Strip Poker: A Sizzling Game of Chance for Atari 8-bit | Analysis
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Like the hidden Playboy or Penthouse magazines, Strip Poker was perhaps the first contact with something similar to porn for many of those who are now in their 30s and over.
Released by Artworx in 1982 for Apple and in 1983 for the Atari 800XL, it became the first card game of its kind.In its original version,Strip Poker: A Sizzling Game of ChanceClothes Poker: A Hot Game of Chance) puts us in the role of a male player who wants toundressto either of his two opponents:Suzi, the mischievous blonde with the least experience with cards; andMelissa, the brunette with the best command of the cards.
The game mechanics are simple: with yourfive cardsYou bet and, if you're lucky, you accumulate victories and see how your heated opponents lose their clothes, every time they lose.One hundred dollars. The game is over when you manage toknead $400and the girls took off theirunderwear. Be careful, the opposite can also happen and you will have suffered defeat in (literally) your own flesh.
STRIP POKER
Posted by:Artworx, 1983.Gender:Cards, poker.
Extra:1 player, joystick.
RULES
Before we dive into the game, we should review its rules:1. The game does not include a joker or other wild card.
2. You can start betting with any kind of play.
3. The allowed plays are classified (from highest to lowest value) as follows:
- Royal flush(Royal flush): Five cards in a row of the same suit from 10 to ace.
- Straight Flush(Straight flush): Five consecutive cards of the same suit.
- Poker(Four of a kind): Four cards of equal value.
- Full(Full house): Three equal cards (trio), plus two more equal cards (pair).
- Color(Flush): Five cards of the same suit not consecutive.
- Ladder(Straight): Five consecutive cards of different suits.
- Trio(Three of a kind): Three cards equal in value.
- Double pair(Two pair): Two pairs of cards, equal in value.
- Pair(One pair): Two cards of equal value and three different ones.
- High card(High card): The person with the highest card of all wins.
I suggest checking theattached table, taken fromWikipedia. However, due to the first rule,is excludedthe play ofRepoker(Five of a kind).
4. The minimum bet is $5 and the maximum is $25.
5. A tie is possible if both players have equal cards. In this case, the money will be refunded and a new game will begin.
LOADING THE GAME
The "original" version of theStrip Pokerrequires havingBASIC enabled; otherwise the emulator will "hang". To activate BASIC, go to the path:Atari-> Settings, andwe uncheck the first box, where it is readDisable BASIC when booting Atari
Once we load the program, we give it acold resetShift+F5
After the endearing introductory music, we press thetrigger buttonand we are shown the two opponents mentioned above. We will press thekey 1to play againstSuzithe 2forMelissaandthe 4th...well, that was in case of having a "Data disk" with other opponents. We will look at this topic later.
Note.-There are other "versions" alternatives that I have found there, whereno need to enable BASICThe detail is that in these we play against a single opponent - there is no possibility of choosing them.
GAMEPLAY DYNAMICS
Once we have chosen our rival, we start the game with100 dollarsFive dollarsis what we have to pay forstart each playand are paid automatically. The money you have is displayed on theleft, and your opponent's, to the right.Once the cards are served, the phrase "WAGER?Bet?) on the screen. By moving the joystick up or down, we can choose between the following options:
- Stay(Pass).You don't choose anythingand wait to see what your opponent does. If your opponent chooses the same option at the start of a hand, the cards are dealt again and your five dollars are refunded. You cannot check if your opponent has already chosen to bet (bet) or increase (raise
- Drop(Go out).You give up the money you beton the current play. You may choose this option at any time during your turn.
- Bet(Bet).You put some money in the pothoping that your opponent will do the same and if you beat him, you will take everything.
- Raise(Raise). If your opponent has bet andYou think you can have a better play(or you just want to scare her until she comes out), you canincrease the bet money. Once you have selected the bet or raise options, move the joystick up or down to the amount you want. Then press the fire button to activate the option.
- Note.-Both bets and raises have aminimum amount of $5 and a maximum of $25They are going up five dollars at a time and there is aMaximum of two bets or raises per personin every play.
- Call(Call). You can only call if your opponent has bet or raised the bet. Calling implies thatYou want to match what your opponent has put into the pot.but you don't want to risk raising the bet just yet.
You can choose the cardsthat you are going to get rid ofby moving the joystick from right to left or vice versa and pressing the fire button. Once you reach the first or last card, you can move the joystick once more, off the screen and you will be shown the word "FINISHED". If you press the fire button, you will be dealt the same number of cards as you selected.
Finally, after the second round of betting for each play,You are shown your opponent's cardsand you are told who won the current move. By the way, if your opponent choosesdropor both selectstay, neither will see the other's cards.
Between moves, you will be shown the (unnecessary) question "Shall we continue?Can we continue?); to continue, press the fire button.
Every time you or your opponent uses all of your money,They will be given $100 upon delivery of any item(hence the name of the game, then). Throughout the gameIt is possible to recover the clothesThis happens every time you win a jackpot over $100. Once you or your opponent lose all of their items, the game is over.
Usually, in the development of the game you will see - hear, impossible - your opponentdropping anthology phrases
EVALUATION
DATA DISKS
As expected,Many other companies wanted to copy the successfrom Artworx, launching "clones" from Strip Poker. Without further ado,Arthur Walsh-founder and owner of the American company to this day- took outnew opponents, but with the characteristic that these had to beloaded from the original program. Which meant some savings since the latter was sold for $34.95 and the data disks for ten dollars less.Surfing the web, we have discovered up tothree data disksadditional:
Data disk 1- With two models:Dominique(one bent backwards) andLindsay(lying on its side).
Data disk 2- Version that was supposedly aimed at women:Ernie(of glasses) andEarl(black hair).
Data disk 3: Two girls againMarlena(who has an outfit reminiscent of Morticia from The Addams Family) andCandi(a chubby ruffian in a pink top and shorts).
To load them, we must be in the opponent selection screen - the one we saw after the introduction of the program. Let's go to the routeFile -> Attach disk -> Drive 1
We chose thedata disk filethat we want to play.
Next, we press thekey 4. We are asked to pressReturn(Enter).
We will be shown the opponents to choose from -withkeys 1either2
The girls from the original game -or master disk- were designed byDouglas McFarlandFor the first version, Walsh is said to have hired aprofessional photographerThe resulting shots - with the models posing in a bedroom, a bathroom and a hot tub - were handed over to an artist who filled them inpixel by pixelon a 320 by 192 screen.
Another website reports that the design of theData disk 3was in charge ofLaurent BassertIn all cases, the identities of the models are a mystery.
If you liked this article, you might also be interested in the Trick to hide your opponent; or maybe listen to the original melody and effectsof the game.
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