Klax - Video Game From The Early 90's
4 years ago • 6,410 Views • 4 Files
![Image For Post | **Description**
An action/puzzle game, the object is to catch assorted color falling tiles and create rows, columns, or diagonals of a single color. Each level requires a different pattern to be made, and the tiles fall faster, more at a time, and in an increasing number of colors as the game progresses.
**Development**
Dave Akers programmed Klax in just a few weeks using AmigaBASIC, then ported it line-by-line to C. In a 1990 interview, he said he wanted to "produce something playable, compact and relatively quick to develop." His influences were both Tetris and tic-tac-toe. He chose the name from the sound tiles make rolling across the screen. Atari Games released Klax in February 1990, and soon called it a "major arcade hit".[4] They quickly released several home versions under the Tengen brand. Akers created the Nintendo Entertainment System and Genesis editions himself. Some 16-bit conversions featured improved graphics. Klax received the Parents' Choice Foundation's seal of approval in 1990, won Best Mind Game at the 1991 European Computer Leisure Awards, and Dennis Lynch of the Chicago Tribune named it the Best Cartridge of 1990.
Midway Games gained the rights to Klax upon purchasing Atari Games in 1996. The title has been re-released in retro compilations for modern consoles. A 1999 press release called it Midway's "tic-tac tile puzzle game." Mike Mika, who was working on the Game Boy Color version of the game, placed a hidden wedding proposal inside it. It took his then girlfriend three years to uncover the proposal. Mike Mika also placed a hidden Snake-like game as well as a mini-adventure game within the game as easter eggs.
After the arcade version, Klax saw ports to most contemporary home computers and video game systems of the 1990s, including the Atari Lynx, Amstrad GX4000, and even the Atari 2600 as its final official Atari-licensed release exclusively in Europe. Klax was the first game with versions for all three of the 1990s' leading consoles: the Nintendo Entertainment System, the Genesis and the TurboGrafx-16. Klax was included in Arcade Party Pak for the PlayStation. The game was also reissued in Midway Arcade Treasures, a 2003 compilation for the Nintendo GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox and PC. It also appeared in Lego Dimensions.
**Atari 2600 version**
According to AtariProtos.com, although it was ported to the NTSC format, it was never released in that format, it was only released in PAL format/regions.
**Arcade version**
Strictly speaking, this isn't a coin-op conversion per se, as the home and arcade versions were developed alongside each other. The top home versions (PC, Amiga and ST) are identical to the arcade game.
**Alternate Titles**
"Midway presents Arcade Hits: Klax" -- Game Boy Color title
"クラックス" -- Japanese spelling
[Other versions released]
Atari 5200, Atari 7800, BBC Micro, DOS, Game Boy, Game Gear, Game Boy Color, MSX, PC-88, PC-98, SAM Coupé, Sharp X68000, SEGA Master System, PC Engine](https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/dmy8xckpp4l.png)
Description
An action/puzzle game, the object is to catch assorted color falling tiles and create rows, columns, or diagonals of a single color. Each level requires a different pattern to be made, and the tiles fall faster, more at a time, and in an increasing number of colors as the game progresses.
Development
Dave Akers programmed Klax in just a few weeks using AmigaBASIC, then ported it line-by-line to C. In a 1990 interview, he said he wanted to "produce something playable, compact and relatively quick to develop." His influences were both Tetris and tic-tac-toe. He chose the name from the sound tiles make rolling across the screen. Atari Games released Klax in February 1990, and soon called it a "major arcade hit".[4] They quickly released several home versions under the Tengen brand. Akers created the Nintendo Entertainment System and Genesis editions himself. Some 16-bit conversions featured improved graphics. Klax received the Parents' Choice Foundation's seal of approval in 1990, won Best Mind Game at the 1991 European Computer Leisure Awards, and Dennis Lynch of the Chicago Tribune named it the Best Cartridge of 1990.
Midway Games gained the rights to Klax upon purchasing Atari Games in 1996. The title has been re-released in retro compilations for modern consoles. A 1999 press release called it Midway's "tic-tac tile puzzle game." Mike Mika, who was working on the Game Boy Color version of the game, placed a hidden wedding proposal inside it. It took his then girlfriend three years to uncover the proposal. Mike Mika also placed a hidden Snake-like game as well as a mini-adventure game within the game as easter eggs.
After the arcade version, Klax saw ports to most contemporary home computers and video game systems of the 1990s, including the Atari Lynx, Amstrad GX4000, and even the Atari 2600 as its final official Atari-licensed release exclusively in Europe. Klax was the first game with versions for all three of the 1990s' leading consoles: the Nintendo Entertainment System, the Genesis and the TurboGrafx-16. Klax was included in Arcade Party Pak for the PlayStation. The game was also reissued in Midway Arcade Treasures, a 2003 compilation for the Nintendo GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox and PC. It also appeared in Lego Dimensions.
Atari 2600 version
According to AtariProtos.com, although it was ported to the NTSC format, it was never released in that format, it was only released in PAL format/regions.
Arcade version
Strictly speaking, this isn't a coin-op conversion per se, as the home and arcade versions were developed alongside each other. The top home versions (PC, Amiga and ST) are identical to the arcade game.
Alternate Titles
"Midway presents Arcade Hits: Klax" -- Game Boy Color title
"クラックス" -- Japanese spelling
[Other versions released] Atari 5200, Atari 7800, BBC Micro, DOS, Game Boy, Game Gear, Game Boy Color, MSX, PC-88, PC-98, SAM Coupé, Sharp X68000, SEGA Master System, PC Engine
atari 2600 | amstrad | c64 | spectrum sam coupe | amiga | megadrive|nes game gear | gbc | lynx | arcade
