efficient to have graphic designers, programmers and writers work together on common projects. Upon Square's inception, Miyamoto initially hired as their first developers university students Hironobu Sakaguchi and Hiromichi Tanaka, and a few others.[2] They shortly began work on Square's first game, The Death Trap. Sakaguchi noted in 1985 that he had expected to only do clerical work, not develop video games.[3]
Sakaguchi held the position of producer and scenario writer. Harunobu Kato and Tanaka served as programmers. Other scenario writers were 雪ノ浦美樹, 林明弘 and 鈴木尚志. The graphics team consisted of Hiromi Nakada, 雪ノ浦美樹, 今泉美保 and 斉藤智子. Lastly, 井出康代 held the position of data editing.[4]
The game was published in Japan for the NEC PC-8801 in October 1984. It was later released for the Fujitsu FM-7 in December 1984.[5]
Reception
The Death Trap received little attention at the time of release, though it was successful enough for Square to immediately go on to create a sequel: Will: The Death Trap II. Hironobu Sakaguchi, Hiromichi Tanaka, Harunobu Kato and Hiromi Nakada continued developing games for Square, while the rest of those credited left.[6][7]
Sequel
| Will: The Death Trap II | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Square |
| Publisher(s) | Square |
| Designer(s) | Hironobu Sakaguchi |
| Platform(s) | NEC PC-8801, NEC PC-9801, Fujitsu FM-7, Sharp X1 |
| Release | |
| Genre(s) | Interactive fiction Adventure game Visual novel |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Will: The Death Trap II (ウィル デス・トラップII) is a video game developed and published by Square for the NEC PC-8801, NEC PC-9801, Fujitsu FM-7, and Sharp X1 in 1985. The game and its supporting computer platforms were released exclusively in Japan. Will is the sequel to The Death Trap, and was Square's second release.
Much like its predecessor, Will is an interactive fiction game, which relies on simple command lines from the user's input to progress through the game. As opposed to the earlier "text adventures", with only text as output, Will provides graphical feedback by using pictures. Square recruited a postgraduate student from Keio University to program the bitmap graphics of Will. The game is considered one of the first animated computer games.[2] Will sold 100,000 copies in Japan, which, while less than its predecessor, was a major commercial success at the time of its release.[2]
References
- ^ "限定生産『CLASSIC PC-GAME COLLECTION -THE DEATH TRAP・WILL・ALPHA・BLASSTY・GENESIS-』好評販売中！ / レトロゲーム総合配信サイト プロジェクトＥＧＧ" (Press release) (in Japanese). Project EGG. 2013-09-06. Retrieved 2016-02-01.
- ^ a b c Fujii, Daiji (January 2006). "Entrepreneurial choices of strategic options in Japan's RPG development" (PDF). Faculty of Economics, Okayama University. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 30, 2007. Retrieved 2008-04-26.
To solve this problem programmatically, the team employed a postgraduate student from Keio University—one of the best private universities, located in Tokyo and Yokohama—and Japan's first animated PC game, Will, was released in 1985. One hundred thousand copies of Will were sold, which was a major commercial success at the time.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ "12 Developers, 20 Questions – 1985 Interview Special". BEEP!. October 1985. Retrieved 2015-01-19.
- ^ Laver. "Oh!FM-7：スタッフリスト／ザ・デストラップ".
- ^ Laver. "Oh!FM-7：アルファ（スクウェア）".
- ^ Laver. "Oh!FM-7：スタッフリスト／ウィル".
- ^ Laver. "Oh!FM-7：スタッフリスト／アルファ".